United Nations Radio

Unless the world responds immediately, more and more of the 3.5 million children affected by the floods in Pakistan will be at risk of contracting deadly water-borne diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea and cholera.

young boy from Pakistan

The warning comes from UNICEF's Executive Director, Anthony Lake, who says the humanitarian tragedy in Pakistan, has reached tragic proportions.

But, he adds serious shortfalls in funding are limiting UNICEF's ability to save lives as the crisis worsens.

He urges the global donor community to help "protect the children of Pakistan and to ensure that the floods which have destroyed their homes do not also destroy their futures."

UNICEF spokesman Marco Jimenez says the situation in Pakistan is very grave as rains continue.

"There are areas that continue being flooded and there are areas that are out of the reach of our activity at this very moment. In spite of this, UNICEF is managing to provide water to 1.5 million people every day but we have to think as well that the demand for clean water is increasing daily. In some points, the lack of funds is preventing us from just delivering the water or organizing even transportation in some areas."

Marco Jimenez says that in terms of protection, UNICEF has managed to help more than 3,000 children.

He also notes that the flood-affected areas are scattered all over Pakistan with some easy to reach while others are not.

He points out that the task of gathering data on numbers and a clear idea of where services are needed to be delivered is very difficult.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.
Duration: 1'30"