This report is produced by the OCHA Humanitarian Advisory Team (HAT) in Pakistan in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 17-23 September 2022. The next report will be issued on or around 30 September 2022.
HIGHLIGHTS
The number of damaged and destroyed houses now exceeds 2 million. Around 23,900 schools, 1,460 health facilities and 13,000 km of roads have also reportedly been damaged. More than 5,000 schools are being used as temporary relief camps.
Some 7.9 million people are reportedly displaced as a result of the heavy rains and floods, including some 598,000 people living in relief camps.
Increasing floodwaters observed in parts of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab while stagnating or receding water is observed elsewhere.
805K houses destroyed
1.2M houses damaged
13.1K kilometres of roads damaged
1.6K people killed
12.9K people injured
1.1M livestock lost
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Unusually heavy monsoon rains from mid-June to September resulted in flash floods and standing water across Pakistan, causing human and livestock casualties as well as widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. While floodwaters have receded in many areas, large parts of Sindh and eastern Balochistan remain underwater and will likely remain so for several months to come. The standing floodwater and secondary impacts are resulting in an increase in water-borne diseases, unsanitary conditions, and rising malnutrition rates. At the same time, water infrastructure has incurred significant damage and the flood-affected health system is impaired in addressing and mitigating the risk of a major public health crisis. Concurrently, winter is fast approaching, and the affected population – both displaced and otherwise – will require assistance to prepare for the imminent cold weather.
The number of damaged and destroyed houses in Pakistan now exceeds 2 million, with over 1.2 million houses damaged and over 805,000 houses destroyed as of 23 September. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recorded over 1,600 deaths and more than 12,850 injuries since mid-June, including 579 children killed and over 4,000 children injured. Some 7.9 million people are reportedly displaced due to the heavy rains and floods, including some 598,000 people who are living in relief camps, according to reports by the respective Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of the affected provinces. Reports indicate that more than 5,000 schools are currently being used to host displaced populations, while an estimated 23,900 schools have been damaged.
Cases of watery diarrhoea, typhoid and malaria are a growing concern, with many people living in unsanitary conditions in temporary shelters, often with only limited access to basic services. Initial reports of outbreaks of vector-borne and water- borne diseases have been received from parts of Balochistan and Sindh. Pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and children under age five represent the most vulnerable at-risk groups, with estimates indicating that at least 83,000 flood-affected women are pregnant and due to give birth in the coming months. Assessments indicate that some 1,460 health facilities and their contents are damaged, further limiting people’s access to health services, while damage to 349 refrigerators and solar direct drive systems have reportedly resulted in disrupted vaccine cold chains.
A preliminary assessment by the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) comparing satellite data from 8 to 14 September to data from 15 to 21 September indicates that similar to a week ago, many districts in Sindh, two in Balochistan and one in Punjab were affected by increasing floodwaters. Floodwaters appear to be stagnating or receding in many other parts of the country, although in Sindh increasing floodwater was again observed in Jamshoro, Malir Karachi, Thatta, Tando Allahyar, Mirpur Khas, Umer Kot, Tharparkar and Sujawal districts, and increasing floodwater was also observed in Gwadar and Lasbela districts in Balochistan and in Khusbab district in Punjab.
