The world's third largest aid agency, CARE International, is launching an appeal for more than £2.5 million to provide relief in South Asia, where the worst flooding in more than a decade has devastated the lives of almost 35 million people.

"Many of these people were already poor and now they have lost their homes, crops and possessions. It is going to take long-term support to get them back on their feet," says Jon Mitchell, CARE International's Emergency Response Director.

Even after the flood waters recede, the region will be faced with an enormous humanitarian crisis. The floods have destroyed crops, killed livestock and damaged local infrastructure, including buildings, water systems, roads and bridges, most of which will have to be rebuilt before the region's economy can return to normal.

The money CARE raises will help nearly quarter of a million people across the region. The £2.5 million raised will help cover immediate emergency aid, as well as long-term recovery and rehabilitation work that will follow.

"CARE is always among the first to respond when disaster strikes," Mr Mitchell said. "We will be working with poor communities affected by the flooding long after the cameras have gone."

For more information on what is happening on the ground in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan please contact: Rebecca Coutts-Buys, CARE International, +44 20 7934 9334, coutts-buys@careinternational.org

NOTES: CARE is providing emergency relief in Pakistan, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, where millions of people in flood affected areas across the region are suffering from a lack of shelter, safe drinking water and food. Working with local partners, we are providing high energy nutritional food to women and children and helping install emergency sanitary facilities. In many areas, we have been helping evacuate people stranded for days by the floods. CARE is also distributing emergency packages, designed to provide a family with basic necessities to live for at least a week.