ReliefWeb

This report identifies the curent trends, events, and short term forecast associated with the 2012 monsoon season.

OVERVIEW

• Heavy monsoon rains cause deaths and destruction in parts of Pakistan, including camps in KP/FATA.

• Government authorities and local organizations assist people affected by flash floods and landslides.

• Drought vulnerability increases across Sindh and Balochistan.

• Water storage levels improve but remain below the annual averages for the same period in the last five years.

• Flash and possible riverine floods are likely to continue in the northern parts of the country.

Current Monsoon Situation

Heavy monsoon rains fell in parts of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PAK) during the past week, leaving deaths and destruction in their wake. Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sialkot, Muzzafarabad, Balakot and Abbotabad districts received more than 100 millimetres of rain.

The heavy rains caused road blockages, urban flooding, landslides and flash floods, leading to the deaths of at least nine people in KP, 17 people in PAK and one person in Balochistan. Flooding and landslides have damaged 800 houses, washed away 80 head of cattle, damaged bridges and link roads and destroyed standing crops.

Provincial and district disaster management authorities, other Government bodies, local NGOs and communitybased organizations in KP and Punjab are providing humanitarian assistance to the affected people. The Government has not requested international support, but the UN and its humanitarian partners stand ready to provide assistance to the affected people. Government authorities and humanitarian partners are assessing the extent of the damage caused by the flash floods and will share their findings in the coming days.

The rains are likely to continue and extend to southern parts of country, especially South Punjab and northeast Balochistan, from 24 August, with reduced intensity.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued flash flood warnings for Sialkot District along the tributaries of the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab. In KP, flash floods are expected along Indus River in Hazara Division; Swat and Kabul Rivers in Malakand, Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu divisions.

Current and expected rains are likely to improve water storage levels in the country and increase the water available for the cultivation of summer (kharif) crops.