PESHAWAR, July 1: The World Health Organisation has urged the government to put in place measures in hospitals to cope with the impending threat of outbreak of water-borne diseases in rain-hit areas.

We have already asked the provincial health department to inform the world health agency about their available infrastructure, but only two districts, Mardan and Chitral, have responded, said a WHO official.

He said the world body was concerned about the outbreak of epidemics, especially malaria after the rains and flood in the province.

He said that some two weeks ago, the federal government had alerted 65 districts in the country to minimise the losses from the flood.

The districts, including 15 in the NWFP, have yet to swing into action to cope with the impending outbreak of epidemics.

WHO officials said that they had already secured emergency health kits to be provided to the affected people.

They said that the torrential rain and flood had left water pools everywhere and the stagnant water could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.