Clegg praises Britain's generosity in Pakistan

  • 14 years ago

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has praised the generosity and compassion of people in Britain after being shown round the offices of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

But the UN has said 40 more heavy-lift helicopters are urgently needed to reach some 800-thousand people cut off by the floods and only accessible by air.

Villagers made homeless by Pakistan's devastating floods continue to make their way to drier ground as others return to their homes to survey the damage.

In Shikarpur, in Sindh province, people waded through waist-deep floodwater, carrying their few remaining belongings on their heads.

Khadim Hussain complained that, in spite of promises from government officials, no boats were being provided to transport him and his companions.

"When we ask again they shout "We don't have any boats, die in the floodwater, this is not our concern". They are misbehaving with people. When they want votes, they visit us and request for votes and now we need their help they run away," he said.

Many of those made homeless had set up makeshift camps along the side of the roads in Sindh province. Some of the men are attempting to rebuild broken walls, and clear debris.

The floods began almost a month ago with the onset of the monsoon and have ravaged a huge swath of the country, from the mountainous north through to its agricultural heartland.

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