UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations has announced an emergency allocation of $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to aid Pakistan in tackling the devastating floods.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said , contribution, approved by UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, adds to the $600,000 already released through OCHA’s Asia-Pacific Regional Fund and the $250,000 provided by the Pakistan Country-Based Pooled Fund to support local NGOs.

According to the UN, the funds will be directed towards cash assistance, health services, water and sanitation, shelter, food, and other urgent humanitarian needs.

“Our humanitarian colleagues are working hand-in-hand with the government to assist survivors in flood-affected areas,” Dujarric told reporters at the regular UN briefing in New York, while appealing for additional international support.

Meanwhile, Dujarric, citing UN reports, said that many villages remain submerged, with some water depths up to 10 meters, delaying obviously humanitarian access and the ability to assess the situation.

Priority needs include sanitation and hygiene, health, shelter, food and water, he said.

“Our partners working in health have expressed concerns over a rise in waterborne diseases in many parts,” the spokesperson said.

“We are working to supporting the Government-led response and OCHA has deployed staff to the affected area in Punjab to support the coordination efforts.

“While these new funds will enable lifesaving aid, existing resources are nearly exhausted and urgent additional funding is critically needed”, Dujarric added.