Humanitarian-Aid Groups Blame West for Looming Money Crisis

International-aid groups working in Pakistan’s Swat Valley say that a lack of badly needed cash donations will hurtle the region into the biggest humanitarian financing crisis in 10 years, and they are blaming the shortfall on Western governments, reports the Guardian.

Nine international-aid organizations including ActionAid, Islamic Relief, and Oxfam said more than 1 million survivors of fighting in the region are in danger because the organizations face a cash shortfall of more than $42.8-million.

Officials at the organizations say Western governments are to blame for the looming crisis because they have not provided the groups with enough money. A United Nations appeal for $543-million has raised only $138-million, and of the 52 groups that are requesting money, 30 have received nothing.

Since May, when the number of displaced people in the region soared from 500,000 to 2.5 million, wealthy countries have contributed only $50-million to the United Nations appeal.