Reporting Period: Mid-year 2023 (January to June 2023)
Highlights
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In 2023, the response to the 2022 floods continues which impacted 33 million individuals and displaced 8 million people.
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Over 3.5 million children are impacted by severe acute malnutrition at the rate of 12 per cent (UNOCHA). In the flood-affected districts, 172,155 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (95,731 girls and 76,424 boys) have been enrolled for treatment in UNICEF-supported centers.
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UNICEF has reached 1,711,786 people with access to safe drinking water.
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Through UNICEF-supported health facilities, 3,673,652 people have benefitted from PHC services and 1,782,959 children were immunized for measles.
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UNICEF supported 1,565 Temporary Learning Centers. A total of 258,617 children are being supported to continue learning in a safe and protective environment.
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UNICEF supported 545,205 children and caregivers with access to mental health and psychosocial support.
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While no major flooding occurred in the first half of 2023, Cyclone Biparjoy, which hit near Pakistan in June 2023 causing minimal impact on lives and infrastructure demonstrated the continued vulnerability in flood-affected districts. UNICEF requires $75 million in additional funding to continue the response and recovery.
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs
In 2022, Pakistan experienced one of the most severe monsoon seasons since 1961, leading to devastating consequences, with Sindh and Balochistan exceeding the usual forecasted rainfall by 600-700 per cent as reported by the Pakistan Meteorological Department. As a result, the floods affected more than 33 million people in 94 districts (declared by the Government) resulting in the loss of 1,739 lives, mostly in Sindh and Balochistan. Among those affected, an estimated 20.6 million people, including 9.6 million children in need of humanitarian assistance. Most of the hardest- hit districts are amongst the most vulnerable districts in Pakistan with multiple deprivations.
While some populations have begun to recover from the 2022 floods, they remain vulnerable to further impacts during the 2023 monsoon season. Starting from April 2023 heavy rainfall in Southwestern Pakistan, specifically in Balochistan resulted in overflowing of rivers, flashfloods, loss of life and damage to infrastructure. The province experienced five fatalities, two damaged bridges and temporary closures of major highways connecting Balochistan and to Sindh province. Similarly, multiple districts were affected by rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, leading to landslides, casualties, and damage to property and crops. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 13 deaths, 11 injuries, 24 damaged houses, and significant livestock losses. Additionally, a landslide in Torkham, Khyber district, claimed four lives on April 18. The heavy rain has further deteriorated the living conditions of those already impacted by the 2022 floods, leaving them even more vulnerable to future flooding events.
In addition, children in Pakistan remain highly vulnerable due to malnutrition throughout the country. A study conducted by UNICEF indicated that acute malnutrition in children is exacerbated by inadequate nutrition, sanitation, food price inflation, and limited access to essential nutrition services, particularly in flood-affected areas. The study noted that one in five children under five years of age is suffering from wasting. Pakistan has a severe acute malnutrition rate twice that of South Asia region and four times higher than the global average. Moreover, Pakistan has one of the highest burdens of low birth weight babies, with a national average of 22.7 per cent, and up to 50 per cent in some provinces.
Between 16 to 17 June, 2023, Pakistan faced the risk of a category 3 cyclone “Biparjoy” during which around 1.2 million people were exposed to wind speeds of 90-120km/h. The cyclone landed with low intensity which resulted in minimal impacts on human lives and infrastructure. The government evacuated 84,610 exposed individuals to relief camps and repatriated them to their villages once it was confirmed safe to return. High winds and heavy rains brought by the cyclone resulted in 4 fatalities, 5 injuries, 2,460 houses partially damaged, and 190 houses fully damaged.