Tsunami aftermath littered with donors' broken promises
December 21, 2006
LONDON: About half of the billions of dollars donated to help the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami two years ago has still not been spent, the BBC says.
According to figures obtained by the broadcaster from a database compiled by the United Nations Department for Aid and Development, several foreign governments have given only a small proportion - and some none - of the money they promised.
Of the $US6.7 billion pledged, about a 10th has yet to be delivered, and only $US3.4 billion has been spent thus far, according to the BBC.
Among the countries that came up with a fraction of what they had promised, China offered $US301 million to help Sri Lanka but has thus far delivered just $US1.28 million, the broadcaster said. Spain pledged $US60 million to Sri Lanka but came up with less than $US1 million, while France said it would give $US79 million but delivered just over $US1 million.
Kuwait had pledged slightly less than $US10 million to the Maldives but has yet to actually hand over any money.
The US has given about 38 per cent of the money it promised, while the European Commission owes about $US70 million, and Britain $US12 million.
Of the $US2.2 billion donated to the Red Cross worldwide in the aftermath of the disaster, about $US1.3 billion had not yet been spent, and of the 50,000 homes promised by the Red Cross, just 8000 had been finished, the BBC said.
The international director for the British Red Cross, Mathias Schmale, defended the organisation's performance. "It sounds bad, but I think it needs to be put into context," Mr Schmale said. "It will take time to spend this money in a responsible manner."
But the UN's special rapporteur on housing, Miloon Kothari, said: "It should really not take this long to build permanent housing."
Agence France-Presse |
