London, United Kingdom (AHN) - By contributing $100,000 toward the flood-ravaged victims of Pakistan, Hollywood glam girl Angelina Jolie has overtaken the help extended by most Pakistani politicians, including President Asif Ali Zardari.
Jolie was overcome with emotion at the “compassion fatigue” affecting the flood victims in Pakistan, which made the actor go for such a huge donation to help rescue and relief work. Jolie, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, donated from her own pocket and indicated that she might also pay a visit to the country once the media hype was over.
Some Pakistani leaders who made donations to the flood relief have not revealed their amount but said that their money went directly into party coffers.
While Zardari and Altaf Hussain, chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, have contributed Rs 5 million each ($58,400), Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam donated in kind instead of cash. Besides Zardari, his son, Bilawal Zardari-Bhutto and daughters Bakhtawar and Asifa have started collecting public donations from overseas Pakistanis as well as communities in Britain through a flood relief fund.
While talking to the press, Gilani’s press secretary said that the PM did not believe in cash contributions, which is why he had, instead, sent his son to Multan with truckloads of goods to help the flood victims.
Since July 28, heavy rains have washed away thousands of villages, rendering 1,600 villagers dead while 20 million were rendered homeless throughout the country. In addition, there is widespread fear of epidemics breaking out in the camps where the flood survivors have taken shelter.
At present, politicians throughout Pakistan are working hard to collect money for flood relief fund. Contributions have been trickling in from various quarters too. However, the situation remains worrisome because of claims that despite monetary help pouring in from inside and outside the country, the funds were not reaching the deserving victims.