August 18, 2010 7:47 PM

printer

Will spend extra 30 million euros to fund emergency aid for Pak flood victims, says EU

The European Union says it will spend an extra 30 million euros to fund emergency aid for victims of devastating floods in Pakistan. The announcement brings the total promised by the EU to 70 million euros and does not include money donated by individual EU member states. It comes as the UK criticised the international response to the crisis, describing it as woefully inadequate.Even as aid becomes the primary focus, there have been warnings of fresh flooding in some of Pakistan's provinces. A series of towns in north-west Sindh, close to the border with Baluchistan, have been placed on high alert. Rising floodwaters, carried by the River Indus, are travelling south and are expected to hit the region soon. UN officials say the floods are now covering an area the size of England. At least 1,600 people have been killed, with health officials warning the toll could rise as water-borne diseases spread. The authorities say as many as 20 million people are affected by the floods. Aid agencies say six million people are in need of immediate assistance but many have received no aid at all. The distribution of supplies has been hampered by severe damage to the country's infrastructure, with roads and bridges washed away or blocked by landslides.

Most Read
View All arrow-right

No posts found.