The government of Pakistan pays USD $3 billion annually to foreign debt-holders, almost triple what the country spends on healthcare.
At a UN conference in Melbourne this week, Oxfam together with World Vision and Fred Hollows Foundation called for the freezing of Pakistan’s debt – and an increase in aid from the international community to help the flood-stricken nation.
“More than 17 million people are currently affected by flooding in Pakistan. Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea are spreading and the healthcare needs are desperate. Freezing international debt would allow the Pakistan Government to do more to meet this urgent need,” said Oxfam Australia Executive Director Andrew Hewett.
Any funds made available by a debt freeze must by used by the Pakistan government to meet the immediate healthcare and humanitarian needs of its people, stressed World Vision Chief Executive Tim Costello.
The world also needs to step up and give more to help Pakistan, the agencies stressed.
“The UN’s appeal to meet the immediate emergency needs in Pakistan is currently only 64 per cent funded and this appeal was prepared before the full scale of the flooding became clear,” said Brian Doolan, CEO of Fred Hollows Foundation. “International donors do need to provide more funding to help people in Pakistan get the shelter, clean water and food they desperately need.”
Individual donations are also saving lives right now in Pakistan. You can make a difference – donate now to our Pakistan Floods Appeal. (Want to know how exactly your donation will be used? Read more about the floods and Oxfam’s response.)
Tags: Emergency 365, Pakistan floods
hi guys,
i have forwarded a $50 donation via money order to your carlton office today. i think pakistan’s debt should be totally wiped as a population the size of australia is effected by this tragic flood which covers an area equivalent to the distance between melbourne and brisbane.
all the best, keep up the good work
paul reiner
Please make the world gets better and Pakistan needs help to make their country gets better. Stop the debt, it’s your job to help the humanitarian.
The government of Pakistan pays USD $3 billion annually to foreign debt-holders, almost triple what the country spends on healthcare.
I believe that the Pakistan’s foreign debt should be waived so that the government have the best chance of supporting its people.
Wiping Pakistan’s debt is the one true humane response to a devastated country
Go to the following link to sign a petition urging a freeze on the debt owed by Pakistan in order for them to use the funds to recover from the disaster: http://www.one.org/international/actnow/pakistanfloods/
I strongly support Oxfam’s call to freeze Pakistan’s debt and to increase aid to this devastated nation.
I appreciate Oxfam Stance over waiver of Pakistan’s debts. The devastation caused by the floods have left millions of poor families without shlter, food and medicines. Millions of poor children are asking the international community that they also have the equal rights to food,health education and other amenities of life as other children of the developed world. The choice is ours now….