More than six million individuals have been impacted by the unusually heavy monsoon rains that began in late June, resulting in nearly 1,000 fatalities, including 250 children. Approximately 2.5 million have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in government-run camps or with host families who are already at capacity.
Carlos Geha, the head of the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) in Pakistan, stated that the situation is severe, with many displaced families yet to return home and potentially finding their homes and livelihoods destroyed once the water levels recede.
The monsoon deluge has been exacerbated by riverine flooding in Punjab province, Pakistan’s food basket, where over 4.7 million people have been affected after India released water from upstream dams. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1.6 million people have been impacted, with flash floods triggered by glacial lake overflows devastating parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and cutting off entire valleys. Sindh province remains on high alert for potential “super floods.”
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that over 8,400 houses, 239 bridges, and nearly 700 kilometers of roads have been damaged or destroyed. More than 2.2 million hectares of cropland lie under water, wiping out harvests and pushing food prices higher.
The UN and its partners are struggling to match the scale of the disaster. OCHA has released $5 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), with an additional $1.5 million channeled to local NGOs. A UNICEF staff member was seen distributing hygiene kits and water purification tablets to flood-affected families in Jhang district, Punjab.
Pakistan has endured repeated climate disasters in recent years, from the record-breaking 2022 floods to heatwaves and drought. Humanitarians warn that each shock pushes already vulnerable families further into poverty. The international community is called upon to stand with Pakistan not just in this emergency but also in helping to rebuild resilience and restore livelihoods for the long term.
Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/09/1165864
