The situation in Pakistan, where 21 million people have been affected by historic floods, is worsening, the United Nations said Tuesday. "The situation is worsening as we now have almost 21 million people directly affected by these floods," said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman at the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
While floodwaters are retreating from the north and centre of the country, the aid agencies are particularly concerned by the rising waters in Sindh, particularly in the Dadu district. In Sindh alone, "there are almost seven million victims," she said.
Byrs noted that aid agencies have augmented their relief efforts, but that an aid fund appeal is "still stagnating." The UN has received just 64 percent of the 460 million dollars required to help the flood victims. It had also warned that Pakistan faces a triple threat to food supplies - with seeds, crops and incomes hit. The floods have ruined 3.6 million hectares (8.9 million acres) of rich farmland, and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said farmers urgently needed seeds to plant for next year's crops.