Jacques Demarthon—AFP
The war of words between Pakistan’s government and agencies providing relief to the flood affected is hotting up.
Speaking at a press conference in his hometown of Multan on Aug. 29, Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani said 80 percent of flood aid would be routed through NGOs which will “eat half of it.” His spokesman says the statement merely meant Islamabad could only be held responsible for the remaining 20 percent.
UNESCO’s Dr. Warren Mellor says that agencies such as his are not spending on bulletproof cars, as claimed by the prime minister. Gilani may have been irked by earlier statements of skepticism such as those from USAID’s Dr. Rajiv Shah who had said that the world requires from Islamabad “a demonstration of real transparency and accountability.” They should add restraint to the list.