US TAKES PAKISTAN FLOODS “VERY SERIOUSLY” ,AMIDST CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS

Washington stated on Tuesday that it takes claims of widespread corruption and theft of US humanitarian aid in Pakistan—as well as any place else in the globe where American taxpayer money is involved—very seriously. 

"This is something we take very seriously, not only in Pakistan but anywhere around the world where American taxpayer dollars are implicated and when there is an urgent humanitarian interest at stake, which is the case, in terms of the response to the flooding in Pakistan," Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, stated in response to a query on allegations of corruption using US disaster aid supplies in Pakistan.

Massive floods in Pakistan have caused devastation to the nation's infrastructure and a tremendous loss of life. Since mid-June, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has documented approximately 1,700 fatalities and over 12,800 injuries. The three provinces with the highest death rates were Sindh (747), Balochistan (325), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (307).

According to reports from the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) of the affected provinces, more than 2 million homes have been damaged or destroyed and 7.9 million people are allegedly displaced, including over 598,000 people residing in relief camps.

“We also are required to provide regular program updates on the progress of activities and any security concerns, and we require them – our partners – to immediately report any potential diversions, seizures, or losses. So this is something we take very seriously”, Price mentioned that local groups with in-depth knowledge of the afflicted areas and their inhabitants collaborate with USAID partners.