ISLAMABAD: A recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says nearly seven million people have been displaced across Pakistan in this year’s monsoon floods, with Punjab the worst-affected province, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The report estimates that 4.7 million people in Punjab alone have been impacted, where swollen rivers inundated vast tracts of farmland, displacing more than 2.7 million people and damaging over 2.5 million acres of crops. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least 1.6 million people were affected, while Sindh reported 185,000 cases and Gilgit-Baltistan more than 350,000.
“Since late June, 6.9 million people have been affected, including 4.7 million people in Punjab Province, 1.6 million people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, 356,000 people in Gilgit-Baltistan province, and 185,000 people in Sindh Province,” the report said.
The report comes a week after the Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) declared the official end of the monsoon season, underscoring the scale of devastation left in its wake. Humanitarian agencies have called for urgent relief assistance, citing widespread loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, and urgent shelter needs in the affected provinces.
Punjab: Ground Zero of the Flood Emergency
Punjab Province alone has seen 4.7 million people affected and over 2.7 million displaced. While some families have begun returning to their villages as waters recede, many are finding their homes damaged or destroyed, crops ruined, and livelihoods wiped out. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that 2.5 million acres of farmland have been damaged, said the report.
Widespread Damage and Displacement
The monsoon floods since late June have affected 6.9 million people across Pakistan:
Punjab: 4.7 million affected
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1.6 million affected
Gilgit-Baltistan: 356,000 affected
Sindh: 185,000 affected
In Punjab, assessments reveal that over 160,000 homes were damaged, with 28 per cent fully destroyed. Schools and health facilities also suffered devastating blows, with 667 schools—more than half of them girls’ schools—damaged, and 53 per cent of assessed health facilities reporting destruction or severe impairment.
Education
The monsoon floods also disrupted the education of more than three million children across Pakistan, according to a separate government data and independent aid assessments, with Sind and Punjab accounting for the bulk of the total.
Figures shared by provincial education departments and aid groups indicate the widest disruption in Sindh, where the education department is confirming that over 7,500 schools were damaged, forcing at least 1.5 million children out of class.
Public Health Concerns Rising
With contaminated water sources and overcrowded shelters, public health risks are escalating. The assessment shows malaria (64%), skin infections (58%), and diarrhoea (41%) are widespread across affected villages, alongside dengue outbreaks (32%). Other reported diseases include suspected cholera and acute respiratory infections. Cases of child malnutrition are also on the rise, with 37% of respondents reporting malnourished children in their communities. More than a quarter of affected mothers faced difficulties in breastfeeding, while only a third reported access to mobile nutrition services.
Women and Girls Face Safety Risks
Flooding has also exposed protection risks. The report highlights that 25% of surveyed communities flagged safety concerns for women and girls and limited access to services.
Relief operations are being spearheaded by Pakistan’s federal and provincial authorities, with support from the army, Rescue 1122, local NGOs, and international partners. Aid agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are providing families with fortified biscuits and cash support.
Despite these efforts, funding remains critically low. The UN has released a $5 million CERF Rapid Response allocation, targeting over 430,000 people directly. Still, humanitarian agencies warn that resources are nearly exhausted and urgent contributions are required to sustain relief operations.
A Call for International Support
UNOCHA stressed that while local NGOs and communities remain the first responders, their resources are overstretched. With food insecurity, health crises, and shelter needs mounting, Pakistan requires sustained international solidarity to prevent further humanitarian deterioration.
