DAIRA DINPANAH, Pakistan (AP) — A "never-ending disaster" is how a U.N. official is describing the situation in Pakistan after the devastating floods of this year's monsoon season.
The U.N. says more than 3 million people have yet to receive the food aid they desperately need, while the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million have received no help of any sort. The country's disaster agency is appealing to international donors to send tents, ambulances, mobile clinics and hygiene kits.
The lack of aid has led to anger against the already-fragile government and that's further hampering relief efforts. The Red Cross has twice halted aid distributions after being confronted by mobs of people upset they were not getting enough.
Part of the problem is the scale of the crisis. The floods that began as a slow wave of destruction across Pakistan at the end of July, swamping as much as one-fifth of the country and leaving 8 million people dependent on aid, according to the U.N. and the number keeps growing.
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<<APPHOTO XAF117 (09/04/10)>>
: A Pakistani boy looks as they cross a flooded road in Shah Jamal village, Muzaffargarh district, Punjab Province, Pakistan Saturday Sept. 4, 2010. More than 3 million people have yet to receive desperately needed food aid, according to the U.N., and the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million people have received no help of any sort.
<<APPHOTO XAF114 (09/03/10)>>
: In this Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 photo, children cross a makeshift bridge to reach the flood-damaged house of Abdul Rehman at Daira Dinpanah, Muzaffargarh district, Punjab Province, in Pakistan. More than 3 million people have yet to receive desperately needed food aid, according to the U.N., and the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million people have received no help of any sort.
<<APPHOTO XAF111 (09/03/10)>>
: In this Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 photo, a villager walks past the rubble of the flood-damaged house of Abdul Rehman at Daira Dinpanah, Muzaffargarh district, Punjab Province, in Pakistan. More than 3 million people have yet to receive desperately needed food aid, according to the U.N., and the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million people have received no help of any sort.
<<APPHOTO XAF103 (09/04/10)>>
: A Pakistani family displaced by floods prepares to cross a flooded road as the rain falls, in Shah Jamal village, Muzaffargarh district, Punjab Province, Pakistan, Saturday Sept. 4, 2010. More than 3 million people have yet to receive desperately needed food aid, according to the U.N., and the Pakistani government says nearly 1 million people have received no help of any sort.
