Aid agencies have appealed for donations to help victims of the Pakistani floods that have claimed more than 1,400 lives.
The Irish Red Cross has appealed for aid for the country, which is facing severe food and water shortages since the worst floods in a generation displaced more than 1.3 million people.
Some €12.5 million is urgently needed to provide emergency relief to 25,000 families in Pakistan who have been affected by severe flooding, the IRC said in a statement.
Money raised by the appeal will help provide food, shelter, emergency health care, water and sanitation to the people of Pakistan.
Declan O’Sullivan, acting secretary general of the Irish Red Cross, explained many communities have not yet been reached due to rising flood waters which have cut off road networks.
“With further heavy rain, there is a real danger that the flooding will spread further south into Sindh province. Thousands of people are living in miserable conditions and providing clean water and sanitation is an absolute priority if we are to avert a public health disaster,” he said.
Irish aid agency Concern yesterday issued a worldwide appeal to raise €5 million to help the victims of the flood disaster.
Concern regional director Brid Kennedy said: “The Irish public and the government have always rallied to help victims of natural disasters and we are asking for the public’s urgent help for Pakistan.
“This is a terrible catastrophe affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the world who are living in dire poverty.”
Meanwhile Trócaire has committed €200,000 to help families and communities in the north west of the country.
More than 12 inches of rain has fallen in 36 hours causing huge flooding in north-west Pakistan.