Pakistan Floods: UN Urges World to Step Up Aid Efforts

Floods continue to batter Pakistan, where 20 million are already homeless. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges government leaders to hurry relief to the region to avoid additional fatalities, refugees and chaos. “His warning came amid growing fears of social unrest or even a military takeover after the government's shambolic response to the floods,” notes an article in the Guardian, which excerpts a report from an aid worker describing devastated communities with no clean water, roads blocked with mud and desperate survivors. Countries hesitate to provide aid for many reasons, including global recession, fears about corruption and divided loyalties in Pakistan, and increasing numbers of extreme weather events around the globe. Fast delivery of relief serves not only Pakistan’s interests but those of regional rivals and allies and major powers. Ban contends that the magnitude of Pakistan’s flooding warrants swift global response. – YaleGlobal