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Tuesday, 31 August 2010


People suffering because of the flooding in Pakistan need a lot more help urgently, says a senior United Nations official.

More help needed in Pakistan

People suffering because of the flooding in Pakistan need a lot more help urgently, says a senior United Nations official.

The UN says the situation in Pakistan is the worst crisis the world has seen in decades. The flooding and devastation has killed 1,600 people and 20 million people have been affected in total.

Director of emergency operations for Unicef in New York, Louis-George Arsenault, described the lack of help from other countries as “quite extraordinary”.

In the space of 24 hours, it’s thought that 200,000 people fled Sindh province in the south of the country. People are leaving their homes, work and schools to find safety. Barriers to keep water out have been broken.

The Pakistani government says it could cost as much as £10 billion to rebuild after the floods.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says diseases are spreading. Only 10% of people who have been made homeless have shelter in relief camps. The rest are trying to survive with nothing.

India has sent $5-million dollars in aid as a goodwill gesture, despite the two countries constantly feuding.

The UN says it has raised more than half of the £460 million needed. For more information on the emergency appeal go to www.dec.org.uk.

 


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  • Mirri04 (Age 12) wrote on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 @ 20:56

    This is really devastating news.My family is sending HUGE parcels to Pakistan which consist of sheets,medicine,food and much more survival aid.

  • nwilliams wrote on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 @ 21:49

    That's really kind of them Mirri04. It's such a sad thing to happen.

  • lambchop (Age 10) wrote on Wednesday, 1 September 2010 @ 16:20

    I hope the people there are alright.

  • 09AhmedA (Age 13) wrote on Thursday, 2 September 2010 @ 21:42

    I feel really sorry for them and as mirrio4 is my sister my parents sent money and food to them

  • nwilliams wrote on Friday, 3 September 2010 @ 09:20

    Hi 09AhmedA - lovely to meet you. As you will see, Mirri04 posts on here quite a bit :). That's very kind of your parents. One of the biggest problems that Pakistan is facing is that there have been so many disasters across the world recently that people aren't donating any more. Plus, with it being the summer holidays, schools haven't been able to help by raising money from mufti days and asking people to donate supplies. It is all very sad :(