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Response to aid appeal 'sluggish'

Sindh province still inundated by flood water but lack of funds hampers aid efforts
Response to aid appeal 'sluggish'
Published: October 19, 2011 03:38 AM GMT
Updated: October 19, 2011 03:55 AM GMT

The UK Catholic charity Spicma (Special Projects in Christian Mission Areas) has now donated a total of £40,000 ($63,000) to flood relief in Sindh province, Pakistan, it announced yesterday. But overall, the international response to the disaster has been “sluggish at best,” the BBC said on Monday, quoting one aid worker as saying it was “pathetic.” More than five million people are still struggling to survive without adequate food, water, shelter or medical supplies, according to the United Nations. But the BBC quoted Robin Lodge of the UN World Food Programme as saying relief supplies could dry up fast because of lack of funds. According to missioners from the London-based Mill Hill Mission, many government hospitals and health centers are still not operating. Buildings are flooded, equipment has been damaged, staff are unable to get to work and medicines have run out. “Those in need of medical attention face long journeys for treatment to expensive private hospitals which they can ill afford,” one missioner said.

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