There are fears that disease will strike millions of people marooned or forced from their homes by catastrophic floods in South Asia.

The last two weeks have seen some of the worst flooding in living memory affecting about 35 million people in eastern India, and two-thirds of Bangladesh and Nepal; 10 million of them have been made homeless or left stranded.

More than 240 people have been killed.

Monsoon rains kill hundreds of people every year. The Indian government says more than 1,100 people have died in this year's monsoon, not including the latest casualties.

In India's Bihar state, air force helicopters have dropped food, medicines and clothing to some of the 10 million affected.

UNICEF says aid agencies and authorities must do more to prevent outbreaks of measles, gastroenteritis, dengue fever and other diseases. The agency is mobilising doctors by land and boat and is immunising children against measles.

© NewsRoom 2007