Pakistan floods affect 3 million people: UNICEF

Islamabad, Aug 3: The worst floods in Pakistan have affected more than three million people so far and claimed the lives of more than 1,400 people, a spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, Aug 3.

Abdul Sami Malik, UNICEF spokesman said 1.3 million people were severely affected by the floods which have brought heavy criticism of the government over its response to the disaster.

Pakistani authorities are struggling to help victims of the flooding, many of whom have lost their homes and livelihood and say they had not received any official warnings that floods were heading their way.

According to the media sources, aid agencies and Pakistani government officials will meet to determine whether they need to make an urgent international appeal for help.

Officials said it was too early to estimate the damage the floods had caused to the economy, but the rains had so far spared the main agricultural heartland in the Punjab.

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said more than 29,500 houses were damaged and a key trade highway to China was blocked by flooding.

"The entire infrastructure we built in the last 50 years has been destroyed," said Adnan Khan, spokesperson for the provincial Disaster Management Authority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

OneIndia News