United Nations set to launch Pakistan flood disaster appeal

International aid agency Oxfam said the floods were a “mega disaster” that required the world to mount a “mega response.”

Weather cleared Tuesday, allowing Pakistani, U.S. and Afghan helicopters to help distribute relief items and rescue people stranded in the northwest, said one military official.

“If we have a second wave, mortality will climb. Life-saving health assistance is a priority to ensure that we do not have a second wave of mortality,” said Martin Mogwanja, the U.N. coordinator in Pakistan.

In the south, there are warnings in towns and cities for people to remain on alert, but water levels were beginning to drop at the Guddu barrage and the meteorological office has forecast only scattered rain for the next two days.

“For the last three nights I have not have a good sleep as the water level in the river is constantly increasing. I do not know whether it is safe here or not,” shopkeeper Allah Rakhio told AFP in the city of Sukkur in Sindh.

Survivors have lashed out at authorities for failing to come to their rescue, piling pressure on Pakistan's cash-strapped administration straining to contain Taliban violence and an economic crisis. Related article: U.S. rescues 1,000 from Pakistan floods.

The U.N. said donors have already provided US$38.2 million while a further US$90.9 million has been promised, but on the ground Islamic charities with suspected extremist links have been far more visible in the relief effort.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who courted widespread criticism for not returning from Britain and France at a time of national disaster, was back home Tuesday, although it was not immediately clear if he would visit the affected areas.

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