Editorial comment: The latest reports from Pakistan give us the numbers of victims: there are 20 million displaced persons (nearly 12 percent of Pakistan’s population) and 1600 people have died. There are on-going dangers of deadly diseases increasing the numbers of victims of this catastrophic natural disaster.

"The World Health Organization has expressed concern about the threat to thousands of survivors from diarrhea, measles, malaria, respiratory infections, and other diseases spreading in flood-affected areas." (Radio Free Europe) -SON

At a special meeting of the General Assembly, Mr Ban said the UN had raised nearly half the $460m (£295m) wanted for initial relief, but said the response remained slow.

Pakistan's deadly floods are a "slow-motion tsunami" that has presented an ongoing crisis, Ban Ki-moon, the UN chief, said on Thursday night as he urged countries to give more aid.

"Make no mistake: this is a global disaster, a global challenge," he said.

Large parts of the country remain submerged and there are fears of more flooding as water continues to surge down the Indus river. Floods have affected about one-fifth of Pakistan's territory, leaving at least 1,500 people dead and more than four million with no shelter.

President Asif Ali Zardari gave warning on Thursday that the world must act quickly to stop militants exploiting the disaster to cause social unrest.

Large parts of the country remain submerged after weeks of heavy rain.

On Thursday, Britain said it would double its aid to Pakistan to £64.3 million. The US raised its contribution towards emergency flood relief to $150 million (£96 million).

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, urged other UN member nations to ensure that Pakistan got the aid it needs.

"I realise that many countries, including my own, are facing tough economic conditions and very tight budgets," she said. "We've also endured an unrelenting stream of disasters this year, from the earthquake in Haiti to wildfires in Russia. But we must work to answer the Pakistani request for help."

Pakistan is a critical ally for the United States and Britain in the war against Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters along the Afghan border. Some have criticised the amount of flood aid from the international community, comparing it to the billions given to Islamabad to help battle the militants.

Telegraph.co.uk