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New Pakistan aid comes with accountability calls
[Al Arabiya] World powers made fresh aid pledges for Pakistan's flood disaster early Monday, after a $2 billion U.N. appeal, but pressed the stricken nation to fully account for the money.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an "urgent" global response to "one of the biggest, most complex natural disasters we have faced in the history of the United Nations."

While the official death toll remains at just over 1,700 people, U.N. agencies say about 21 million people have been affected and 12 million need emergency food aid.

Torrential rain began falling in northern Pakistan in late July and the floods have since been moving slowly south, wiping out villages and farmland.

Britain doubled its flood aid to $210 million; the United States said it is now offering $340 million and the European Union $350 million.

Saudi Arabia said it has also donated $345 million in government and public funds. Even Iran allotted $100 million dollars for its neighbor.

But it was not immediately clear whether the $2 billion target was reached at the meeting of over 25 top ministers, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Aid groups expressed disappointment at the response.
Posted by: Fred 2010-09-21
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=306043