Pakistan Floods: Vulnerable groups at risk of being left behind as flooding covers one third of country

Since 14th June 2022, unprecedented rainfall and flooding in Pakistan has affected 116 of 160 districts, resulting in nearly 1,000 deaths and over 1,300 people injured. 

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) teams in the country are preparing an immediate emergency response to support families displaced by the flooding. The organization has also launched an emergency appeal for funds.

The humanitarian situation  

Initial estimates show that approximately 33 milllion people have been impacted by the torrential rainfall, which has destroyed over 287,000 homes, damaged another 662,000 and displaced a currently undetermined number of families.  

6.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and, according to the UN, around 73% of affected households currently have insufficient access to food.  

At least 793,900 livestock have died and 2 million acres of agricultural land have been damaged, with the potential to impact long-term food security following the flooding.  

There has been widespread damage to infrastructure including over 17,000 schools, several thousand health facilities, 3,500km of roads and more than 145 bridges.

“In such a severe situation, where thousands of families are displaced by flooding, we are concerned that the most vulnerable people are at risk of being left behind. People with disabilities and older people will face more obstacles crossing flooded areas and reaching humanitarian aid. It is paramount that emergency response efforts are inclusive and accessible to everyone,” says Caroline Duconseille, Director of Humanity & Inclusion Pakistan.

Humanity & Inclusion’s emergency response  

HI teams in Pakistan are preparing an immediate intervention in the regions of Nowshera and Charsadda for an initial period of two months.

The organization is currently preparing to distribute food and basic household goods including hygiene supplies, blankets and kitchen kits to 600 vulnerable families displaced by the flooding.

HI will also deploy psychological first aid teams to assess the needs of displaced populations and provide assistance (either directly or through referral) in coordination with national authorities.  

At the same time, HI is looking at expanding its response to include further districts and services.  

“Flooding of this scale is unprecedented in Pakistan and requires an immediate emergency response. We’re seeing families that have lost absolutely everything and are living underwater. Our initial focus is meeting the most urgent needs of impacted communities, including access to food and daily essentials such as soap, cooking supplies and warm blankets,” says Caroline Duconseille, Director of Humanity & Inclusion Pakistan.

Humanity & Inclusion’s work in Pakistan

HI has been present in Pakistan since the early 1980s and has implemented humanitarian projects across multiple districts of the country.  

In Pakistan today, HI’s team of 31 staff leads projects on inclusive disaster relief and disaster risk management, inclusive education, healthcare and disability prevention, support for disability focused-organizations, and women’s empowerment.

Pakistan is increasingly and regularly hit by natural disasters. In 2010, HI implemented a large-scale emergency response to flooding across the northwest of the country that affected more than 20 million people. The activities included emergency kit distributions and distributions of drinking water.  

A rise in extreme meteorological events, driven by climate change, is expected to displace up to 1.2 billion people worldwide by the year 2050.

Notes

- Interviews are available with HI staff on the ground in Pakistan:
Caroline Duconseille: Director, HI Pakistan (FR and EN)
Abdul Dayyan: Area Manager, HI Pakistan (EN)

- Donations to Humanity & Inclusion's Pakistan Floods Appeal can be made at: here

Press contact

Tom Shelton, Humanity & Inclusion UK
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)7717 820 777

About Humanity & Inclusion

Co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an international charity working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work tirelessly alongside and vulnerable people to help meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

UK registered charity no. 1082565