The humanitarian situation in Pakistan has further worsened over the past two weeks as heavy rains continue to cause flooding and landslides, leading to displacement and damage across the country. The Pakistani government has officially declared 66 districts as "calamity-affected" - 31 in Balochistan, 23 in Sindh, nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and three in Punjab. The situation remains dynamic and many more districts have been affected; the number of disaster-declared districts is expected to increase as rains continue to decrease.
Adverse weather conditions resulted in significant human and animal casualties and extensive damage to private homes and public infrastructure, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The National Disaster Management Authority (ND MA) reports that approximately 33 million people are affected in Pakistan. As of 25 August, Pakistan had received 375.4 mm of rainfall – 2.87 times the national 30-year average of 130.8 mm. These rains fell mainly on Balochistan, Sindh and parts of Punjab, with Balochistan receiving five times its average 30-year average and Sindh 5.7 times its 30-year average.1
According to the ND MA, over 218,000 houses have been destroyed and another 452,000 damaged since June 14. Livelihoods have also been hit hard, with more than 793,900 livestock dead - a critical source of livelihood and sustenance for many families - of which about 63 percent are in Balochistan and 25 percent in Punjab. Around 2 million acres of crops and orchards were also affected, including at least 304,000 acres in Balochistan, 178,000 acres in Punjab and around 1.54 million acres in Sindh. Damage to infrastructure has further worsened the humanitarian situation, as the partial or total destruction of more than 3,000 km of roads and 145 bridges prevents people from fleeing to safer areas or travel to access markets, health care or other vital services, and limits the delivery of aid to those in need. Internet outages were also reported, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority attributing widespread internet outages in central and northern Pakistan on 19 August to technical failures in the fiber optic network due to heavy rains and flooding.
Provisional figures from provincial education departments show that at least 17,566 schools have been damaged or destroyed by the emergency: 15,842 schools in Sindh, 544 in Balochistan and 1,180 in Punjab. In addition, at least 5,492 schools are reportedly being used to house displaced persons. A rapid needs assessment (RNA) conducted in 10 districts of Balochistan found that 977 classrooms were completely destroyed (304 in KHZ DAR, 193 in Las Bela and 167 in J HAL Ma GSI), while minor damage was reported in 975 classrooms (304 in KHZ DAR, 156 in Las Bela and 174 in J HAL Ma GSI) and 577 schools were used as shelters (254 in Kill AA S AIF ullah, 105 in J HAL Ma GSI and 84 in Las Bela).
The near-constant rainfall combines with flash flooding and rain-induced landslides to rapidly fill the dam's reservoirs, posing additional risks to people nearby and downstream. On the Indus River, which crosses the length of Pakistan, the Tar Bela Dam in KP province – the largest earth-filled dam in the world – has already reached its maximum protection level of 1,550 feet (472 meters), while the C has h Ma Dam in Punjab province has only seven feet (2.13 meters) left, before also reaching its maximum protection level of 649 feet (197 meters). On 26 August, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning that very high to exceptionally high floods were expected in the Kabul River at Now she Ra in KP province, as well as the tributaries of the Kabul and Indus rivers until August 28. The FFS has also warned of high to very high flood levels at KAL A Bag h and C has h ma along the Indus River between August 27 and 28, posing an additional risk to people nearby and downstream.
MAIN DATA
116 districts were affected, including 66 districts officially declared as "calamity hit".
Since June 14, at least 937 people have been killed and 1,343 people have injured.
National precipitation is 2.87 times the national 30-year average, with some provinces receiving more than five times their 30-year average.
Among other things, the Government of Pakistan has allocated PKR 35 billion (approx. USD 173 million) to help flood-affected people under the Ben a z IR Income Support Program (B ISP).
Humanitarian partners are providing aid to flood-affected people, even when weather and ground conditions prevent access.
The humanitarian situation is expected to worsen as communities and infrastructure become increasingly unable to cope with the continued heavy rainfall.
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