Health experts repeated their cautions against an epidemic outbreak in the deluge-ravaged areas, while an official with the United Nations, asking not to be named, told official news agency BSS: "The situation is quickly heading towards the worst and it may go beyond control."

The death toll in the floods that hit on July 10 has risen to 638, with unconfirmed reports putting the figure at 800.

Relief workers said many more were at risk from waterborne and other diseases. According to the health directorate, 75,000 people have contracted diarrhoea since the deluge hit Bangladesh leaving about 30 million people in 45 districts homeless or cut off.

At least 8,221 people were taken ill with diarrhoea across the country yesterday with 920 of them in Dhaka alone.

Two more died in Sunamganj and Gaibandha in the last 24 hours, bringing the death count from diarrhoea to 51, the control room of the health directorate said.

International donors and foreign aid agencies yesterday held their final meeting to asses the damage and fix medium and long-term strategies to help the flood victims and rebuild infrastructure ahead of the UN global appeal for Bangladesh, expectedly by early next week.

"We are still working out the exact numbers in all sectors, but it is already clear that the country will need a lot of support to get back to its feet," UN Resident Coordinator Douglas C Coutts told newspersons, emerging from the meeting at the IDB Bhaban.

The relief workers have been scrambling to rush medical supplies, food and water purification tablets to villagers marooned by the floods.

The government is working with donor agencies to distribute aid and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and the United Nations Children's Fund have launched international appeals for more than 16 million dollars, AFP said.

But many flood victims, especially those in remote rural areas, have still had little or no help and many are suffering from diarrhoea and skin diseases.

The UN, meanwhile, said Bangladesh would take at least a year to recover from the flooding.

Tens of millions of people now faced grave food insecurity, waterborne diseases, a badly mangled infrastructure and extremely poor prospects for the next rice crop.

Millions are still languishing in flood shelters or highways in many affected districts, including Dhaka, expecting immediate relief with children being the worst victims of the situation.

Riverbank erosion engulfing infrastructure worsened the situation for many and prevented them returning home.

(BSS and AFP contributed to this report)