As aid agencies worldwide prepare for a barrage of charitable appeals to help beleaguered floodbound farmers in northern Pakistan and the Punjab region, analysts warned that people shouldn't hold their collective breaths in anticipation of an overwhelming tide of charitable donations.
Because the West remains deeply suspicious of Pakistan, as demonstrated by UK PM and diplomat par excellence, David Cameron.
Leading analyst, Garth Greengrass told us:
"Whilst there remains no doubt that these unfortunate people need urgent assistance - I just can't see it happening on a similar scale such as seen in African droughts, or the 2004 tsunami.
"The problem arises because Pakistan is a predominantly Moslem nation, and Westerners generally regard this with suspicion. It's understandable that people in general look at things in this way - given that Al Qaeda has strong links with Pakistan, and that coalition soldiers continue to arrive home in body bags.
"It doesn't help when misguided individuals take up arms in support of a jihad which they do not totally comprehend, and it doesn't help that Western right wing extremists continue to tar all Moslems with the same "terrorist" brush. These people are human beings who need help - yet because of the people who allegedly wage jihad in their name - however misguidedly - and the people who rage at Islam - it isn't likely to happen. It should be regarded as a global humanitarian catastrophe - but it won't be, because the extremists tend to have the loudest voices."
Meanwhile, people suffer and die, disease runs rampant, and there is still no sign of compromise. Compromise is not a dirty word, as Bono out of U2 once said.
Our final word comes from a UK man in the street:
"How can they expect us to send them aid money when they applaud things like 9/11 and the London suicide bombings of 7/7? I don't see Al Qaeda exactly rushing to help..."
Which sadly reflects a society when blind bigotry on both sides completely overwhelms humanitarianism. A society where extremism is the only way?
"Life is a two way street," one passerby told a Skoob News reporter. "These extremist people on both sides need to radically adjust their thinking caps and get real. I can't ever see that happening though. They're way too stupid, and indoctrination runs deep."
More as we get it. Hopefully when people learn something - like basic humanity.
