IRIA News

Pakistan is facing a climate catastrophe as devastating floods after the monsoon rains have affected more than 33 million people with one-third of the country under water.

Nearly half a million people have crowded into camps after losing their homes. The unprecedented rains and floods have killed nearly 1,200 people, including 399 children since mid-June, according to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) report. Early estimates put the damage from the floods at more than $10 billion. The climate crisis has caused destruction all across the country, with floods first hitting Sindh and Balochistan provinces and later Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Gilgit-Balochistan.

‘Climate catastrophe’

Pakistan’s government has declared a national emergency as the flash flooding from the heavy rains has washed away villages, homes, crops, roads and bridges, leaving many without homes, food and water electricity. Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said Pakistan is experiencing a “serious climate catastrophe”, one of the hardest in the decade. “We are at the moment at the ground zero of the front line of extreme weather events, in an unrelenting cascade of heatwaves, forest fires, flash floods, multiple glacial lake outbursts, flood events and now the monster monsoon of the decade is wreaking non-stop havoc throughout the country.”

Urgent needs of flood victims

Hundreds of thousands of women, children and men were living outdoors without access to food, clean water, shelter or basic healthcare. “We urgently need food, bottled water, tents for shelter, and mosquito nets,” said Sikander Bizenjo, a young volunteer leading relief efforts in some of the worst-hit areas of Balochistan province.

Pakistan’s armed forces, disaster management authorities, government agencies, volunteers, charity and non-government organizations have joined efforts to evacuate stranded residents to the safety of relief camps and provided food to thousands of displaced Pakistanis.

Floods fuel food shortages, fears of waterborne diseases

As more than 70 districts in Pakistan continue to be affected by massive flooding, experts have warned of food shortages due to massive crop damage and the risk of the spread of water-borne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has “initiated an immediate response to treat the injured, provide life-saving supplies to health facilities, support mobile health teams, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.” Meanwhile, Pakistan’s food ministry has allowed the import of two essential food items onion and tomatoes to stabilize costs after prices shot up by more than five times.

Flood relief efforts by Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government is committed to utilizing all resources for relief and rescue operations and is providing shelters, portable water, mosquito kits and medical treatment. Sharif pledged that “every penny of donations collected for the flood victims will be spent in a very transparent manner and will reach the needy.” On August 29, Pakistani formed a national flood response and coordination center which will serve as a bridge between disaster management authorities, donors and government institutions to provide much-needed support and oversee rescue and relief work. The center will be led by the prime minister and will include federal ministers, chief ministers, representatives of armed forces, and experts as members.

• Pakistan government has approved Rs103 billion ($468 million) to extend support to families affected by the flash floods. 
• The government has pledged Rs25,000 ($113) in immediate cash relief to each of the 4.125 million affected families and about Rs30 billion has already been given to 1.13 million families.
• The government is also providing Rs1 million (US$4,550) compensation to the families of those killed in the floods, Rs250,000 (US$1,136) for injuries and for partially damaged houses and Rs500,000 (US$2,274) for destroyed houses.

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has raised more than Rs 5 billion or US$22.5 million in a live fundraising broadcast within three hours for Pakistanis affected by deadly floods. Khan said he was deeply touched by the spirit of Pakistanis who contributed generously to meet the urgent needs of their countrymen.

Pakistan and UN launch $160 million appeal for flood victims

Pakistan and United Nations on August 30 launched an appeal for $160 million in emergency funding to help millions affected by record-breaking floods. These funds will provide 5.2 million people with food, water, sanitation, emergency education, protection and health support.

“Millions are homeless, schools and health facilities have been destroyed, livelihoods are shattered, critical infrastructure wiped out, and people’s hopes and dreams have washed away. Every province of the country has been affected.  It breaks my heart to see these generous people suffering so much” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. Guterres said Pakistan’s flooding, caused by weeks of unprecedented monsoon rains, was a signal to the world to step up action against climate change. “Let’s stop sleepwalking toward the destruction of our planet by climate change,” he said in a video message. “Today, it’s Pakistan. Tomorrow, it could be your country.”

Pakistan floods 2022 in numbers (from June 14 – August 31)

• 33 million affected by floods 
• 1,191 lost their lives including 399 children 
• 3,641 wounded
• 1,106,000 houses either partially or fully destroyed
• 731,000 livestock lost
• 5,063 km of roads and 243 bridges damaged
• More than 500,000 in relief camps

International community responds to humanitarian crisis in Pakistan

As millions desperately await help in the flood-ravaged regions, the international community has stepped up efforts to help the affected communities. US, UK, China, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, EU, UN and others have contributed generously to the disaster appeal. However, Pakistani officials say more funds are needed to respond to the floods that have affected more than 15 per cent of Pakistan’s population. 

Here is how much the countries and organizations have pledged so far (till August 31):

UN: The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated US$ 3 million to UN agencies and partners in Pakistan to respond to the floods. This will be used for health, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation services in flood-affected areas.

EU: The European Union has announced support of 2.15 million Euros worth of relief goods for flood-affected people.

China: China has dispatched two Y-20 military cargo planes containing large volumes of humanitarian aid for Pakistan. The relied items include 3,000 tents that are urgently needed. The Chinese government has also pledged 100 million Yuan ($14.5 million) for humanitarian assistance in Pakistan, including 25,000 tents and other relief supplies.

Turkiye: Turkiye is leading humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and has already sent seven planeloads of flood relief including food, tents and medical aid for the affected people. The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) sent relief aid of about 10,000 tents, 50,000 food parcels, 50,000 hygiene materials and 10,000 parcels of baby food to the flood areas in the first phase. On August 30, Turkey sent a train carrying 470 tons of relief goods – food, tents and blankets – from Ankara for Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) of Saudi Arabia has dispatched 100 emergency relief trucks carrying 950 tonnes of essential food items. As many as 10,000 food packages will benefit more than 70,000 people.

UAE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged some 20 aircraft of flood relief equipment to assist flood victims across Pakistan. At least five of these flights, loaded with tons of food, medical supplies and tents, have already arrived in Pakistan.

For the second day in a row the Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence has continued humanitarian operations to #Pakistan through an air bridge transferring humanitarian aid provided by the #UAE to the friendly Islamic Republic of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/hbzMVxGbcB

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) August 30, 2022

Qatar: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has allocated $100,000 (QR 365,000) from its Disaster Response Fund to provide relief for the victims of floods. Qatar has also sent the first batch of urgent aid which would benefit 35,000 Pakistanis. The aid contained 21,000 food baskets, 5,000 tents, 5,000 hygiene kits.

U.S.: The United States has announced $30 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to support people and communities affected by severe flooding in Pakistan. The aid would be provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

UK: The UK is providing urgent support of up to £1.5 million for the relief efforts in the areas worst hit by the flooding.

This is a time to stand together: 🇬🇧 is providing urgent support of £1.5m for #FloodRelief cc @Sherryrehman @NdmaPk 👇 https://t.co/zAxZ3F8iEu

— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) August 27, 2022

Australia: Australia will provide $2 million in urgent humanitarian assistance in response to devastating floods in Pakistan through the World Food Program (WFP) to assist with “immediate humanitarian needs, particularly those disproportionately affected by the floods, including women, children and the vulnerable.”

Canada: Canada announces $5 million in funding for humanitarian assistance in response to flooding in Pakistan.

Ireland: The government of Ireland has announced an initial commitment of €500,000 of Irish Aid support to the people of Pakistan facing a humanitarian crisis.

Norway: Norway has announced to provide around NOK 25 million (US$2.25 million) to assist the victims of the terrible floods in Pakistan. The funds will be channelled through the UN, Red Cross and IFRC.

Azerbaijan: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has directed his government to provide US$2 million in aid to Pakistan to help cope with the humanitarian crisis.