The United Nations said Friday monsoon rain now sweeping across parts of Pakistan would worsen conditions in regions severely affected by floods that have made hundreds of thousands of homeless, dpa reported.
In a teleconference between Islamabad and UN headquarters in New York, Martin Mojwanja, the chief of UN programmes in Pakistan, said the number of flood victims would likely increase in coming days.
He estimated the death toll at 1,400 while Islamabad says 1,600 have died.
Mojwanja said the UN system in Pakistan planned a flash appeal for Pakistan. Needs could top 1 billion dollars once on-the-ground assessment is finished.
"The response from the international community has not been sufficient so far and the monsoon season can worsen the situation in water-logged regions," Mojwanja said.
UN organizations assisting the government in Pakistan said the record floods were affecting an estimated 4 million people - lower than the 12 million estimated by Islamabad.
The UN said floods are the worst in more than 80 years in Pakistan. Mojwanja compared the situation to the 2005 earthquake that devastated parts of Pakistan and killed 80,000 people.
"With many hundreds of thousands of people displaced and without adequate shelter, food and water, government departments and aid agencies are in a race against time to reach affected communities while many roads and key bridges remain cut off," it said.
UNHCR said it expected to receive on Saturday from the Saudi Fund for Development 25,000 tents, 380,000 blankets, 126,000 plastic tarpaulins, 100,000 mattresses and 25,000 kitchen sets as well as 20,000 food parcels for Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that begins next week.