United Nations Radio

As the flood crisis continues in Pakistan, the United Nations humanitarian agency estimates that 800,000 people in need of assistance across the country are only accessible by air.

WFP-chartered helicopter

The World Food Programme (WFP) says it needs more helicopters in order to deliver humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Pakistan.

The UN food agency says it has commitment for about 30 helicopters which it expects to get in the next week.

WFP spokesperson Emilia Casella points out that forty more helicopters will be needed on top of that for a total of 70 helicopters in order for the agency to be able to deliver the much needed humanitarian assistance in Pakistan.

"In one month, five helicopters will reach about 140,000 individuals with food and non-food items. We will work out how we deliver these items because the World Food Programme is also delivering many non-food items for our partner organizations for our sister organizations. And so that will be decided together with the whole humanitarian community based on the needs of the specific communities where we are flying."

In a related development the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says it is revising its appeal for Pakistan's flood victims to $120 million from the initial $41 million.

UNHCR says that will enable it to provide emergency shelter and assistance to 2 million people over the next four months.

On the health front, the World Health Organization says the cases of diarrhoeal disease, acute respiratory infections, skin diseases and malaria are being reported with growing concerns about the overall situation in Sindh and Punjab provinces.

 Gail Walker, United Nations Radio.

(duration: 1'43")