Lack of Media Coverage for Pakistan Floods = Lack of Aid

Nearing a month into the devastation of flood-stricken Pakistan where nearly 20 million have been displaced from their homes and risk of water born disease is causing emergency situations, I am surprised at the lack of coverage by American media. It's obvious the response from the West has been slow in all capacities, partly due to the fact that most of us are ill informed at the magnitude of Pakistan's tragedy or worse, don't care. The blare of repetitive news about devastation I have become accustomed in American news reporting is almost non-existent with Pakistan floods. By now, I would have expected a child or two plucked from her/his desolate fate and paraded onscreen to make us feel the suffering. Make us want to give money, clothes, whatever we could manage. Get us connected to a part of the world that seems so far away. I expected a flood of news reports and coverage, much like the coverage for Haiti Earthquake.

Without continual constant 'noise' and updated broadcast footage of the disaster, we cannot be expected to find our own news, can we? The fact is, the noise builds momentum, which also builds compassion. Without proper coverage, the devastation and suffering become invisible. Out of sight means out of mind. Ask the countless celebrities who will do just about anything to stay in the eyes of the media.

The problem of the lack of American news coverage goes much deeper then reporting the crisis in Pakistan. The West and Europe have adopted Islamaphobia, which obviously has clouded humanitarian concerns. The Afghani insurgents that seem to corroborate with Pakistani governments sit at the forefront of our minds. Ask David Cameron, who reportedly suggested that 'Pakistan was an exporter of terrorism' at a charity event. It seems that we see the face of the enemy in the victims of the floods, but they shouldn't be the ones we blame. They have been paying for a corrupt and inept government for years and currently they are the ones suffering the most.

Foreign aid and minimal coverage pretty much go hand in hand. It's taken almost a month for the international community to come forth with aid. After several pleas from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, only a fraction of the aid asked for is coming. The poor donor response from the global community hinders the success for organizations like the UN to help those in desperate need.

At this point, the urgent need to quell further cholera outbreak, bring clean drinking water and build infrastructure is crucial. Without it, the world will be facing the largest humanitarian catastrophe it has ever seen.

Any contributions that the world makes will contribute to peace. Hungry and angry people do not make a peaceful country. Contributions cannot just be considered in terms of dollars, it must be considered in terms of good will. Take India's offering of $5 million in aid to Pakistan. This rare gesture of kindness suggests solidarity. India probably would not have come to the table had there not been an increase in global reporting.

The US has given aid worth $90 million by way of 18 helicopters and personnel, diverting some of its military from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia said it would give $80 million, with obvious designs to protect its theological presence in Pakistan. Countries like Germany have also pledged more money, none of it adding up to the $460 million that Ki-Moon says it needs. Countries are helping, not as quickly and vigorously as they could, but they are helping -- even if it is with fingers crossed and tight lips.

 

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Comments

[twowrongs]

12:31 AM on 08/29/2010

Notgoing to happen. The manufactroversy of the "GZ mosque" and the staged Restoring Honor event are more interesting. We have an opportunity to show that we are against the terrorists, not the everyday people but we are busy squandering it.

[RobHunt]

08:28 PM on 08/28/2010

Maybe it's not a lack of coverage. Maybe Americans are simply FED UP with Pakistan. America gives that country millions and millions of dollars evey year, and what does Pakistan give us? Treachery.

The Pakistani government plays a double game, supporting the Taliban and aiding American enemies in Afghanistan. I'm sick of it. No more aid for Pakistan!

[twowrongs]

12:32 AM on 08/29/2010

You are confusing the Pakastani people with their government and their anti-government wackos.

[RobHunt]

01:39 AM on 08/29/2010

No I'm not. I hold the people of Pakistan PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE both for their government (which after all is nominally deomocratic) AND the tribal factions that control much of the rural areas.

Pakistan should be condemned for their aggression toward India; the spread of nuclear technology to Iran, Syria, and Burma; and support of the Taliban.

Am I sympathetic to flood victims? Yes. But I see no reciprocity from ANY FACET of Pakistani society, and so I say our charitable resources should be applied elsewhere.

Is there NEVER a point where Americans say ENOUGH?

[dragn1]

01:17 PM on 08/28/2010

Lets see have then call Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and every other oil giant and Islamic country and ask them this time. We are tapped out. The vast majority do not want us there so lets go home. Supposedly if we go home the terrorist will like us according he the vast knowledge of the cultural elites in this country.
So lets leave it to them, Lets bring all our people back home.

[Gomorrah]

10:48 AM on 08/27/2010

Realistically, Americans cannot care more about Pakistan than Pakistanis do. If Pakistanis are hellbent on seeing the country go downhill, we can’t stop the slide. If the military elite is committed to a doomed strategy against India that progressively impoverishes the country and distorts its development, we can argue the case with them, but we cannot force them to change their minds — and we cannot spare them the consequences of the inevitable failure. If the country’s educated classes are more interested in looting the state, exploiting the poor and maintaining the stranglehold of rural elites than in developing the country and building its future, we cannot change their minds — and we cannot protect them from the domestic and international consequences of their suicidal choice.

[Gomorrah]

07:04 PM on 08/26/2010

Maybe this is a lesson for all countries..if you use terrorism as a state policy, outsiders are more inclined to look at your country for what it is..

[Gomorrah]

07:03 PM on 08/26/2010

Not really. The Pakistan Army and ISI arelady know whats going on. So they can every easily diverth the $13 Billion they have kept aside for the 14 F-16s and two nuclear plant from China for this. Its more than enough to build back those mud huts and what not.

[Blues02]

06:26 PM on 08/26/2010

I have definitely noticed a lack of coverage on the floods. Even on HP there is like one story shoved at the bottom of the page about it.

[Marcus Aurelius]

04:42 PM on 08/26/2010

Pakistan definately has an image problem in the west. Western media tends to focus, rightly or wrongly, on the terrorism problems in the country. So it makes it quite hard to drum up support for humanitarian efforts there.

A relatively balanced Irish take on the matter:
http://rulehibernia.com/2010/08/aid-fails-to-flood-pakistan/

[Media Basher]

03:50 PM on 08/26/2010

Obama seems to support the deaths of Pakistani civilians, after all he spends quite a lot of money towards that end

Sending aid would be like betting against himself

[johnnyinqueens]

01:33 AM on 08/26/2010

Why would I donate a dollar when I know that 99 cents will wind up in some crooked politicians or military dictators pocket? No charity can convince me otherwise.

[snik2bor]

09:26 AM on 08/26/2010

This is either an opportunity for the west to reach out to everyday Pakistani people or to hold back and let extremists invest in that country. We will pay for either choice, but the latter will probably involve more violence and instability in the region. We are already sinking money into Pakistan, this can be an opportunity to cultivate relationships beyond the central leadership of the country, to declare to the individual Pakistani that the world does care, you are not alone or forgotten. That said, I see your point. Who can we donate to so that we know the money will reach actual people in need. I know why I should but I certainly don't know to whom I should.

[netaholic13]

01:57 AM on 08/29/2010

so why don't you pack your luggage right away and fly there to make sure your 99 cents received by the victims?

[Yikes11]

04:52 PM on 08/25/2010

How do you think the 99ers feel and we live here?

http://www.99ers.net/pbsnewshour-takes-a-look-99ers.php

[twowrongs]

01:02 AM on 08/29/2010

You are invisible, except if you threaten to cost us money. Actual current human suffering is not interesting. If you were tortured 2000 years ago you might be getting lots more love.

[wm1066]

04:44 PM on 08/25/2010

Aljazeera has been all over this every night since it happened, they have had extensive coverage of the flooding. But they also covered the story in Pakistan of the two teenagers that were beaten to death in front of a crowd with the police looking on,( they where mistaken for thieves), that doesn't help to get aide for their country.

[snik2bor]

04:34 PM on 08/25/2010

I believe you are correct in your assessment that there is a degree of Islamaphobia or identification of Pakistan as the enemy in regards to the Western response to this tragedy. I believe there is also a lack of trust by private individuals in the government of Pakistan to use contributions effectively or justly. Combined with the lack of attention you cite this tragedy does pose the real threat of increasing the presence of extremist thought in that country. As I said in response to Beenish Ahmed on the subject, if the only help available is coming from those promoting extremist ideologies, then those are the relationships that will be cultivated in the aftermath. The world must reach out to help, a failure to do so endangers not only Pakistani's but the region and the world at large. That said, more must be done to help average citizens in the world to identify legitimate actors in Pakistan who are trustworthy and doing good work for the people of that nation. Help the world know where to send money or goods. There is a level of blindness that the world holds for this region, so someone with your voice can help to highlight the options available for helping the people of Pakistan. Thank you for this article and your thoughts.