Pakistani authorities have diverted their resources and rescue operations toward the region, where officials say the world has given or pledged more than US$800 million to help the country cope with its natural disaster.

Exceptionally heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan triggered the worst floods in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa Province three weeks ago.  Raging floodwaters have since inundated thousands of villages and towns across central Punjab, southern Sindh and southwestern Baluchistan provinces.