Why many Pakistani-Americans aren't sending flood donations home

For example, MacSorely says 10 days after the earthquake hit Haiti, there were pledges equal to $495 for each person affected by the disaster. So far, he says there have been pledges of $3 for each person affected by the flooding.

The lack of response by international donors is perplexing, says Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Relief, the largest Muslim charity.

“In the past there was a lot more media coverage, more government officials and celebrities organizing benefits for those in need,” she says. “We don’t see that now.”

Islamic Relief has raised $2 million in cash and $22 million in donations of food, water, and clothing. But, the charity has now increased its appeal to raise $4 million.

“Our supporters have to dig deep,” says Ms. Ahmed, who adds that this is now the religious period of Ramadan, a time of giving.

Some of that money will come through grass-roots efforts such as one in Plainfield, Ind., where a local mosque will ask its members to give money for flood relief during an Iftar dinner. Iftar is the meal after the day-long Ramadan fast.

Some organizations are hopeful that in the next few days the pace of giving will pick up. For example, the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), which sent six doctors to Pakistan Aug. 14, is sending its members e-mails and appealing on its Facebook page for contributions. By Friday it also plans an appeal on ARY, a Dubai-based digital television station watched by many Pakistanis.

“When people donate to us, all the money goes to medical relief,” says Abida Haque, IMANA president in Houston. “Our physicians all travel at their own expense.”

She says there is a desperate need to vaccinate children, to treat wounds, and provide potable drinking water.

Organizations such as IMAMA, however, will have to win over people like Syed Irshad Bukhari, a Pakistani-American news dealer in Manhattan and Rizwan Hamid, manager of a restaurant in Queens.

Mr. Bukhari recalls giving money for earthquake relief in Pakistan and finding out corrupt officials took a generous amount for themselves. Now, he says, “If you are going to give help, you give it directly to relatives.”

And Mr. Hamid says he would give to only Humanity First, a charity that he knows and trusts. But, so far, he says he hasn’t given. Instead, if he knows a family that needs help, he would prefer to give them money directly.

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