巴基斯坦洪灾救援工作面临资金短缺

Relief efforts for five million people affected¹ by flooding in Sindh province of Pakistan are threatened because of a lack of funds, aid agencies say.

救援机构称，对巴基斯坦信德省500万受洪灾影响的灾民的救援工作因为资金缺乏而面临困境。

The agencies have warned that diseases are on the rise and food stocks are low
Oxfam, Save the Children, Care and the French agency, Acted, have warned that more than nine million people are at risk of disease and malnutrition²（营养不良） .

The groups warn they may have to curtail³ their relief operations unless donors⁴ provide more money soon.

Less than a third of the UN's relief target of $357m has been reached.

Correspondents say that while the press statement released by the agencies does not apportion⁵（分配） blame, the Pakistani government's overall response to the flooding has in recent months come in for heavy criticism.

Neither foreign donors nor the government in Islamabad have commented on the statement, but correspondents say the perception is that for a second year running, the government in particular has failed flood victims.

The four aid agencies say that three million Pakistanis still require emergency food assistance and 800,000 remain displaced.

Officials in Sindh say that at least four of the province's 22 districts still remain under water.

The four agencies say that the lack of funding for flood relief programmes will have serious consequences if money is not found soon to help those in need.

This year's floods in the southern province of Sindh are thought to be worse than last year's deluge⁶（洪水，泛滥） and have killed about 250 people.

Caused by heavy monsoon⁷ rains, the floods have damaged or destroyed some 1.5 million houses in Sindh alone since they began in August, the aid agencies say.

Officials have repeatedly expressed fears about the rapid spread of disease, warning that the problems affecting Sindh are getting more acute.

On Wednesday, the four aid agencies said that:
 Oxfam would be forced to cut back its work after December, meaning the 3.9 million people it planned to reach will now go without help.
 Save the Children has so far raised only 35% of its global appeal for the Sindh floods.
 Care faces a shortfall of 91% and is struggling to continue its relief programme.