Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland's international aid organization Mercy Corps says the flood in Pakistan has left many of its victims without clean water.

Millions of Pakistanis have left their homes to escape the rising water.

Pete O'Farrell of Mercy Corps is about to leave for Islamabad. He says flood victims living in temporary camps often have no clean water to drink or use in cooking.

In other places the floodwaters have spread sewage and contaminated municipal wells. And that could spread diseases like dysentery.

O'Farrell says the disaster will have longer term effects too.

Pete O'Farrell: "1.6 million acres of crops have been ruined. That's wheat, vegetables, not only do you have the economic collapse of people losing their livelihoods you also have just a basic food shortage."

Mercy Corps is providing food, water and medical assistance to flood victims. Portland-based Medical Teams International says it's shipping $8 million of medical supplies to Pakistan. 

According to the UN, the floods have killed about 1,500 people.