Relief agencies in China say there's an increasing risk of epidemics in areas devastated by the recent flooding which killed at least three-hundred people.

The Paris-based group, Medecins Sans Frontieres, said the most vulnerable were the two-hundred-thousand people who had lost their homes and could remain in temporary accommodation until next spring without enough food, clothing or medical care.

It quoted Chinese officials as saying disease was inevitable since free medical aid distributed during the emergency was no longer available.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said there were already signs of an increase in respiratory diseases.