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The Mehmood Qureshi and UN Absurdities

yusuf — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:33:30 +0000

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi can certainly be put in the ranks of politicians and leaders with a penchant for making absurd remarks – a group that includes Bush Jr and our very own President Zardari and his predecessor Musharraf, to cite just the tip of the iceberg. Given how the whole international community has failed to deliver on flood aid because of the lack of credibility of the government, it was incredible to hear Qureshi state his “horror” over the fact that the issue of transparent use of aid had become such a major domestic issue. In fact, we are horrified to discover that it has taken so long to make transparency in the use of aid the major issue that it should rightfully be. After all, had this been made a central issue at the time of the Kashmir earthquake, perhaps tales of earthquake funds being diverted elsewhere would not now be coming to light because there would already have been accountability of these funds. Nor is this all.
Is it not shameful for the government to find that the army had established its own relief fund thereby adding to the question marks over the government’s credibility – especially since there already was a Prime Minister’s relief fund? Unfortunately given public skepticism, that fund is hardly drawing major funds despite the fact that Pakistanis are giving in large amounts – but primarily to private charities and NGOs. Clearly the army felt more people would be willing to donate directly to its fund, given how its presence has been most visible in the flood-stricken areas. But the worst of it is the announcement by the Prime Minister, after talks with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, to establish a “clean” flood commission comprising people of “impeccable” character. This, more than any other instance, reflects an admission of a lack of credibility by the rulers.

So Qureshi should not be shocked to find Pakistanis seeking transparency when the government does not trust itself. Actually transparency should be made an even bigger issue by the people of Pakistan, regardless of what the international community feels. After all, this is money that belongs to the flood affectees and should go only to them, not be pilfered along the way by a corrupt government machinery. The needs of the stricken people are extreme and so far there is little visibility of the government functionaries actually undertaking effective flood relief work in the more remote parts of the country. The only effective presence of the state is the military’s – otherwise people are having to fend for themselves or starve to death – if disease does not overtake them first.

Article By Dr Shireen M Mazari

Over 800 Million Dollars Pledged for Pakistan Flood Relief

yusuf — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:09:48 +0000

The response to UN appeal for rescue and relief operation in flood-affected areas of Pakistan rose dramatically to over 800 million dollars by Friday and more pledges were expected to come in, according to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Over the last two days of the UN General Assembly’s special session on Pakistan, the funding in response to a UN appeal for $460 million doubled.

The foreign minister, who had come to New York to attend the special United Nations General Assembly session on Pakistan’s floods, noted that the ‘tremendous response’ to the appeal was led by the United States, which had doubled its contribution.

A humanitarian disaster of this size anywhere else would have had, in my judgment, a much quicker, a much more generous, a much more instinctive response

Tim Costello, chief of World Vision Australia was quoted by the media as having said.

Governments are giving donations because of the geopolitical considerations, some multinationals are also donating after being encouraged by different capitals, but Pakistan clearly lacks public sympathy, which is crucial for generating funds.

a Western diplomat commented.

The residents of Canada can donate $5 by sending text messaged “redcross” to 30333 from their cell phone and then responding to a confirmation message. The service is available to wireless customers of Bell and Solo, Rogers and Fido, Telus and Koodo, and Virgin Mobile and the donation amount of $5 will appear on the statement. You can send multiple text messages to donate more.

UN to Relocate Its 600 Foreign Staff in Afghanistan

yusuf — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:59:34 +0000

The United Nations is to pull its non-essential foreign staff out of Afghanistan after a deadly Taliban attack on a guesthouse for UN workers that killed 5 UN workers. The UN has about 5,600 staff in Afghanistan, about 80 percent of whom are Afghans, and the relocations will affect around 12 percent of total deployment.

United Nations has total of 1100 foreigners in Afghanistan and about 600 expatriate staff will be temporarily relocated either within Afghanistan or abroad.

UN spokesman Dan McNorton said:

Around 600 non-Afghan staff will be temporarily relocated. The only people who will remain are regarded as essential staff. This is to ensure the safety of all our staff in Afghanistan. Most of the 600 would leave the country but a few could be relocated in Afghanistan.

The decision would be reviewed regularly and was expected to be effective for “a number of weeks while additional security is being put in place,” McNorton said. Related article: Iraq model for Afghanistan

The UN insists it remains committed to its work in the country, but its senior officials have complained of being increasingly treated as a soft target. In a statement UN said,

Every effort will be made to minimize disruption to our activities while these additional security steps are being taken.

460 international troops working as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have been killed so far this year in Afghanistan.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donated $1 million for Pakistani IDPs

yusuf — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:02:42 +0000

Celebrity couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has donated $1,000,000 to a United Nation’s refugee agency to help Pakistanis displaced by fighting between pakistani army and Taliban militants. Angelina Jolie has visited Pakistan three times to witness United Nations relief operations since becoming a ‘goodwill ambassador’ for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001.

Most Pakistanis forced from their homes are living in government buildings or with host families, but more than 260,000 of them are in camps run by UNHCR.

Gaza Attack a Marked Failure for the United Nations

yusuf — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:27:58 +0000

Miguel D’escoto Brockmann, the president of the UN General Assembly, termed Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza was a “monstrosity” and a marked failure for the United Nations.
He said:

“I think it’s a monstrosity; there’s no other way to name it. Once again, the world is watching in dismay the dysfunctionality of the Security Council.”

The Security Council once again failed to reach an agreement as US once agained blocked any consensus during the late-night emergency meeting. US blames Hamas for all the violance in Gaza stating Hamas must stop smuggling arms into Gaza and cease rocket attacks on Israel, which were the “root cause” of violence in the region. However, at the same time US ignores that how Israel has been keeping a tight squeez on Gaza during the so called truce. Israel repeatedly invaded Gaza during the truce did its best to make the life miserable for Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has said its air strikes were prompted by rockets fired into its territory and by Hamas breaching a six-month ceasefire. But the Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency, Karen Abu-Zayd, said last week the rocket attacks followed a covert raid and assassinations by Israeli forces.

Over 500 Palestinians have been dead and thousands have been wounded. There has been large protests in all major cities of the world. However, UN has failed to even issue a statement.

The basic question is if Palestin was doing what Israel is doing, will the UN or USA has acted the same way?