Recent floods and monsoon rains have affected millions and caused hundreds of deaths across Pakistan. In response to the devastation, the Prime Minister has increased the ex-gratia relief for the families of the deceased from one million to two million rupees.
According to a rapid needs assessment report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), over 4.2 million people have been affected by the floods in 18 districts of Punjab. Muzaffargarh has the highest number of affected individuals, accounting for more than a quarter of the total. Other severely affected districts include Jhang, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, and Multan.
The report also indicates that approximately 2.8 million people in flood-affected areas have been displaced. A survey of over 161,000 houses found that nearly 46,000 have been completely destroyed.
Out of 742 health facilities, 395 have been damaged, with 80 completely destroyed, severely disrupting healthcare services. The most significant damage was reported in Gujranwala, Bahawalnagar, and Okara.
The Education Department has reported that 667 schools in 18 districts have been damaged, with 54% of these being girls’ schools. Furthermore, 217 schools were used as temporary shelters, affecting the education of over 100,000 students.
Malaria is the most common health issue reported in the affected villages (64%), followed by skin infections and diarrhea, which points to deteriorating water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions. Dengue has also been found at notable levels.
The floods have severely impacted the agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods of the local population. Crops have been destroyed and livestock killed, leaving farming families without income. In Multan, 81.7% of communities reported having food stocks for only one week or less. The situation is also critical in Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) informed the Senate Standing Committee that the Prime Minister has raised the compensation for the victims’ heirs to 2 million rupees. The NDMA reported that approximately 1,000 people have died and 1,000 others have been injured in the recent floods. Between June 26 and September 19, the NDMA also reported rescuing or evacuating nearly three million people.
