World responds to Pakistan flood disaster

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Washington has joined the international community by responding "significantly" to the massive flooding in Pakistan, the U.S. State Department said.

Flooding in Pakistan brought on by monsoon rains has caused the greatest human and financial tragedy in the country in years.

Pakistani officials fear the death toll could pass 1,500 as the government struggles to control the impact of the flooding.

Sources in the Ministry of Water told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper that warning and monitoring systems were working well but structural flood protection was lacking.

"Many projects exist only on paper and the quality of construction of others is substandard because of poor monitoring," an official told the newspaper on condition of anonymity.

Washington joined the United Nations and other members of the international community by responding to the crisis with millions of dollars in emergency aid.

"The United States, along with others in the international community, are responding significantly to the devastating floods in Pakistan," said U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.

Disaster response officials said Tuesday they may call for forced evacuations as floodwaters threaten the Warsak Dam, the country's third largest.

Dawn's forecast for parts of northern Pakistan called for more rain through the weekend.