International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) fears that nearly six million people across South Asia are under threat from rising flood waters following heavy monsoon rains.

A fund launched by the Red Cross aims to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid before rather than after floods, droughts and other natural hazards hit, so as to reduce damage and trauma in some of the world's most disaster-prone areas.

More than 24 million people are believed to be affected by flood in Bangladesh, Nepal and India with more than 700 people thought dead, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says.