4 Aug 2010

NZ to provide $2m in aid for flood-hit Pakistan

10:28 am on 4 August 2010

New Zealand will provide $NZ2 million in emergency aid for flooded areas in Pakistan.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, says the flooding in the north west is the worst in living memory there.

Three million people are affected and more than 1400 are dead.

Mr McCully says the aid will go towards international efforts to provide emergency shelter, drinking water, food and medical supplies.

He says health organisations are concerned about the risk of a cholera outbreak, so it is important that aid agencies move quickly to avoid further loss of life from disease.

New Zealand's funding will be be shared between the Red Cross, United Nations relief agencies and other agencies already working in Pakistan.