Waheed Shah, Emergencies Specialist for ActionAid Pakistan has just returned from the Swat Valley region, bringing with him these photos of a country that has disappeared beneath a torrent of water, and a people struggling to cope.

He told us: "Families who have lost everything are now basically trapped and there are no proper means to distribute food to the those who need it most."

The flash floods wreaked havoc on the homes of children like Harron (above) - disease is the biggest threat in the aftermath of floods, as clean water becomes impossible to find.

A man braves the floods to try and fix his broken telephone line. Roads and bridges have been destroyed, so communications are vital to ensure supplies reach those who need them most.

Aslam Jan stands outside his grocery shop - most of his stock has been washed away. With livelihoods destroyed, rebuilding normal life in Swat will be a slow process.

Amjad Ali, 24, strides through the floodwaters. He is on his way home to discover whether any of his possessions have survived the deluge.

The people  of the Swat valley urgently need  your help. ActionAid's teams are already distributing food, mosquito nets, plastic sheets and mattresses, but we need your donations to  make sure that people like Haroon, Amjad and Aslam can one day, return to a normal life.

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