Photograph: Vicki Francis / UKaid / Department for International Development licensed under Creative Commons / Flickr

The floods of the last fortnight in Pakistan are a disaster that has been unfolding almost inch by inch as the waters build up and rage down the Indus Valley through the length of the country, submerging the main agricultural belt under feet of water.

More than 1,500 people were killed in the initial downpours, mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkwa (the former North West Frontier Province) and Kashmir. However, the wider impact of this catastrophe is even worse, with it destroying the livelihoods and homes of millions.

It was announced on Monday that the number of people affected could exceed the totals of the three mega-disasters – the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

I’ve never felt so helpless in the face of natural disaster. Here it is right on my doorstep yet all 200 of my staff are safe and our five offices unaffected. Many of our programmes can continue more or less unaffected, though we are just beginning to asses the impact on partner schools, universities and communities. My colleagues in DFID have swung into action with emergency relief and were up in Charsadda on Sunday, assisted by colleagues in the army and full security back-up, distributing tents.

Today, the UN launched a $459m appeal, estimating the number of people affected so far at 14 million. In truth though, it is not just about cash but about the ability to deliver aid on the ground to those most in need. The Pakistani army’s efforts in airlifting those affected were held up for a while by further heavy rain.

Our Senior Management Team decided to encourage all staff to give a day’s wages to help those affected. In addition, our Active Citizens youth empowerment programme, working with colleagues in Karachi, is collecting food, clothes and blankets for those affected. Teams of young people in Kyber Pakhtunkwa are assisting with setting up camps, providing first aid and distributing food packages.

Small gestures, though if everyone did it perhaps it would be a case of rain-drops filling the bucket.

David Martin is British Council Country Director, Pakistan