ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) has formulated a six-month response strategy to complement Pakistan’s early recovery efforts following this year’s monsoon floods.
The plan focuses on humanitarian and early recovery interventions in 14 priority districts across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to a UN-OCHA report released on Thursday, the strategy — part of a broader Support Plan for Relief and Early Recovery — will continue through April next year. It is based on findings from the Rapid Need Assessment (RNA), which identified key response gaps and guided district prioritisation.
In Punjab, the districts of Muzaffargarh, Multan, Khanewal, Jhang, and Bahawalpur have been marked as high priority, while Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Okara, and Rahim Yar Khan fall under the medium-priority category. In KP, Buner, Shangla, and Swat have been prioritised, while Diamer and Ghizer have been selected in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The support plan, to be implemented in close coordination with federal, provincial, and district authorities, outlines sector-specific needs identified in the RNA. A total of $7.9 million has been allocated for multipurpose cash assistance (MPC) to help 1.2 million people meet their essential needs in a flexible and dignified way.
The MPC initiative spans key sectors, including food security, agriculture, livelihoods, water and sanitation (WASH), shelter, and protection — providing both targeted and cross-sectoral support.
In the food security and livelihoods sector, the response will follow a dual-track approach: addressing immediate needs while promoting early recovery and climate resilience. The total funding requirement for this sector stands at $42.6 million, with $11.8 million earmarked for relief and lifesaving assistance and $30.8 million for early recovery initiatives.
