From Pakistan: A Country In Crisis

More than 1,600 people have died since the flooding, caused by extremely heavy monsoon rains, began about a month ago.

Seventeen million more are affected, with towns and farmland destroyed.

Even after the floodwaters recede, Pakistan will be left with a massive relief and reconstruction effort that will cost billions of dollars and probably take years.

The UK and US are among countries which have pledged millions as part of the ongoing aid effort, but many fear Pakistan will still lack the funds necessary to recover from the worst natural disaster in the nation's history.

David O'Hare, who works for Trócaire in Belfast, is keen to raise awareness of the harsh reality facing the people of Pakistan.

Writing from the Sindh region, he tells his story - and those of the flood victims he encounters - to UTV.

David's Story

I arrived in Sindh last Wednesday and since then I have been visiting some of the communities Trócaire has been helping.

Trócaire has been working in several of the affected areas of Pakistan for nearly 40 years and, because we have built up a network of local partners, we were able to respond to the emergency almost immediately.

We have been funding rescue operations in Sindh as well as supplying food, water and hygiene kits to vulnerable communities.

This disaster has now affected more people than the Tsunami, Haiti and Pakistan earthquakes combined and the needs of the people still totally outweigh the response.

Villages have been wiped out and whole crops have been destroyed. The effects of losing their crops could be catastrophic for people in the coming months.

Millions of people are without clean water or food. Proper sanitation is critical and the threat of water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea is acute.

Children are starting to show signs of skin diseases and stomach problems.

The floods first affected the north-west, but the waters soon began to move south along the Indus River and the Sindh region - one of the poorest in Pakistan - has been feeling the devastating effects for several weeks.