Washington, Sept 13: The United States has already begun providing assistance to flood victims and internally displaced people in Pakistan in response to the country's appeal for help, State Department has said.

The severe floods in Pakistan's Sindh province, which began in August, have reportedly killed about 200 people. Around 2.5 million children have been affected so far, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"In response to Pakistan's September 9th appeal, the U. S. has already swung into action, providing assistance to flood victims and internally displaced people. We have already started sending food assistance through AID," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a regular press briefing.

"We have already started sending food assistance through AID. Our assistance should reach about 346,000 Pakistanis. We're also sending shelter and nonfood items through AID partners to reach about 5,500 families. And we're also providing medical services to reach about 500,000 Pakistanis," she added.

When asked whether this assistance would be in addition to or part of the already-promised civilian aid, Nuland said that this would be `a continuation.'

"We've given flood assistance in the past. This is new. This is assistance that follows on that," the spokesperson said.

"I have a little bit more here - 8,000 tents, 17,000 shelter kits, food rations for 71,000 families through our international partners like the International Organization for Migration, UNHCR, and the World Food Program," she added. (ANI)