What is the best way to help Pakistan?

[YunoYurbubson]

Just been reading about it

Is it best to donate money or stuff? I have seen collection points for packs of medicines and food, but I have heard in the past that this is not always a very helpful way to donate.

Who is the best organisation to donate to? To be sure that the money is going exactly where it is needed?

I want to help, but I am afraid I am also very cynical about some of the ways in which people are encouraged to help. Too often you hear about funds and goods being diverted away from the people who need them.

Actually, sometimes I think this should be a national thing - surely more can be achieved by a whole country pledging to help than by hundreds of people scratching down the back of the sofa for a tenner or buying an aid box, with all the associated admin or transportation costs?

I am happy to be corrected though, and I want to do something.

Bump.

I've been wondering if we should make some sort of offer to buy their nuclear weapons.

Nuclear warheads are expensive and we're looking at renewing our deterrent. Our Government is facing lots of questions over that and we've not suffered from catastrophic flooding devastating our nation.

If we bought Pakistan's we'd benefit from cost savings due to buying "off the shelf", Pakistan would benefit from not having to spend any more money on their nuclear weapons program while simultaneously getting a large cash injection and we'd make the world a slightly safer place by reducing the number of nuclear armed states. That last point is particularly salient given the security situation in Pakistan.

Badgers. An excellent point well made.

I would donate to a different cause right now in south Asia. The need is always there.

nice point badgers but this does not guarantee that UK state money to the Pakistan govt would go to those hospitals and to help stave off the threat of water borne illnesses, or those kids who have lost their parents, or those parents who have lots their kids. Let alone their homes, their businesses.

This is an emergency - I have almost no cash but I've given £20 to an organisation where my humble cash will go to people.

Big ideas for later on?

I've sort of lost hope with these disaster appeals. Look at the overwhelming global help for Banda Aceh. How much of that was trousered on the way? Certainly enough to keep people living in wooden huts for three years or more. It's been rebuilt now and is all wonderful apparently.

Considering the need is very great in very many places where transparency may be more readily available, I would stick to my regulars.

But giveitago you are nice and very noble and good. I hope you're right about the charity you chose.

I think the best way would be to donate to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

At least the aid is likely to be administered in a reasonably uncorrupt way and provide some direct practical help.

The nuclear weapon idea is a top one. The weapons now have been "tested" underwater, probably, so if they still go bang, we can use them for Trident missiles. Tidy.

A Valleys cynic? long time since I heard tidy

Tidy, like, boyo. I'm no taff but I spent enough time there to pick up some of the regional lingo.

I'm not particularly noble but I give my money to the big charities as at least some of it will go to the field. The problem with the big charities is that their senior management have big salaries.......

Nice idea to buy their weapons but then does it not destabilise them in terms of their neighbouring countries?

I think that the thing with Pakistan is that it has very bad press and so people are wary of contributing. Thing is, like all countries, it's made up of people just trying to make their way in life and the bad press and reputation doesn't help them.

I like giving to charity. National aid in the case of general development aid can be wasted - and that's our tax money. eg, my dad was living in an african country - our govt gave them a load of aid and their priority was to buy all the ministers (lots of ministers for a small country) nice big german cars. erm. There was a big issue about it but a bit late eh - even if you sell them on alot of money has been lost.

But I guess that's the problem with development aid. I'd hope that humanitarian emergency aid is better targeted.

Install a plug hole