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9/12/11 (AEIN) As heavy rains continued in southern Pakistan on Monday, the United Nations began working to supply food, shelter and medical aid to residents hit by severe flooding in the South Asian country. Many supplies were in transit as of Monday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the U.N. a short time ago.
U.N. agencies involved in the humanitarian aid mission include the World Health Organization, the World Food Program and the High Commissioner for Refugees. The U.N. reported on Monday that it was sending supplies that included 17 thousand shelter kits and rations for 500 thousand people. The World Health Organization has sent a variety of medicines and other medical supplies.
Pakistani authorities, non-profit organizations and foreign governments have also announced efforts to provide humanitarian assistance. The national government has delivered more than 512 thousand rations while the country's Red Crescent Society has supplied about 85 thousand tents. China announced a donation of nearly $5m dollars Sunday, according to China Radio International.
More than 220 thousand people have had to evacuate and almost one million homes were damaged or destroyed by the flooding, according to the U.N. In total, the floods have affected up to six million people in southern Pakistan. Additional flooding remains possible as heavy rains and thunderstorms persist in the area.