The United Nations warned that humanitarian agencies are running out of resources to assist those affected by floods in southern Pakistan, even as the need for clean water, food, shelter and medical services increase among the more than three million people in affected communities.

The Deputy Executive Director for Operations of World Food Programme (WFP) Ramiro Lopes Da Silva said this during his call on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday. He was accompanied by Acting Country Director Dominique Frankefrot and other officials of World Food Programme.

During the meeting the President said the Government greatly appreciates UN and its various arms especially the WFP, for its support in providing relief to the flood affected people. He said that Government would provide all possible assistance to all who are engaged in relief activities.

Humanitarian agencies have food stocks to last a month, while safe drinking water and emergency shelter materials are expected to run out in weeks if not replenished, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA).

Pakistan has been severely affected by floods for the second consecutive year. The UN and its humanitarian partners have to date provided emergency shelter for 314,500 households and more than 1.6 million people have received medicines and medical consultations, the news release said.
More than 413,000 people have received food aid and the UN aims to double its support and provide up to 400,000 new beneficiaries with access to safe drinking water in the coming weeks.