Pakistan: 2022 Monsoon Floods - Situation Report No. 17 (As of 12 June 2023)

This report has been jointly prepared by OCHA in Pakistan and humanitarian partners. It provides an overview of the period spanning from May 8, 2023, to June 12, 2023. The subsequent report is scheduled to be released approximately on July 8, 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS / KEY FIGURES

• Preliminary findings from the latest IPC report show that Pakistan is facing a nutrition crisis, with 10.5 million individuals experiencing acute food insecurity in 43 vulnerable districts.

• In the 84 districts affected by the 2022 monsoon flooding, over 3.5 million children are impacted by a severe acute malnutrition rate of 12 percent.

• Pakistan is classified as a "hotspot with very high concern" in the latest FAO-WFP hunger hotspots report, emphasizing the critical level of acute food insecurity.

• Heavy rainfall and strong winds since May 2023 have resulted in 31 deaths, 150 injuries, and significant damage to properties, crops, and livestock.

• Over 7.71 million people have received life-saving assistance by the end of May, with 872,000 individuals in flood-affected areas receiving aid in May alone.

• The Pakistan Flood Response Plan is currently 65.8 percent funded out of the US$816 million appeal.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Nutrition crisis: Despite the passage of nearly a year since the floods, Pakistan is currently facing an imminent nutrition crisis, which has been aggravated by pre-existing high rates of malnutrition in flood-affected regions. Of particular concern is the increasing malnutrition among young children, as undernutrition accounts for nearly half of all deaths in children under five. Shockingly, one in five children under five in Pakistan suffer from wasting, with severe and moderate acute malnutrition rates at 8 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively.

Alarming Nutrition Indicators: The 84 districts affected by the 2022 monsoon flooding display distressing nutrition indicators. These districts have an average severe acute malnutrition rate of 12 percent, impacting over 3.5 million children. Among them, more than 1.45 million children require treatment with Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) due to severe wasting. Several factors contribute to acute malnutrition, including poor maternal nutrition, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, suboptimal care and feeding practices, and limited access to essential nutrition services and nutritious diets.

Acute Food Insecurity: As of June 5, 2023, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that approximately 10.5 million people (29 percent of those analyzed) from 43 districts in vulnerable provinces of Pakistan are facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Within this population, around 2.1 million individuals (6 percent) are in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), while 8.4 million people (23 percent) are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). These areas, including Balochistan (18 districts), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (9 districts), and Sindh (16 districts), were severely affected by the monsoon rains and flooding in late 2022, which greatly impacted food production, consumption, livelihoods, and employment opportunities. Rising food commodity prices and limited livelihood options have further exacerbated the challenge of accessing food. The situation is expected to worsen between November 2023 and January 2024, with an estimated 11.8 million people (32 percent) likely to experience high levels of acute food insecurity.

Designation as a "Hotspot": According to the latest FAO-WFP hunger hotspots report, Pakistan has been classified as one of the "hotspots" with significant concern, particularly regarding critical acute food insecurity. The report predicts that an alarming 8.6 million individuals may face severe levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher) from June to November 2023. Unfortunately, the prevailing economic and political crises have further deteriorated the situation, leading to a decline in households' purchasing power and their ability to afford food and essential commodities.

Recent Rainfall Devastation: Since May 2023, Pakistan has been battered by moderate rain, heavy spells, severe dust thunderstorms, and hailstorms, causing extensive damage to properties and crops. On June 10, rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab province claimed the lives of at least 31 individuals, leaving around 160 injured. The districts of Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, and Lakki Marwat reported 28 fatalities, while three schools suffered partial damage and two houses completely collapsed. Over 160 houses were also partially damaged. Tragically, over 150 cattle perished, and three girls lost their lives in Chan village, Khushab district. Additionally, 10 people were injured in rain-related incidents in Gujranwala. The heavy rain and dusty winds caused power outages in various areas of both KP and Punjab.

Preparedness and Response: In preparation for the monsoon season, the government of Pakistan and humanitarian agencies placed a high priority on emergency preparedness and contingency planning. An inter-agency process has been initiated by OCHA Pakistan that incorporates lessons learned from the 2022 floods. An important aspect of this process is the inclusion of women in planning and response efforts to ensure that the needs of vulnerable individuals are not overlooked.

People reached: By the end of May, the government of Pakistan and humanitarian partners reached over 7.71 million people in flood-affected areas with the provision of life-saving assistance. In the month of May, The Food Security and Agriculture Sector provided life-saving assistance to around 40,000 people, the Shelter and Non-Food Item (NFI) Sector to around 73,000 people, the Health Sector to over 461,000 people, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector to over 72,000 people, the Nutrition Sector to over 50,000 people, the Education Sector to over 50,000 people, and the Protection Sector to 83,000 people, in flood-affected areas of Pakistan.