Plea to Islamic Countries: Give Pakistan Urgent Aid
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on August 18, 2010 called on member states and the international community to deliver aid to Pakistan, which is grappling with devastating floods.
The OIC called in a statement for the “international community in general and Islamic world in particular, at the level of individuals and states, to provide urgent material and financial aid to Pakistan.” The appeal was issued at an emergency meeting for representatives of member states of the pan-Muslim organization. An OIC spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the Islamic Development Bank has allocated $11.2 million for assistance to Pakistan. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia raised $20.5 million of aid on the first day of a national campaign, official SPA news said.The kingdom has also pledged to provide $100 million in government aid to Pakistan. Also on Tuesday, Kuwait’s cabinet announced a $5 million relief assistance donation.
Pakistan’s worst-ever humanitarian disaster has ravaged an area roughly the size of England, affected 20 million people, exacerbated a crippling energy crisis and raised fears of social unrest. OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told the meeting that Pakistan’s plight is “very grave and unprecedented in modern history.” Ihsanoglu said after the current meeting that the OIC will hold a meeting in Pakistan for Islamic Red Crescent societies and relief bodies to coordinate aid. Floods have inflicted widespread damage on infrastructure, and destroyed electricity installations, roads and phone lines. The World Bank, which has announced a $900 million loan for Pakistan, in anticipation of the disaster’s economic impact.
Source : Agence France-Presse
