Disaster Donors
- Image by Edge of Space via Flickr
By: Ellis Goodman
It now seems certain we are living in an age of increasingly dramatic global climate change. This year we have seen unprecedented drought, heat and wildfires in Russia, and similar heat, floods and tornados in the U.S. following a winter of major snowfalls in the Eastern seaboard. Climate change is already bringing us regular extremes – temperatures, winds, storms and floods.
The last couple of weeks has shown us TV images of two major natural disasters. The first one was dramatic pictures of enormous mudslides in Yunnan Province in southwestern China, resulting in approximately 1500 deaths. The Chinese government quickly responded by sending in soldiers to help with the rescue efforts – a daunting task as tons of mud covered towns and villages. Whether this disaster was in part caused by erosion from denuding hillside forests, or poor construction and city planning, or whether just from Mother Nature’s torrential rains remains to be seen. The Chinese government is dealing with this disaster on its own and has called for no outside help.
The floods in Pakistan are another issue. Bank Ki-moon has described this disaster as the worst he has ever seen and has urged foreign donors to speed up aid. The unprecedented suffering of the people and gruesome images of destroyed homes, villages, cattle and crops fills our TV screens nightly. But why has the international response been so slow? The main reason cited is the rampant corruption in Pakistan and the concern of donor nations that any aid sent through the Pakistani government would not reach the victims.
President Zardari’s image suffered a major blow since he chose not to return from a European trip despite the disaster. He was visiting European capitals, including London, and meeting with British Prime Minister, David Cameron, but also managed to find time to visit his family-owned Chateau in France (Where did the money come from for this?). The Pakistani government response was slow and disorganized, providing an opportunity for the Taliban and other radical groups to step into the breach and offer assistance, food, and shelter to many of the victims.
The United Nations has today announced that it has now raised pledges for about 50% of the dollars $460 million requested by the Pakistani government. As always, the U.S. is at the forefront. They have already pledged $90 million and this will be increased to $150 million within the next day or two. Other developed countries are also contributing. Apparently, the U.S. government believes this provides an opportunity to create a different image of the U.S. through their support and generosity for Pakistanis against the hatred generated by the radical Islamic groups operating in the country. Personally, I think this probably naïve. It will take more than the generosity of the U.S. government to counteract 25 years or more of vitriolic anti-American feeling.
However it would seem that this could be a great opportunity for the wealthy Islamic countries to help their brethren. Does the Koran provide for philanthropy? Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered $5 million. How pathetic is this? Remember, Saudi Arabia originally only offered $2 million towards the Haiti disaster. Here is a country earning over $80 a barrel for their oil, flushed with cash and vast individual and corporate wealth as well as investments around the world, who only offer such a paltry sum. Other oil rich-producing Arab Islamic countries have done no better. Where are Kuwait, Iran, and Libya? Nowhere to be seen as usual.
So maybe it might be just donor fatigue in the West. Personally, I think this would be understandable. Even though we sympathize and are shocked at the distress suffered by 20 million poor Pakistanis, we have to recognize that these corrupt governments create their own failed states. Personally, I think we’ve done enough over the past decade in supporting feudal dictatorships, corrupt leaders and trying to create regime change and “democracy.” Let us focus our efforts and financial support for our own poor and deprived.
Ellis M. Goodman, author of Bear Any Burden: www.bearanyburden.com
Tags: Yunnan Mudslides; Pakistan Flooding; Saudi Arabia; U.S. Contribution
