Washington: America should ensure that its aid assistance reaches the flood-affected people in Pakistan as there were reports of corruption in the distribution process during a previous calamity in that country, an influential US Congressman has said.
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Congressman Brad Sherman expressed concern that a lack of oversight may prevent the US assistance from reaching the people most severely impacted by the floods.
"I remain concerned that US assistance will not reach those who need it most. Reports of corruption arose in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir," Sherman said.
"Many survivors continued to await internationally-funded Pakistani assistance to rebuild their homes more than one year after the earthquake," he said.
Pakistan is currently experiencing the most catastrophic flooding in over 80 years, impacting the lives of as many as 20 million people.
On August 15, the UN reported that the Sindh`s situation is becoming critical with 35 percent of the Sindh under water and over two million affected by the flooding.
The US has provided USD 200 million in aid so far. "The widespread devastation wrought by this disaster cannot be overstated," the Congressman said.
PTI
