Pakistan calls for more aid amidst rising flood death toll

Pakistan has appealed to the international community for an “immense humanitarian response” to devastating flooding that has killed at least 1,265 people.

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for an “immense humanitarian response for 33 million people” affected by the monsoon rains that triggered the floods, Al Jazeera reports.

The request came as planes carried supplies to the impoverished country across a humanitarian air bridge.

International attention to Pakistan’s plight has increased as the number of deaths and homeless have risen. According to initial government estimates, the rain and flooding have caused $10bn in damage.

“The scale of devastation is massive and requires an immense humanitarian response for 33 million people. For this I appeal to my fellow Pakistanis, Pakistan expatriates and the international community to help Pakistan in this hour of need,” he said at a news conference on September 3.

Multiple officials and experts have blamed the unusual monsoon rains and flooding on climate change, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who earlier this week called on the world to stop “sleepwalking” through the deadly crisis. He will visit Pakistan on September 9 to tour flood-hit areas and meet officials.

Earlier this week, the UN and Pakistan jointly issued an appeal for $160m in emergency funding to help the millions of people affected by the floods, which have damaged more than one million homes.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in its latest report on Saturday, counted 57 more deaths from flood-affected areas. That brought the total death toll since monsoon rains began in mid-June to 1,265, including 441 children.