Aid agencies in £26m fund crisis

Aid agencies in £26m fund crisis
International aid agencies are facing a funding shortfall of £26 million as they try to save the victims of fighting in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
Oxfam said it was experiencing its worst financial crisis for a major humanitarian emergency in over a decade.
ActionAid, CAFOD/Caritas, Care, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision said their efforts to reach one million civilians caught up in the hostilities were under threat.
World Vision faces an £7.5m shortfall while Oxfam and Save the Children both face deficits of £4 million each.
Oxfam and Concern Worldwide will have to shut down some of their projects in the region by mid-July if money does not arrive.
Jane Cocking, Oxfam's humanitarian director, said: "This is the worst funding crisis we've faced in over a decade for a major humanitarian emergency.
"Some 2.5 million people have fled their homes. One month into this emergency Oxfam is £4 million short and will have to turn our backs on some of the world's most vulnerable people. In the same period after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, we had £14m committed from the UN, governments and the public."
The agencies said very little money was being donated by rich countries and the United Nations' own appeal was short of funds. They claim the US has contributed the most, 68 million dollars (£42.5m), which is 12.5 per cent of what is required, since the initial crisis began in October 2008 but the UK had given just 1.6% of the amount needed.
Carolyn Miller, chief executive of Merlin - Medical Emergency Relief International said: "With monsoon rains due by July, serious health risks will increase as water sources become contaminated and sanitation worsens. At a time when the risks of malaria, respiratory inspection and diarrhoea start to escalate, agencies will be forced to close down our programmes.
"The only reason we haven't faced a massive humanitarian meltdown is the generosity of families and communities of modest means who've looked after the vast majority of those who've fled the fighting. With so many mouths to feed, these communities will soon be running on empty. The world's richest nations need to dig much deeper into their pockets to help."