KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- In response to the worst flood that hit Pakistan two days ago, Malaysian Medical Relief Society (MERCY) today deployed an assessment team to Peshawar to determine humanitarian needs for the country.

Its president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said, the three-member team would conduct an on-the-ground assessment to ascertain the level of devastation, destroyed infrastructure and the health needs of the flood-affected victims.

"The team will keep MERCY Malaysia updated with the best solution to assist the emergency response on the ground there.

"We also have been constantly updated by our local partner in Pakistan, PATTAN, and with their assistance, our team will be able to see how we can best help in the most cost-effective manner," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

The team was led by MERCY Malaysia's Head of Relief Operations Hew Cheong Yew, Senior Programme Officer Mohammad Said Alhudzari Ibrahim and Mercy volunteer Dr Mohammad Iqbal Omar.

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, has appealed to the international community to come forward an aid Pakistan in the wake of the monsoon floods that hit the country.

"We send our sincere sympathy and good wishes and hope the Commonwealth and the wider international community will come forward to assist Pakistan in these trying circumstances," he said in a statement issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, which was e-mailed to Bernama, here.

The Secretary-General also expressed Commonwealth's solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan "at this extremely difficult time."

Source: BERNAMA