(The United) Nations has launched an appeal for more than $450 million to help those affected by the floods in Pakistan. The money is for immediate relief in the next three months. The UN relief coordinator John Holmes said the disaster was one of the most challenging that any country has faced in recent years. He said that unless the provision of aid such as food and clean water to millions of displaced people was rapidly increased, many more lives would be at risk.

"It is an unfolding disaster. It is not over by any stretch of the imagination. So I would encourage you to be as generous as you possibly can in response to what is a major catastrophe."
The United Nations says 14 million people have been affected by the floods; at least 1,200 people have died. From Pakistan, here is Aleem Maqbool.