Aid flowing in to Pakistan is “feeble”, says OXFAM

UN member states are expected to commit themselves to a resolution to urge the international community "to extend full support and assistance" to Pakistan. Oxfam has said that Britain needs to donate more to help the flood victims.

The international community has so far donated half of the €385 million required to fund the first relief efforts. The European Union has vowed to pledge another €30 million, following commitments from other countries such as Japan and Australia.

The Islamic Development Bank has pledged around €8.5 million euros.

Oxfam’s country director in Pakistan Neva Khan said "The UK government has made a good start in committing more than €36 million… But it can and should do much more to help the people of Pakistan.”

"Britain should be leading from the front by committing more aid money and continuing to press other wealthy countries,” Khan said, "So far, the response from Europe has been feeble.”

The floods have caused immense disaster to Pakistan, where over 1,600 people were killed and the lives of millions disrupted. Highlighting the scale of the disaster, the UN said the area covered by flooding was equivalent to "Austria, Switzerland and Belgium combined".

Hundreds of villages have been secluded while thousands of cattle, which were imperative to many villagers, have drowned. The outbreak of the cholera disease still remains a serious threat, in particular towards children.

Weather forecasters say the monsoon rains should ease over the next few days, bringing a slight respite.