Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

I remember that during 2005 earth quake, donated blankets and sweaters by the western country (high quality goods) were openly being sold in isloo and pindi markets.
Now the same shyte is happening! wtf, even during major crisis like this,people are thinking of cheating. Disgusting! No wonder the international AID is slow and small in coming when compared with the magnitude of the crisis.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6830O120100904

(Reuters) - Crime and the sale of donated aid supplies are undermining the aid effort for Pakistan’s flood victims.
**In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital Peshawar, flour bags and tins of cooking oil bearing the logos of international aid agencies like the World Food Prgramme and USAID are openly on sale.
**
“We bought them from the victims,” said shopkeeper Abdul Ghafoor, who owns a shop in Peshawar’s Gur Mandi. “They get money and buy something else which they need more.”

“It cannot happen without officials’ involvement,” said another shopkeeper, Rahimullah Khan. “Victims cannot bring a truck full of supplies here.”

One Reuters reporter saw flour being unloaded in a market from a truck labeled “Relief Goods for Flood Affected People, from Islamic Relief.”

**The goods are then sold at cheaper prices than usual.

“I can save 300 Pakistani rupees per 50 kg bag of flour. A customer prefers to buy it because it’s better quality and a lower price,” said flour dealer Najeeb Ahmed Khan.**

Government officials are attempting to tackle the situation.

District authorities have raided and sealed two warehouses where stolen aid supplies were found, and made two arrests.

“We have formed a committee to check these illegal activities, but it’s sad it’s happening,” said district government official Siraj Ahmed.

Further south in Punjab, villagers say people living outside flood-affected areas have stolen from houses abandoned by flood victims.

Rana Farmanullah, a 27-year-old villager in Mehmood Kot, said robbers arrived on boats to loot the villagers’ belongings.

“They took away everything,” he said. “They were taking valuables and electrical equipment. They stole washing machines, standing fans, refrigerators, small electrical devices, and jewelry.”

To the north-east, in the town of Bhakkar on the banks of a swollen Indus River, fisherman said they were removing valuable components from boat engines, worried they could be stolen.

(Additional reporting by Aizaz Mohmand in Peshawar and Kamran Haider in Mehmood Kot; Editing by Chris Allbritton and Myra MacDonald.)

Re: Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

Criminals thrive everywhere and in every situation. If I remember correctly when big train accident happened in Sindh big number of people came out to help the victims but there were some people who came out to steal belongings of dead people who even took watches/jewelry off dead ones, so this is nothing comparably.

I don't believe all of aid is being sold out in the markets, may be a small percentage.

Re: Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

Does this show that NGOs supported by western money are more corrupt than those who mainly depend upon local funds?

Though majority of money donated by UN, US, EU come through these NGOs there presence isnt felt on ground, compare that to NGOs that raise their funds locally like Sailani, Edhi, Chhipa etc

Re: Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

Captain1 Sahib,
I agree with u that the % is small but perception does not help. Specially since a large portion of the 2005 aid went missing (in someone's pockets). Many parts of AJK and even Balakot is yet to have promised housing rebuilding.

Re: Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

Yes that is true that is why donor community was hesitant giving cash this time around. If you followed the news the good size of the remaining cash pile from 2005 donations was recently diverted to other 'needed' projects by this government.

Re: Truck load of donated flood aid being sold in the market

All the more reason to investigate where your aid is going, who is responsible for distributing it and how this is being done.
Whatever the case, please don't let this deter you from helping.