By IRNA,
London : Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Monday criticised the international response to Pakistan’s worst ever flood disaster, arguing that Britain was leading aid donation efforts.
The response from some sections of the international community has been “lamentable”, said Clegg, who is covering for Prime Minister David Cameron while on holiday.
Britain has allocated £30m ($46m) so far and is taking a lead in the international effort, he said during an online question and answer session in London.
International aid agencies have also expressed concern about the response to the UN-led appeal for almost $460m (£295m), with pledges amounting to only around a third of the amount after nearly two weeks.
After the Kashmir earthquake in 2005, which left 2.8 million people needing shelter, $247m was committed in the first 10 days. Ten days after the Haiti earthquake, $495 had been committed for each person affected.
On Sunday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described Pakistan’s floods as the worst disaster he had seen with up to 3.5 million children are at high risk of deadly water-borne diseases out of a estimated total of 14 million people affected.
Some Muslims of Pakistan descent in Britain have put some of the blame on Cameron for the unbalanced response after he accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism during a visit to India at the end of last month.