2. Background

Massive level of unmet humanitarian needs persist as the overall response still struggles to be scaled up. Overt 20 million people are reported to be affected.

In KPK, Punjab and parts of Sindh flood waters continue to drain, leaving behind massive damage, with large areas of standing water in Sindh and Punjab.

The situation In Southern Sindh is acute and deserves particular attention to ensure that response is brought to scale immediately.

Westerly weather disturbance combined with heavy monsoon rain on 21 and 22 July triggered flash floods and river floods in several parts of the country. Monsoon rains continued across the country especially in Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK) and Baluchistan, triggering additional floods in the low lying areas of Punjab and Sindh. Punjab and Sindh are the country's agricultural bread basket.

Sindh: Remains the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis, with 7,3 million people affected and 1.4 million displaced in Thatta district alone. In Southern Sindh, large areas are still under water. In northern Sindh, flood water has receded somewhat, but large areas of standing water remain, and are likely to take several months to dry up. Relief efforts throughout Sindh, but particularly in the south continue at a pace, intensity and volume which is far less than required by the situation; and the response continues to struggle to achieve incremental increases in coverage.

Punjab: Floodwaters in affected districts almost receded, There is significant movement of affected people back to (or closer to) their home villages or what is left of them. Efforts are being made to establish a more comprehensive overview of needs, in particular of more remote and less accessible areas. Significant impact on the productivity of Rabi planting season is expected.

Khyber Pakhtunkwa: flood waters have receded leaving massive destruction. Humanitarian agencies are meeting a higher proportion of needs than elsewhere; however, there are reports of increasing concerns over the uneven provision of services and equity of response, particularly in the easily accessible districts of Nowshera ad Charsadda.

Baluchistan: Some return of flood displaced to their areas of origin is reported, but many remain displaced. Road access is improving. There are approximately 600,000 IDPs from Punjab residing in Baluchistan for the time-being

Azad Jammu Kashmir: the caseload of affected people is more limited (200.000) considering the overall context, and the response that is in hand.

Gilgit-Baltistan: the number of affected people has been increased to 100.000 as both the direct and indirect impact of the disaster becomes more apparent. Although the access to Gilgit Baltistan Province improved, it I still one of the most difficult area in Pakistan to access.