FLOODWATERS WHICH CONTINUE to ravage Pakistan won’t recede until the end of this month, according to the country’s top meteorologist, Arif Mahmood.

Mahmood says that current flooding is heading for major cities in the south such as Hyderabad and Sukkur, but no heavy rain is forecast for this week.

Twenty million people have been affected by severe flooding which began three weeks ago. Just under 1 million homes have been damaged, leaving four million people homeless.

Pakistan’s national disaster management authority has set up special phone lines to help them identify the bodies of flood victims. Around 1,500 people have died.

Call for aid

Speaking on the radio this morning, Trócaire’s Paul Healy said the north of the country was a “desolate wasteland”, with no water, medicine or utilities to cook food.

The UN is holding an emergency session today, to push for international donors to supply funds for Pakistan. So far, only half of the $460 million the UN has appealed for has actually been pledged.

Minister Peter Power will address the General Assembly at the meeting, which begins at 8pm Irish time. The EU announced an extra €30m, bringing the total donated by the EU to €70m.

A spokesperson for the UN said that despite the initial sluggish response to the disaster, the pace of donations was picking up:

There has been an increase in the pace of pledges, but we still need more funds, tents, food, water and medical supplies.