Floods affect 21 million in Pakistan

The United Nations says floods have now affected more than 21-million people in Pakistan as advancing floodwaters continue to threaten more towns in the country’s south.

The world body made the announcement following more flooding in the southern province of Sindh.

“The floods here in Pakistan have affected almost 21 million people – it is one of the biggest humanitarian crises the world has seen.” said Valerie Amos, the new UN humanitarian chief, who arrived in Pakistan Tuesday.

One month after Pakistan’s worst natural disaster, authorities continue with efforts to protect several towns in Sindh Province, including Johi, which lies 315 km (195 miles) north of Karachi with a population of 60,000.

The UN says more than 10-million people have been left without shelter in Pakistan.

More than 1,700 people have also been killed by the weeks-long floods, which have engulfed an area the size of England.