Beaker wrote: 

Apples and oranges I would suggest:

America's massive military aid package to Pakistan has come under scrutiny after allegations that as much as 70% of $5.4bn in assistance has been misspent.

ie government aid
& military aid
& probably not through NGOs!

thanks for referencing the Guardian though!

That's not in regard to donations made for the disaster fund, that's U.S aid for military operations etc.

 geordiezimmerman wrote:   Don't go there !
   You just don't have a chance !

 HazzeSwede wrote: 
Well done. Idiot.

 beamends wrote: 
Still can't back up that stat though can you? Anyway, it sounds to me like you have been reading the daily mail to long.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Thank you,I will !

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
I haven't heard that stat either- maybe 70% goes on things not directly seen by aid recipients.  I like to donate to Medecins Sans Frontieres because they have a very good reputation of being in the difficult places at the most important times and of not having substantial backoffice costs.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
The creaming off does exist - I quoted an aid expert who was on the BBC news last week. I really don't think that would be reported on the 9 O'Clock News unless it could be substatiated, not least as they were specifically talking about Pakistan. Personaly I am unemployed, and if I were to donate I'm not at all keen on what little I can afford buying some petty official a nice new Japanese 4x4 rather then feeding some poor sods. Flooding in Pakistan is a regular event, though the current situation is extreme admittedly, it is hardly a surprise. Flooding, an annual event, should be far above nuclear weapons or even their huge defence budget that is required by their constant, pointless, squabbling with India over borders in mountainous areas, on their spending priorities. As for the UK - just look at what was spent after Boscastle, not quite in the same league, but nonetheless the money was found immediately to prevent it happening again, despite it being a "one in a hundred years" event. That money came off some other budget, somewhere, but it was a higher priority. I'm not prepared to pay for other governments putting pettty power games over the routine care of their own population I'm afraid. Pakistan needs to get it's own house in order before it gets my money. If that makes me a bastard, then so be it.

 HazzeSwede wrote: 
Not really a laughing matter but hey, you carry on.

 kopak wrote:   Well,uh,,,dunno,we are being scammed correspondingly by all charity organisations,so I guess I am.
   Don't truztz them Dogz,iz allz !

 HazzeSwede wrote: 
Shhh... You're supposed to be neutral, aren't you ?

 

Where do I donate to the Cats of Pakistan ?
Even though I'll bet the Dogs will take their 70% cut !

 beamends wrote: 
You could say the same for many countries that have had similar disasters or urgent need for help. The UK and U.S, Japan etyc have nuclear weapons but i'm pretty certain if suddenly 20 million of it's residents were at risk of disease and starvation there would be a call for donations. Pakistan are giving what they can, nuclear weapon capabilities is a different matter all together. A lot of money that went to the famine in Ethiopia went to the corrupt government and this is why now agencies like the link below were set up so that all money donated via them goes straight to the needy. It's no excuse anymore to say corrupt governments cream the money because they don't, not if the money donated is done so via reputable agencies like the link below, the red cross and others.

Also, where are you getting the information that the aid experts are saying 70% of money is lost. If this was the case, I'd say it's even more reason to donate!

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 

Not being political about it, just observing what people are saying......

Pakistan appears to have the money to develop nuclear weapons, yet cannot afford to look after it's own? Further, aid experts reckon 70 % (yes, 70%) of aid donated to Pakistan over the years is creamed off in back-handers and never reached the needy. I fear their chickens have come home to roost, and whist it is not the fault of the poor, Pakistan is a decmocracy and corruption has not been addressed.
 

BUMP

Please donate. This disaster zone just seems to be getting ignored completely. Not only here on RP but I have just watched some news coverage, not even a mention. Todays newspaper has an article on page 7 (after the celeb news). Not sure what coverage you are getting in the states and other places round the world but I would urge you all to look up online how bad this is. Cholera is spreading rapidly, all sorts of diseases are, fresh,c lean water is becoming harder and harder to obtain, literally millions and millions of lives are at risk here. Somehow I feel the coverage around the world and the plees for help would be much greater if this was in The UK or America but it's only Pakistan, they are less important than us comfortable westerners aren't they?

U.N Now pleading for more help. 20 million people now affected, 20 MILLION! That's a third of the UK's population.

 beamends wrote: 
Latest reports are now saying that 1/5th of Pakistan is under water, Pakistan is a BIG country. I have given what I can, please please please, give what you can too. ANYTHING! Look down your sofa for loose change, go one day without a treat and donate the money instead. I'm not going to post pictures for shock tactic purposes but please, look at these and try and imagine what it must be like for these poor, poor people. Please, help them if you can. Imagine if you and your family were in their position, you would want someone to help you. This is all they want too.

For UK based (or anyone I suppose), this lot are trustable and have a good track record

http://www.dec.org.uk/

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 

I think what you need to do geo is start a disaster specific forum topic replete with a listing of relief agencies. Make it your very own and cultivate it.

$.02