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Pakistan floods: 'millions hungry'

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 23 August 2010

Millions remain homeless and hungry after Pakistan's worst ever floods, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) begins talks with the Pakistan government on how to cope.

Pakistan floods continue as IMF meets government

TheIMF and government officials will meet in Washington today to review Pakistan's budget and economic prospects in the light of the disaster, which has affected 20 million people.

Four million are homeless and 1,500 people have died in the floods, which began three weeks ago. Aid groups are struggling to reach victims in the face of more heavy rains and damaged infrastructure, and there are now risks of fresh floods in the south.

UN humanitarian spokesman Maurizio Giuliano said the disaster continued to unfold.

"We cannot talk about starvation yet but I think we can talk about millions of people being hungry. Hunger is clearly a factor that contributes significantly to vulnerability," he said.

Read more from Jonathan Miller on the floods in Pakistan:
- Emergency aid 'not reaching' flood-hit Pakistan
- 'Four million' at risk from Pakistan floods
- '12 million' directly hit by Pakistan floods
- Pakistan floods: 'epic and historic' disaster
- Pakistan floods: military steps up rescue effort
- Pakistan floods: victim number exceeds tsunami
- More rain as Pakistan floods sweep south

The waters have been spreading through the rice-growing belt in southern Sindh province, and thousands have fled.

The continuing flood provides a backdrop to the IMF meeting today, which will focus on a $10bn IMF programme agreed in 2008.

Review
Officials said the budget and economic prospects of Pakistan would be reviewed because of the magnitude of the catastrophe.

Mr. Masood Ahmed, director of the Middle East and central Asia department of the IMF, said: "The floods which have hit Pakistan in recent weeks and brought suffering to millions of people will also pose a massive economic challenge to the people and government of Pakistan.

"The scale of the tragedy means that the country’s budget and macroeconomic prospects, which are being supported by an IMF financed program, will also need to be reviewed." 

Pakistan's economy is already propped up by the IMF, and experts estimate it will cost billions to rebuild the country after the floods.  

"In this context, we look forward to meeting with Pakistani government officials in Washington to evaluate the macroeconomic impact of the floods, assess the measures they are taking to address this impact, and discuss ways in which the IMF can assist Pakistan at this difficult juncture," said Mr Ahmed.  

"As highlighted by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn in his letter to President Asif Ali Zardari at the outset of this disaster, the IMF stands with Pakistan at this difficult time and will do its part to help the country." 

Aid
More than $800m has been donated or pledged to help Pakistan's flood victims by international donors, although some have criticised the international community for being slow to respond to the disaster.

Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said: "The solidarity and commitment which has been shown for Pakistan, this is greatly appreciated."

The government has also faced criticism for its slow response, which allowed Islamist humanitarian organisations to move in to distribute aid.

The floods have affected about one-fifth of Pakistan's territory, straining the civilian government as it also struggles against al Qaida and Taliban violence.

22 August - International community has donated up to $800m:
 United States                                                    $102m
 Saudi Arabia                                                      $65.3m
 United Kingdom                                                 $64.76m
 European Commission                                       $54.15m
 Australia                                                            $31.62m
 UN Central Emergency Response Fund                $16.60m
 Norway                                                              $14.81m
 Japan                                                                 $14.44m
 Germany                                                            $12.44m
 Turkey                                                               $11.77m
 Denmark                                                            $11.74m
 Sweden                                                             $9.98m
 China                                                                 $9.26m
 Finland                                                               $5.77m
 Spain                                                                 $5.51m

How to donate
To make a donation to the DEC Pakistan appeal call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque.

You can also donate £5 by texting the word GIVE to 70707.

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