UNICEF faces $50M shortfall to aid children in flood-affected areas of Pakistan

UNICEF last week said it "faces a shortfall of more than $50 million to meet the continuing critical needs" of children in Pakistan, one year after monsoon floods submerged nearly one-fifth of the country, the U.N. News Centre reports (7/29).

"When the U.N. called for $2 billion in flood aid last year, it was the largest U.N. natural disaster appeal ever, but so far only $1.3 billion has been collected," the PBS NewsHour blog "The Rundown" reports, noting that the U.S. "has been one of the largest contributors, providing $924 million for relief, including transitional shelters, agricultural assistance and disease surveillance, with about $764 million funneled through USAID, a spokesperson said" (Miller, 7/29).

SciDev.Net examines how "Pakistan is seeking technological solutions for an unfolding water crisis, caused by depleting natural water resources and wastefulness, which is turning much of its land arid." But the efforts are hampered by a lack of funding, the news service reports (Shaikh, 8/1).