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MaximsNewsNetwork: Journalists at the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations in Geneva were told today (20 August) that there are signs that the crisis in Pakistan is worsening, as new flood waters continue to surge south along the Indus River and more flood defences collapse, forcing people to flee their homes; the situation in flood-stricken Pakistan is still unfolding, and United Nations agencies (W.H.O., W.F.P, UNHCR, UN OCHA, W.M.O.) are redoubling their efforts to provide assistance to the millions of people affected by the disaster. The floods, which began late last month in the wake of particularly heavy monsoon rains, have so far claimed 1,200 lives and destroyed homes, farmland and major infrastructure in large parts of the country. World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Dr. Daniel Eduardo Lopez Acuna said the health impact on the people of Pakistan is enormous, noting an, urgent need to restore more than 200 health facilities and hospitals damaged and destroyed." UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters that the organisation was increasingly concerned about the flight of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, with more than 1.5 million in flood affected areas. World Food Programme (WFP) Emilia Casella, Spokesperson said that the situation on the ground continued to evolve daily. But Elizabeth Byrs spokesperson for the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (UN OCHA) sounded a more optimistic note telling journalists that donors had pledged more money and that 55 percent of its appeal had been met. SOUNDBITE (French) Carine Richard-Van Maele, Spokesperson, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO): "Today there is an alarm again for the district of Iderabad. The Indus River in Kutry will reach exceptionally high levels." SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Daniel Eduardo Lopez Acuna, Spokesperson, World Health Organisation (WHO): "The health impact to the people of Pakistan has been enormous, firstly by destruction of the public health infrastructure and secondly from the increased risk of disease caused by the flooding. There is an urgent need to restore more than 200 health facilities and hospitals damaged and destroyed. It is important to give priority to providing basic health care to more than 7 million people in need of emergency aid." SOUNDBITE (English) Emilia Casella, Spokesperson World Food Programme (WFP): "We are facing a constantly shifting picture, roads are passable one day and impassable the next. Helicopters can take off one day, and in another day are all grounded. And this is the situation that is really complicating the relief effort in terms of getting not just food, but many other vital supplies to the people who are cut off." SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Byrs, Spokeswoman, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): "There is a movement now, it's moving in the right direction as we say it. There is a mobilization now going on. We have over 55 percent of our appeal. Even the bilateral aid in kind, in cash, is increasing and I think we can only say that we are happy to see that and we hope that this space will continue, in order to finance all the UN agencies Programs. They badly need this money, they all pointed out that they need this money as soon as possible." ...... ( UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION: UNTV ) ... .............................................................. MaximsNewsGlobalHealth See: http://www.MaximsNewsGlobalHealth.com MaximsNewsNetwork: News Network for the United Nations and the International Community. See: http://www.MaximsNews.com. "GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" ....................................................................................