ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has announced £1.33 million in humanitarian assistance to support Pakistan’s response to the severe monsoon floods that have killed hundreds and displaced thousands across the country.
According to the British High Commission in Islamabad, the aid package will benefit more than 223,000 people in seven flood-affected districts of Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The UK-funded support will provide food supplies, mobile medical camps, rehabilitation of drinking water facilities, restoration of irrigation systems, and assistance for agriculture and livelihoods. Search and rescue operations are also being backed under the initiative.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said the funding was part of the UK’s commitment to stand with communities affected by the disaster.
“Through UK-funded programmes, vital assistance is reaching communities impacted by flooding and landslides. Working closely with national and provincial authorities and partners, the UK remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s disaster response and resilience,” she said.
The High Commission added that 2,400 community volunteers have been trained in search and rescue operations in disaster-prone districts.
In Charsadda, 25 volunteers have already joined Rescue 1122 operations in Buner to help locate people missing or trapped under debris.
Medical services are being reinforced through mobile health units in areas where clinics have been damaged, while displaced families are receiving food packs, non-food supplies, shelter materials and dignity kits for women.
District Coordinators from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are also working in Swat and Buner to help coordinate relief efforts among humanitarian organisations to ensure aid is delivered effectively.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have killed at least 739 people since late June, injured nearly 1,000 and destroyed or damaged more than 2,400 homes. Over 1,000 livestock have also been lost.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst-hit province. Authorities declared a state of emergency in nine districts, including Buner, Shangla and Mansehra, after heavy rains between 15 and 19 August left nearly 400 people dead, 182 injured and damaged more than 1,300 homes. Nearly 100 schools were also destroyed.
The international charity CARE reported widespread devastation in Buner, where families described homes and livelihoods being swept away within minutes by torrents of water carrying boulders and debris.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains are expected to continue into early September, raising the risk of further floods, landslides, and crop losses.
Pakistan is experiencing one of its most destructive monsoon seasons in recent years. Since June, relentless rains have washed away bridges, roads and farmland, forcing tens of thousands into temporary shelters.
The country remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather fuelled by climate change.
In 2022, unprecedented floods killed more than 1,700 people, displaced millions and caused an estimated $40 billion in economic losses.
