U.N. agencies, Pakistan government launch rapid needs assessment, provide aid in flood-affected regions

"United Nations humanitarian agencies have begun to assist communities in southern Pakistan that have been pummeled by monsoon rains which have claimed the lives of almost 200 people and destroyed or damaged nearly one million homes in an area still recovering from last year's catastrophic floods," the U.N. News Centre reports. The U.N. and the Pakistan government "have begun a rapid needs assessment in Sindh, with shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene and health care expected to be the priorities," the news service writes (9/10).

"To date, the government has responded by providing 150,000 medical consultations, establishing fixed medical camps and mobile medical teams along with 17,000 water purification units, and distributing millions of aqua tabs and 25,000 jerry cans for collecting water," in addition to providing shelter and food for the flood-affected population, according Pakistan Today. The newspaper adds that "[d]espite such relief efforts, needs remain huge" (9/11).