Thaindian News

Islamabad, Sep 27 (IANS) Though many countries have announced assistance for the flood-affected people of Pakistan, the aid is inadequate, officials said Tuesday.

The international community has, so far, committed over $121 million. However, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it needs an estimated $356 million for rehabilitating the flood-affected people, Online news agency reported.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said the European Commission announced aid worth 10 million euro ($13 million), Norway 40 million Krone ($7 million), Denmark 460,000 Danish Krone ($84,270), Australia six million Australian dollars ($5.9 million), Saudi Arabia $11 million and Thailand $30,000.

Several organisations have also pledged help to the flood-hit people, Janjua said.

NDMA spokesman Irshad Bhatti said Pakistan needs $356 million and the amount received was not sufficient for tackling the magnitude of devastation.

Officials said rehabilitation activities in areas affected by floods last year were still not complete.

“About 800,000 houses damaged by floods in 2010 have not been reconstructed till now due to lack of resources. The amount received is too little to afford rehabilitation of the people hit by this year’s floods,” Bhatti said.

Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Sindh and Balochistan since August have left at least 412 people dead besides affecting over 8.2 million. Unicef said 2.7 million children were among the affected.

In 2010, more than 2,000 people were killed in the worst floods in the last 80 years. Damage to infrastructure was worth around $15 billion. The floods left 20 million people homeless.