Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Pakistanis Flee As More Towns Flood VOA News 22 August 2010 A Pakistani girl carries drinking water across a damaged road at Baseera, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 21 Aug 2010 Photo: AP A Pakistani girl carries drinking water across a damaged road at Baseera, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 21 Aug 2010 Some 150,000 Pakistanis have been forced to move to higher ground as a freshly swollen Indus River submerged more towns and villages in the southern region of the country. Authorities have struggled to strengthen levees and other potential trouble spots in the fight against the rising water in southern Sindh province. Pakistan's government is facing an outpouring of fury from its citizens about what they feel are sluggish relief efforts. Pakistan appears ready to ask the International Monetary Fund this week during a meeting in Washington to ease the terms of a $10 billion loan because of the increased economic burden of the flooding. The loan was set up in 2008. The U.N.'s World Health Organization says Pakistan is facing a risk of water-borne and communicable diseases in the flood area. The WHO has urged U.N. member nations to make good on their $200 million in promised aid, saying drugs to combat deadly diseases cannot be bought with pledges. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the international community to keep up support for Pakistan, warning the country is facing "weeks, months and years of need."  The floods, triggered by weeks of monsoon rains, have killed up to 1,600 people and affected 20 million others in one-fifth of Pakistan's territory. The U.N. says 8 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Pakistan has said it will accept $5 million in flood aid from India, a rare gesture of goodwill between the longtime rivals who have fought three wars.  U.S. military aircraft have delivered more than 500,000 kilograms of relief supplies, including thousands of halal meals (food prepared according to Islamic law). Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .