Pakistan's Devastating Floods
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-08-18/pakistans-devastating-floods
People waiting in line for aid at a tent distribution point in northwest Pakistan
Waterborne diseases and food-and-water shortages follow the worst floods in Pakistan's recorded history. Millions of lives and political stability are threatened. The international relief effort and why many are still not getting help.
Guests
Moeed Yusuf
South Asia adviser and manager of the Pakistan program for the United States Institute of Peace.
Molly Kinder
senior policy analyst and manager of U.S. development strategy in Pakistan for the Center for Global Development.
Paul Roepe
co-director, the Center for Infectious Disease at Georgetown University; professor of chemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Comments
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Whose heart would not go out to the people of Pakistan? But where are the wealthy Islamic countries, who profess the need to help the poor, but when world-wide disasters come, the burden of giving is placed primarily on the US and Islamic countries are nowhere to be seen? Remember the earthquakes? Who was the primary helper?Why haven't the Islamic wealthy done more to help the desperate believers in Pakistan and the so-called "infidels" and unbelievers are the most generous?
If we contribute money, the government will use their money more for personal pleasures, wasteful government wages and perks. Another words the more we contribute the more the government holds off their programs, services, military commitment. As you punish a child in order for them to learn there is some merit in punishing the people in order for the people TO CHANGE THEIR GOVERNMENT.
In the US, we make preparation to react in an emergency's, what preparations did the Pakistan government make knowing the people were in flood plains?
This may be why other countries are not donating.
The Pakistanis can afford a stockpile of 60 nuclear weapons.
The US has given Pakistan $10 Billion in aid since 2001.
Sorry, not a penny.
U.S. priority is in selling and promoting war not humanitarian aid for the well being of a global population considered to be a liability to the New World Order. How many people die each day in Afghanistan refugee camps? What determines what is an acceptable issue for national attention?
Great point where is the Muslim "do as you would have others do to you" good works, helping your brother especially Muslim neighbor?
what is so hard to understand ? this is a clash of cultures which is turned off only when there is a need to receive something from the "Evil West"
This is the time for the Muslim world to step up to the plate and use a small % of the daily oil revenue ! we are talking about Billions per day !!!
Besides donor fatigue and the fact that so much needs to be done for people in this country, I can think of a few other reasons why people are not donating. We faced Katrina and the recent blow-out in the Gulf. Perhaps it was just bad PR, but I do not remember hearing anyone commenting, in national media, on any particular outpouring of international help for us.
Add to this the overwhelming news of Pakistan's attitude towards us and the simple lack of cooperation, be it governmental or whatever.
Mostly, however, given all the needs in this country that are not being addressed, I think the media is out of touch with how bad it really is here.
If India's offer was not accepted or turned down, then it actually is turned down. You can not say it both ways. If you did not take the help THEN YOU TURNED IT DOWN. The audience is not stupid.
DONOR & EMPATHY FATIGUE: The U.S. middle class contributes to its own poor, government and the wealthy class ad nauseum. What happens when the US middle class suffers? Our jobs and houses are taken, taxes are raised and we're asked to give even more. If the BILLIONS of dollars given to the war weren't stolen, the UN weren't corrupt and donor organizations didn't consume most of each $1 donated, some of us might find it in our hearts to give more to those worse off. But, most of those unfortunate Pakistani people affected by the floods will be left to suffer & die due to the greed within "the system." Why not have the UN and other organizations spend their time and effort locating the $18+billion stolen in Afghanistan and use some of that. Or, ask the oil rich Middle Eastern nations to forgo one more 24k gold toilet and donate some cash. If I sound bitter, it's because I'm paying attention!
I lived in Buffalo too during the blizzard of 78 where people respected the people who were helping them. Why is Paul the only one Diane Rehm is accepting comments from?
There is a another aspect to the floods in Pakistan that no one is discussing in the media. While there were rains and flooding in some rivers of the country, the size, scale and the gush of water suddenly pumped into these rivers defies logic. This is especially true considering that rains have slowed down since the breakout of the floods on 29 July.
There is every likelihood that what we are seeing today is that the Indians and the Afghans (Karzai Govt) are using water as a weapon for the first time to deluge Pakistan. There is no doubt about it.
Interestingly, even when it comes to water, it is Indians who are sitting to the left and right of Pakistan’s borders and controlling it's flow. The dam on Kabul river is handled by Indian personnel, while tens of dams choke Pakistan from the side of occupied Kashmir.
Seems to me that the extraordinary floods are one aspect of the new era of violent, extreme climate change that we are now embarked upon, like the fires in Russia, the record heat waves and storms and flooding in the U.S. And which country has done the most to unleash this disaster, and the least to respond to it? Yup, that's us. So 20 million Pakistanis, who already feel some antipathy to the United States, find themselves homeless due to a climate catastrophe that is largely the responsibility of the world's richest and most powerful nation. If the Jahadists were smarter, they would connect the dots and blame the U.S. for the floods. Watch out, when and if they do.
I can't believe Pakistan's decision to refuse the $5mm offered by India. Questions about their Government's priorities come into the picture of citizens desperate for their very survival versus help from a military led government posturing on false ego.
It is sad, and disgusting to see that the Govt., and a section of the media (look at Adnan's comment, similar reports have been published in Pak's national media) are trying to cover up for Pak's inability to face a natural calamity by projecting India as the cause for it.
For years politicians, and media in Pakistan used India as a tool to ignite emotions among people for votes. In an attempt to portray themselves as heroes, they successfully painted India as a threat. It is a fact that India never started a war with any country in its history. If only people, media, and Govts. of Pakistan concentrated on setting their home right, than concentrate on a non-existing threat, Pakistan would have been a different country today.
I find a distressing amount of ill will expressed in the comments. This is a humanitarian issue. The situation is desperate. People should give what they can.
The US already gives aid to Pakistan. Yet Pakistan has been aiding the insurgency in Afghanistan against our soldiers. My money will stay here in the US for those here that need it.
How much aid has already been given to Pakistan from the US? What is being done with that money? The same that will be done with the money given for the floods, going towards killing US soldiers. Maybe alla should have given them swimming lessons.
How many cases of cholera will Pakistan's nuclear arsenal alleviate? What makes the average Pakistani feel safer...a nuclear program or tents?
I heard Moeed Yusuf say the nuclear issue (and the wisdom of it) was a 'non starter' and a concern of 'national ego', well guess what, as someone who donated to both Haiti and to Tsunami relief, I can, without a twinge of conscience, say that any donation to a nation whose priorities are so out of whack as to spend billions to develop nuclear weapons that could have been better spent on emergency planning, flooding mitigation programs, better infrastructure (that could have survived expected and seasonal flooding) etc etc etc is also a 'non starter'.
Buffalo's blizzard was in 1977. There was just no reaching the people who froze to death in their cars. I can recall that day in the Rochester, New York area.
But is very good that India has given help to Pakistan. However, will all that aid reach the people in those chaotic conditions? Will the Taliban take advantage of this disaster?
Each time Mr. Yusef was asked a challenging question about Pakistan's history of corruption, links to terrorism, etc. he just agreed that it was a sad but common perception of the country. But he never admitted to the truth of the claims or attempted to deny them. So, the callers got no answers and the comments hung in the air as this guest artfully dodged them. I feel the questions remain and wait to be answered. It's not acceptable to shake one's head sadly and admit that Pakistan has had a bad reputation lately. Mr. Yusef avoided offering any facts or figures to the hour-long discussion. I was sorry that Ms. Rehm didn't challenge him.
The comments on this site are overwhelming (one-sided, may I add). These comments interestingly show how we think of this sad flooding event in Pakistan. I understand all these posted point of views – Yet I am not sure if these suffering Pakistanis are responsible for the behavior/decisions of their government, or the (possible) lack of generosity of their fellow wealthy Muslims.
It is sad that we (honestly, myself included) decide whom we will help, based on something other than the ‘there are people suffering’.