Attachments
1. Context update post flood
Between late June and mid-August 2025, Pakistan endured one of the most destructive monsoon seasons in recent decades. A combination of intense rainfall, flash floods, and localized cloudbursts devastated large swathes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), resulting in extensive loss of human life, mass displacement, and destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure. The humanitarian situation escalated rapidly due to the high intensity of rains, fragile mountainous terrain, and already vulnerable socio-economic conditions of affected communities.
The worst affected districts were Buner, Bajauar, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, and Mansehra, where entire villages were submerged or washed away. Flash floods cut off communities by destroying bridges, link roads, and communication networks, making relief and rescue operations extremely challenging. Agricultural lands were eroded, livestock drowned, and local markets destroyed, depriving families of their primary sources of food and income. Public service delivery systems including schools, health centers, and water supply schemes collapsed under the pressure of the floods, creating a multi dimensional crisis.
According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) data, KP alone recorded 358 fatalities, including 225 in Buner, 20 in Swat, 36 in Shangla, 26 in Battagram, 22 in Bajaur, and 17 in Swabi. Hundreds of others were reported injured, missing, or trapped under collapsed structures. More than thousands of households sustained damage to their shelters ranging from complete destruction to severe partial damage while critical infrastructure such as roads, culverts, suspension bridges, and irrigation systems was washed away. In addition, shops and small businesses in district markets were filled with mud and debris, leaving communities unable to access food, medicines, or other essentials.
The disaster has disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups. Women and girls are exposed to heightened gender-based violence (GBV) risks due to overcrowded shelters and lack of privacy. Children face acute protection challenges, with some reported missing during sudden evacuations. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly have limited mobility and struggle to access humanitarian aid. The destruction of health units and water supply schemes has further increased the risk of disease outbreaks such as diarrhea, cholera, malaria, and skin infections.
This assessment consolidates field findings from rapid missions conducted by Pak Mission Society (PMS) and partner organizations between 16 to19 August 2025 in Swat, Buner, and Shangla, complemented by secondary data from PDMA and district administrations for Buner, Shangla, Swat, Battagram and Mansehra. Together, the evidence underscores the urgent need for multi sectoral humanitarian assistance including shelter, WASH, health, food security, livelihoods, protection, and education while also highlighting the importance of longer-term investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR), resilience, and climate adaptation to mitigate the impacts of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.