Flood-hit Pakistan accepts India aid

PAKISTAN has accepted £3.2 million in aid from arch-rival and neighbour, India, as the nation struggles to cope with its worst ever natural disaster.

The flood, which has left one-fifth of the country under water and affected 20 million people, has, as Pakistan's United Nations ambassador explained, transcended any differences between the two countries.

Abdullah Haroon welcomed the offer which followed a conversation between the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, on Thursday.

India's UN ambassador, Hardeep Singh Puri, said the donation of relief supplies was an initial offer and his country was ready to do more if needed. He said: "We are willing to do all in our power to assist Pakistan in facing the consequences of floods. We extend our wholehearted support to the government of Pakistan in its efforts for relief and rehabilitation of the population."

A two-day meeting of the UN General Assembly highlighted the immediate need for aid. The initial outpouring from some 70 countries was "indeed heartening" and "a good beginning" said Haroon, though he stressed the country will need much more help in the months and years to come.

At the start of the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said donors had given just half of the $460m (300m) needed to provide food, shelter and clean water for to up to eight million flood victims in the next three months.

He said more helicopters were needed to reach communities cut off by the water, while experts warned of a second wave of deaths from water-borne diseases such as cholera. Officials estimate about 1,600 people have already died as a result of the floods.