The deteriorating security situation is causing problems for relief agencies in certain parts of flood-hit Pakistan, a Belfast charity worker in the country has told UTV.
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By David O'Hare in Pakistan
We had to defer a distribution of essential aid last week in Peshawar in north-west Pakistan because of security concerns.
There were gun battles between the authorities and militants and as a consequence the city was locked down.
We managed to distribute the supplies a few days later but on Friday a bomb exploded just outside the city, killing one policeman and injuring several others - so the situation in the area is very tense.
We have to get this aid to the people who desperately need it, but we also have to make sure our staff are safe as they go about their work. Hopefully the situation will improve in the coming days and we will be able to carry out further distributions as soon as possible.
Trócaire has been carrying out other distributions in the south of the country in Sindh province.
People in Sindh are taking shelter in schools and food is a real problem. We distributed emergency food rations to flood survivors at four schools at the end of last week and the people were really grateful.
This food will help them in the coming weeks, but they will then face huge difficulties when they return home to try to rebuild their lives as most have lost their houses and all their crops.
David O'Hare works for Trócaire in Belfast. His updates from Pakistan are being serialised for UTV's website. More information on the relief effort in Pakistan, including how to donate, can be found on Trócaire's website.
© UTV News