Floods kill almost 1,000 in India, Nepal and Bangladesh

Almost 1,000 people have been killed over a period of two weeks in some of the worst flooding to hit South Aisa in decades, with residents running out of food and clean water, officials said.

Bangladesh, India and Nepal have put the combined death toll at least 800 since August 10.

The Red Cross said on Tuesday that 24 million people have been affected by the floods, with large areas of land submerged in water.

"The situation is going from bad to worse," said Jagan Chapagain, Red Cross undersecretary-general, as he confirmed the death toll given by regional authorities. "This is the worst flooding that parts of South Asia have seen in decades."

It needs more than $3.5m to help people in Nepal. The charity is planning to launch a separate campaign to raise funds to help people in Bangladesh.

But the organisation said India has the resources needed to respond, without foreign help. Victims in India blame the government's inability to respond adequately.

Source: Duta

UCJ, UNILORIN.