CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- An umbrella organization for Australia's non-governmental aid groups is investigating whether donations sent to Pakistan were diverted to terrorists.
Australians gave more than A$5 million (US$3.8 million) last year to help victims of Pakistan's earthquake, while the federal government donated A$74 million (US$56.5 million).
Reports from Britain that aid money collected there for earthquake relief may have helped finance the foiled plot to bomb passenger planes, has sparked concern with the Australian Council for International Development.
"We are anxious to make sure aid money was used appropriately and was not inadvertently diverted to other groups," The Australian quoted Paul O'Callaghan, ACID's executive director.
ACID said nine non-governmental organizations in Australia were involved in relief efforts for Pakistan, including Muslim Aid Australia, World Vision Australia and Oxfam Australia.
According to the report Monday experts said that chaotic conditions in Pakistan after the quake that killed 87,000 people made it difficult for aid agencies to ensure all funding reached appropriate recipients.
Most of those arrested in Britain in the airline bomb plot had connections to Pakistan.
