More than 12-million Pakistanis have still not received relief aid after last month's catastrophic floods.

Despite generous donations being pumped into the country, only a fraction of the estimated 20-million Pakistanis desperate for food and clean water received help after the worst floods in decades killed at least 1600 people and left 2 million homeless.

Pakistan's high commissioner in South Africa, Zaigham Uddin Azam, said yesterday international donors, including South Africans, had opened up their hearts and wallets, but it was not nearly enough to address the mounting need.

South Africa's Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster-relief organisation of African origin, sent R10-million in donations to Pakistan last week.

Speaking at the Pakistani high commission in Pretoria, Azam said it was difficult to establish exactly how many people had died in the disaster as the flood waters were still 2m deep.

So far, 1600 people are reported dead, but Azam said this would rise. One in 10 Pakistanis were affected by the floods, including Azam.

"Some of my family and friends lost everything. All their belongings washed away. They have nothing," he said

While he and all other envoys had been instructed to remain in their host countries to drum up donations, Azam said it had not been easy.

"This is a very massive situation we are facing. We never thought it would be that bad. It grew like a monster. It is catastrophic," he said.

Agriculture is one of Pakistan's chief economic boosters, and most crops have been destroyed. Cotton, sugar cane, rice and wheat are among its major exports, and the country could be facing economic disaster. More than 2.5-million livestock also died.

Azam said that between $5-billion and $6-billion was needed to provide long-term relief, and it would take at least five years for any visible reconstruction of the affected areas to occur.

He said President Jacob Zuma had sent a personal message of support, and Deputy International Relations Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim promised that plans to help were under way.

At a flood relief fund-raiser in Pretoria last week, South Africans raised R400000.

But while the economy is suffering, Azam is more concerned for his countrymen's health.

The United Nations has warned that up to 3.5-million children could be in danger of contracting deadly diseases carried through contaminated water and insects. There are also fears that diarrhoea and cholera will spread among the homeless.

"We fear for children. This has never happened in this century, and we need so much," Azam said.

He appealed for donations of infant milk formula, medicines, water purification tablets, tents and blankets. Anyone who wants to contribute should contact the Pakistani high commission.