If you are in United States and affected by Sandy Storm - chances are you wont qualify for insurance coverage from flooding ! - You wish you were in Pakistan - where UNDP/SMEDA gives checks $$$ for flood victims !

Click here for this in full @ Pakistan Observer: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=182012

UNDP/SMEDA distributes cheques among flood affectees

Timergara—The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) on Sunday distributed cheques worth of Rs 1.5 million among the short listed candidates hailing from the Timergara Union council who were affected by flash floods in 2010. A function in this regard was held here at a local hotel. District Coordinator of the SMEDA’s Early Recovery Project (ERP) Ms Noor Zeba distributed cheques among 93 ladies and 25 male residents whose businesses had suffered due to floods.

Briefing local journalists ERP coordinator for Dir Lower Adnan Afridi said that SMEDA had launched its early recovery project in the area with the financial support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since September 2011 in order to reinvigorate and stimulate the flood affected businesses and livelihood activities. He said the authority had been engaged in the area since then during which multiple activities had been completed.

He said that Rs 1.5 million were distributed among the flood affected people of Timergara on Sunday during a ceremony which was attended by notables of the area and community members.

Click here for this in full @ Pakistan Observer: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=182012

"UN/UNDP in Pakistan a real disaster" says a British Parliamentary Investigation

Britain criticises UN Pakistan flood response

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A British parliamentary committee has criticised the UN for poor leadership during last year's floods in Pakistan, which it said left millions in need of assistance.

The International Development Committee said the UN used only two thirds of more than $1bn it raised for relief.

Confusion and organisational constraints were cited as the reasons.

The flooding affected nearly 20 million people and led to the largest appeal for money ever launched by the UN.

The International Development Committee said too many agencies and charities had been brought in, with some meetings attended by as many as 600 groups.

It also warned that climate change and population growth would mean increased need for disaster relief in the future.

About 1,750 people died in last year's floods in Pakistan, and up to 20 million people were affected.

They started in the mountainous north and surged south, destroying 1.2m homes and damaging about 14% of Pakistan's land under cultivation.