Pakistan will need billions for flood recovery: UN

[Turborama]

Source: CTV

Pakistan will need billions of dollars to recover from massive flooding that has affected an estimated 13 million people and killed 1,500, the UN said Sunday.

Jean-Maurice Ripert, the UN special envoy for flood relief in the country, said foreign aid is desperately needed for both immediate food, shelter and medical-care needs, as well as long-term reconstruction.

While the agency cannot yet say exactly how much money will be needed, Ripert told The Associated Press that "the emergency phase will require hundreds of millions of dollars and the recovery and reconstruction part will require billions of dollars."

The UN's plea to the international community came on a day when a government official announced that landslides caused by the heavy monsoon rains killed at least 53 people on Saturday in the Gilgit-Baltistan area. Ali Mohamamd Sikander said Sunday the landslides hit the villages of Kumra, where 37 people died, and Ghanche, where 16 residents were killed.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20100808/pakistan-floods-100808/

[kickysnana]

1. They are next in line behind NOLA and Haiti.

:sarcasm:

[enlightenment]

2. A few dams to control the Indus would help, too.

Otherwise, they're just looking at more of the same in the future.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turborama]

4. What? This flood is NOT good. Up to 14million people have been affected and the death toll is rising

Haven't you been following the news? Pakistan's army have been at war with the Taliban for quite a while now. And what proof do you have that they have been "sheltering" Osama Bin Laden?

[BeFree]

5. well

Our most expensive assets there are drones. Should we send in the drones?

[Turborama]

6. We've already been using our assets to assist the flood victims

Details here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4492644

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OhioChick]

11. Wow......

That's sick.

[cosmicone]

7. Precisely ....

let them scrap their military, ISI and the unnecessary nuclear program and rebuild.

If the world is stupid and gives this money, the money will go to buy submarines, fighter jets, tanks, more nukes and more terrorist attacks on India and the US.

[Robb]

10. Fortunately the international community does not agree with your cold assessment.

Just like in 1954, 1973, 1988 and other bad flood years, money will be sent and lives saved from it.

[cosmicone]

13. I have nothing against saving lives and the aid for that ...

provided there is accountability so that funds are not diverted and the host country also sacrifices its military agenda to help save the lives of its own people.

[Turborama]

15. Pakistan's army has been playing a major part in the recovery and helped save the lives

of a lot of their own people.

I'd provide you a link but you probably wouldn't bother going to it.

[cosmicone]

16. I believe the army helped ...

but surely, Pakistan doesn't need a 1 million strong army for this. During Katrina, only about 50,000 US soldiers and national guards helped all the people and rebuilt infrastructure.

Furthermore, the nukes and the submarines and fighter jets are not helping in the flood relief -- although Pakistanis (government, not people, for the dense and obtuse) would even justify their terrorist actions in India and elsewhere and spin them as saving lives of flood victims.

[Turborama]

17. Analogy FAIL. The destruction of this flood is on a massively greater scale than Katrina

And it is in a developing country.

I don't think you've been paying attention to what's been going on there if that's the best comparison you can come up with.

"although Pakistanis (government, not people, for the dense and obtuse) would even justify their terrorist actions in India and elsewhere and spin them as saving lives of flood victims."

What does that even mean?

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OhioChick]

19. "I am starting to wonder if you have Pakistani roots.. "

Good god, what is your problem?

You're quite rude to everyone.

[cosmicone]

20. Is it rude to look for potential bias? n/t

[OhioChick]

21. The OP is posting about catastrophe and that makes you irate, obviously.

Get over it.

[cosmicone]

22. Projection? n/t

[ChromeFoundry]

23. Potential Bias?

The Mods have been locking your threads over 'potential bias', for years!

OP contains broad brush smear against Pakistanis.

from the rules:
Do not post messages that are bigoted against (or grossly insensitive
toward) any person or group of people based on their race, gender,
sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, lack of religion, disability,
physical characteristics, or region of residence.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3629675

[cosmicone]

24. Only one has been locked that I know of and

it was because I used an ethnic term for Pakistanis which is not derogatory in the subcontinent but some thought it was and (error on my part) a statement that I didn't write clearly and thus could have been misinterpreted. I haven't used that term or phrase again.

In any event, the same people who are zealously following my threads are seen posting derogatory comments about India and Indians and some have also zealously carried out anti-Israel threads.

Are you saying no bias exists on DU against anyone?

I am just amused by about 4 or 5 people who seem to hang on to every word I post and seem to derive the worst possible meaning from them. Then I wonder why these people have such keen opposition?

My posts contain (sometimes repetitiously) the following themes:

1. Pakistan's military and ISI get money from the US for war on terror and then divert it against India. (Obama said this as well)
2. Pakistan created, funds, trains and equips Taliban. (enough evidence in recent Wikileaks dump plus scores of articles in Indian press)
3. Pakistan diverts economic and disaster aid for military purposes and uses it against India (Musharraf's interview and memoirs)
4. Pakistani ISI diverts aid to rig elections (Benazir Bhutto's Dossier)
5. Balkanization of Pakistan is a favored solution by giving freedom to Balochistan and Sindhudesh, thus weakening the threat posed by Pakistan.
(Amazingly, the CIA and MI6 are both trying to liberate Balochistan and have created a Kosovo-like environment. The motives may be
questionable but it is undoubtedly in the US national interest)

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/We-diverted-US-funds-to-strengthen-defences-against-India-Musharraf/516742/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3116090.ece

http://svnlsenetter.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/the-destabilization-of-pakistan/

As liberals, we have occasionally earned a "knee-jerk" label. I would hope that people flaming my posts are simply good-hearted people who are completely unbiased; but in that case, they need to learn more about the motives of Pakistan and why it needs such a big war machine when none of its neighbors have threatened it. India has attempted to make peace 7 times and after 4 of those times a Pakistani military ruler has started a war.

I have nothing against the people of Pakistan or muslims or any other ethnic/religious/cultural/racial group. However, I should have a right to present a viewpoint when one of those groups, in this case the Pakistani military and ISI, commit terrorist acts routinely against people I hold dear.

I respect your right to disagree with me. Can you not reciprocate instead of flaming every one of my threads because you happen to disagree with the themes presented? I shall keep your sensitivities in mind and not use language that may be seen as objectionable -- although I see such language being used against India and Indians all the time on DU every time there is some news about H1B or L1 visas. It has also not gone unnoticed that the very same people flaming me are the ones who post those news stories, sometimes as red meat.

Peace.

[closeupready]

27. You are fooling no one.

n/t

[closeupready]

30. Facts wouldn't serve his purposes here.

So no, he wouldn't bother going to it.

[Dr.Phool]

12. Cut the Taliban's budget.

[closeupready]

28. He's dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnychOXj9Tg

[msongs]

9. gee their muslim brothers in Saudi just happen to have....billions lying around nt

[cosmicone]

14. Hell no

The Saudi dollars are only for building more Madrassahs and to create more fanatics.

[applegrove]

25. Yup where are the Saudis in this? Surely their 'charitable donations' should

not only be for the building of religeous schools. They could certainly help rebuild Pakistan too.

[polly7]

29. Like corporate millionaires who go to church on Sundays and screw the

people Mon. to Fri. help out the suffering and hungry, displaced, unemployed in the West? Did they all jump in to help Katrina victims? Your comment doesn't even make sense. I am sure there are Muslims everywhere who will try to help. Others who won't, just like those from any religion anywhere else.

[polly7]

26. Children of the Flood

http://www.ctv.ca/gallery/html/flood-children-pakistan-china-20100811/index_.html

[OhioChick]

31. More Pics....

Available at link. Sorry, I don't have time to post them.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/severe_flooding_in_pakistan.html

[polly7]

32. Powerful pictures. The devastation is unbelievable. n/t.

[OhioChick]

33. Those interested can donate here: (Unicef)

Support UNICEF's disaster relief for the children of Pakistan




https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=8320&8320.donation=form1

[polly7]

34. Thank you,

I donated to UNICEF Canada, hopefully they raise a lot and get it to them quickly.