MINISTER FOR STATE with responsibility for Overseas Development, Peter Power has said that Irish aid agencies will be given additional support to fund their relief efforts in Pakistan.

The Minister confirmed that 100 large multi-purpose tents had been sent from ireland to Pakistan.

Power also confirmed that the government had lodged over €20m with the UN for emergency situations such as this. He said that this money could be drawn up by the UN. He also said that the government would make further funds available to Irish agencies working on the ground in Pakistan.

The UN said that only a quarter of the half-billion dollars in aid needed had been pledged.

Power said that Ireland’s response had been proportionally greater than many other countries. The government have released €800,000 in funds for the immediate humanitarian response.

Power said he would today be meeting Pakistan’s representative in Ireland to discuss the disaster.

Mr Power also put Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps on standby ready to deploy should they be requested.

Speaking from the ground in southern Pakistan Goal’s Brian Casey said the situation was “very very serious”.

“The rains are continuing which is obviously causing us ongoing problems”. He said the situation still getting worse.