Sunday, August 29, 2010

After much criticism Saudi Arabia becomes largest donor to Pakistan














Saudi Arabia, the Gulf’s wealthiest state, has overtaken the US as the largest donor to Pakistan’s flood relief effort after pledging $105m in aid to the stricken country.
The oil-rich country, whose population has separately raised $19m, made the pledge following criticism that Muslim countries were not giving enough to victims of the disaster.
According to UN records, Kuwait was previously the largest donor among Muslim nations after contributing $5m to the Islamic state.
An estimated 20 million people have been affected by the massive flooding, with the death toll reaching 1,500. A second wave of flooding has hit new areas and, with several weeks of the monsoon season to run, the crisis is expected to spread. A number of cholera cases have been confirmed.
Until now, the US has been the largest contributor to relief efforts, pledging $76m. In total, an estimated $466m has been pledged so far, an aid contribution that pales in comparison to previous large scale disasters.

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