Pakistan Floods

The situation in Pakistan has dramatically deteriorated as heavy rains continue to cause flooding, and landslides resulting in displacement and damage across the country. Sixty-six districts have been officially declared to be ‘calamity hit’ by the Government of Pakistan – 31 in Balochistan, 23 in Sindh, nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and three in Punjab.

The adverse weather conditions have incurred significant human and livestock casualties and widespread damage to private homes and public infrastructure, especially in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports some 33 million people in Pakistan being affected.

Over 218,000 houses have been destroyed and a further 452,000 damaged. More than 793,900 livestock have died (a critical source of sustenance for many families). 63 per cent are in Balochistan and 25 per cent in Punjab. Around 2 million acres of crops and orchards have also been destroyed, including at least 304,000 acres in Balochistan, 178,000 acres in Punjab and some 1.54 million acres in Sindh. Damage to infrastructure has further worsened the humanitarian situation, as partial or complete destruction of over 3,000 km of roads and 145 bridges impedes the ability of people to flee to safer areas or to travel to access markets, healthcare, or other vital services, and restricts the delivery of aid to people in need.

Provisional data from provincial Education Departments show that at least 17,566 schools have been damaged or destroyed due to the emergency: 15,842 schools in Sindh, 544 in Balochistan and 1,180 in Punjab. Additionally, at least 5,492 schools are reportedly being used to accommodate displaced people. A rapid needs assessment (RNA) conducted in 10 districts of Balochistan found that 977 classrooms were completely destroyed (304 in Khuzdar, 193 in Lasbela and 167 in Jhal Magsi), while minor damage was reported in 975 classrooms (304 in Khuzdar, 156 in Lasbela and 174 in Jhal Magsi), and 577 schools were being used as shelter (254 in Killa Saifullah, 105 in Jhal Magsi and 84 in Lasbela).

Near incessant rainfall is compounding flash flooding and rain-induced landslides by rapidly filling up dam reservoirs, posing further risk to people in the vicinity and downstream. On the Indus River, which traverses the length of Pakistan, the Tarbela Dam in KP province – the world’s largest earth-filled dam – has already reached its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet (472 meters), while the Chashma Barrage in Punjab province only has seven feet (2.13 meters) remaining before it also reaches its 649 feet (197 meters) maximum conservation level. On 26 August, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) issued a warning that very high to exceptionally high level flooding is expected in River Kabul at Nowshera in KP province, as well as in tributaries of the Kabul and Indus rivers until 28 August. The FFS also warned of high to very high flood levels at Kalabagh and Chashma along the Indus River between 27 and 28 August, posing further risk to people in the vicinity and downstream.