floods

The UK government has made a good start in committing more than £30m ($38m). But it can and should do much more to help the people of Pakistan. This is a disaster on an unprecedented scale which needs an equally robust response.

The European Commission (EC) has announced today an additional €30 million in urgent relief assistance for the people affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) urges the international community to play its part in meeting the immediate needs of millions of Pakistanis, and warns that without long-term funding, rebuilding this devastated country will prove virtually impossible.

Against the backdrop of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's visit to devastated areas of Pakistan, international aid agency Oxfam today says that the visit is welcome as the humanitarian community struggles to cope with limited funds and a rapidly escalating crisis.

Continuous heavy rain has caused problems including flooding and landslides in at least 12 provinces in China since June, affecting 200 million people. Oxfam has been working in Guizhou and Yunnan in recent weeks, bringing badly needed humanitarian relief.

Responding to the United Nations announcement that it is calling for $459m for the Pakistan

The floods that have engulfed Pakistan over the last week are a mega disaster and the world needs to mount a mega response to ensure the millions affected get the help they need, international aid agency Oxfam said today as it called for a “gear shift” in the response to the crisis.

Mobile water tanks, first aid, boats and local volunteers have been put on high alert by Oxfam as the worst floods in living memory surge south.

Local people are working around the clock to rescue families cut off by rising flood waters. Using wooden fishing boats, a navy of local fishermen known as "Malah" and volunteers are working with local groups, Oxfam, and the Pakistani authorities to evacuate more than 50,000 people.

Less than a week into the crisis, Oxfam is delivering clean water to almost 100,000 people made homeless by catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.