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Description of the crisis
Severe flooding and landslides triggered by the 2022 monsoon rains have wrought havoc in Pakistan, causing widespread devastation and affecting millions of people. This flooding, characterized as one of the most severe in decades, has left an indelible impact on over 33 million individuals across 90 districts, leading to the displacement of approximately eight million people. According to the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the toll includes over 1,700 reported deaths and more than 12,800 injuries as of 18 November 2022. The calamity has resulted in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes, while the loss of over a million livestock adds to the extensive and dire consequences of this natural disaster.
According to UINICEF, after 16 months since the government declared a National Emergency, approximately 1.8 million individuals continue to reside in close proximity to stagnant and polluted floodwaters, posing a severe health hazard2. The primary concerns persist in areas such as shelter, food security, water, sanitation, and public health. Many survivors of the flood are still enduring life in temporary shelters, lacking access to essential necessities like food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and basic healthcare.
According to data from UNOSAT, the number of people in areas with stagnant floodwater has decreased, but the issue persists as a significant challenge. Stagnant water continues to hinder residents from returning to their damaged or destroyed homes, impacting particularly those who rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods.3. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the floods damaged or destroyed more than 2.3 million homes and wiped out over 1.7 million hectares (4.4 million acres) of crops, while over 800,000 livestock perished, pushing more than 8 million people into poverty4. Food prices in rural areas have surged by 45 per cent, leaving more than one million people dependent on humanitarian aid.
Government of Pakistan, Finance division’s damage assessment report5 estimates the damage and loss due to floods 2022 as, the damage is estimated at US$14.9 billion, the loss to the GDP at US$15.2 billion, and the total needs of rehabilitation at US$16.3 billion. The sectors that suffered the most damage is housing at US$5.6 billion; agriculture, food, livestock, and fisheries at US$3.7 billion; and transport and communications at US$3.3 billion.
Approximately eight million flood-affected individuals require healthcare assistance, with risks increasing as displaced populations return to communities with damaged infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and stagnant water sources.6 Latest UN News reports that over 540,000 malaria cases have been reported as of November 2023. Lack of access to safe drinking water has increased the risk of waterborne illnesses. Moreover, extensive damage to roads, bridges, health facilities, and schools has occurred 7. Immediate assistance is crucial, especially with winter ongoing and the need for shelter, food, and household items intensifying, particularly in Sindh province.