Educational institutions, civil society, traders, businesses as well as individuals engaged in raising funds for the 40 million displaced flood affectees are looking for a credible and reliable delivery channel to ensure their money reaches the needy, a survey of Business Recorder concluded.
There are essentially three major distribution networks in operation at present. The foremost are Pakistan defence forces. According to an ISPR official, no other federal government body is engaged in distribution of assistance other than the armed forces.
The official clarified that the army has the capacity to transport food and non-food items to even the remote areas where civil bodies can not reach. In addition, army has well-established centres throughout the country. If a new authority were created for the relief task, it would add to the cost of distribution. US marines are also engaged in assisting Pakistan army deliver food and non-food items to the affectees.
The official refused to divulge the exact amount in the flood relief account maintained by Pak army. However, an official of Pakistan Air Force conceded that in the first two weeks since the opening of the relief account, an estimated Rs 20 million have been collected. The second major distribution network is being operated by United Nations. There is a burgeoning trust deficit with respect to Pakistan government's capacity and intent to deliver relief to the affectees. This accounts for decision of several governments to channel bulk of their assistance through the UN.
Foreign diplomats, on various occasions, have confirmed that the decision to distribute aid through the UN is being taken by their political leadership who wants to see the assistance distributed transparently. While talking to Business Recorder, UN spokesperson confirmed that mobilisation of resources for the 40 million victims has been fraught with challenges. Some countries are trying to discredit Pakistani government by propagating it as incompetent, which is casting doubts on the aid campaign launched at through UN's platform. However, she maintained, the UN delivers assistance at the lowest possible cost.
She said United Nations has its own system of delivery through the non-governmental channel. The organisation has been working in four clusters - food, shelter, water and sanitation and health. She said World Food Programme is delivering food through non-governmental channels, which is much cheaper. WFP with development partners (international/local NGOs) is taking part in the relief operation.
"Reputation, quality of services and credibility are the sole criteria for any NGO to join as development partner of UN", she said. UN hired the services of local well-reputed civil societies in certain areas where UN aid is needed. It does not end here, as UN plays a supervisory rule to make sure money will reach the deserving people.
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