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. Heavy Rains Lash Flood-Hit Pakistan VOA News 08 August 2010 A Pakistani uses a cable wire to cross a deep flooded area of Kot Addu, in central Pakistan on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 Photo: AP A Pakistani uses a cable wire to cross a deep flooded area of Kot Addu, in central Pakistan on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. Authorities evacuated thousands of Pakistanis living along expanding rivers as forecasts predicted even more heavy rain Sunday could deepen the country's flood crisis. Fresh rains lashed flood-hit Pakistan Sunday, hampering aid efforts and deepening a crisis affecting some 13 million people in the country's worst flooding in decades. Pakistani officials say the floodwaters that have inundated the northwest are spreading southward along the Indus River toward Sindh province. Officials say the floods have killed at least 1,600. Tens of thousands of people in Sindh were fleeing the floodwaters, but some people resisted evacuation, fearing their property would be stolen. Pakistani authorities struggled to help the evacuees. Heavy rains grounded some helicopters involved in relief efforts. Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has appealed for more international aid. He said the crisis has spiraled beyond the government's capacity.  The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said its workers were reporting shortages of food, medicine and clean water. The NATO alliance pledged to help transport aid to the region. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was in Britain Saturday to raise money for flood victims and attend a rally of his Pakistan Peoples' Party. His decision to leave for Europe as the flooding crisis in his country unfolded has drawn criticism. The World Health Organization warned that without access to safe water, Pakistanis are at high risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. The floods also have spread to Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 132 people in the Himalayan region of Ladakh. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .