ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – The worst floods in memory in  Pakistan have devastated the lives of more than 3 million  people, a U.N. spokesman said yesterday, while outrage over  the unpopular government’s response to its people’s plight  spreads.

The catastrophe, which started almost a week ago and has  killed more than 1,400 people, is likely to deepen as more  rains are expected. A breakout of water-borne diseases such as  cholera could create a health crisis.

The disaster has also, once again, called into question the  leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, already hampered by  problems ranging from a stubborn Taliban insurgency, widespread  poverty to chronic power cuts in the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.

Pakistan’s civilian governments have long been perceived as  riddled by corruption and largely ineffective, leaving the  powerful military to step in during troubled times.

Poorly resourced Pakistani authorities are struggling to  help flood victims, many of whom have lost everything and say  they received no warnings that raging waters were heading their  way.

United Nations World Food Programme spokesman Amjad Jamaal  said an estimated 1.8 million are in dire need of water, food  and shelter. He said some people are being bitten by water  snakes.

Anger was palpable in towns such as Charssada. A Reuters  reporter saw people attacking trucks distributing relief items.  Police then charged at them with batons. Bistma Bibi, 65, who lost two grandsons in the floods,  accused state relief workers of only helping friends or  relatives. “I came here at 5 o’clock in the morning. I begged  and fought but got nothing. They’re giving them (supplies) to  their people,” she said.

Zardari’s administration has faced a cascade of crises over  the last few weeks, from the worst ever domestic plane crash on  the edge of the capital to leaked reports on Islamabad’s  alleged support for militants battling U.S. troops in  Afghanistan, to diplomatic rows with Britain. Stability here is vital to American interests in the  region. Washington wants Islamabad to join efforts to tackle a  Taliban insurgency raging in Afghanistan by cracking down on  Afghan militants who cross over the border to attack U.S.  troops.

Zardari is in Europe on a state visit, which has angered  both ordinary Pakistanis and political parties who wonder why  he is abroad during a difficult period.