By Zeeshan Asghar

The monsoon rains continue to affect Pakistan by causing floods, landslides, flash floods, and severe weather-related incidents, which have resulted in a humanitarian emergency. Since mid-June, at least 1,730 people have died, of which 792 people died in Sindh Province (south-eastern Pakistan), 336 in Balochistan (south-western Pakistan), and 308 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (north-western Pakistan), according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Nearly 12,865 individuals have been injured across all Provinces of Pakistan and more than 33 Million people have been affected, of which 14.5 Million are in Sindh, and 9.2 million are in Balochistan. Widespread damage has been reported to over 2.2 million houses, more than 1.1 million livestock has been lost and more than 13,000 km of roads and 440 bridges have been affected.

Malaria cases are increasing due to the stagnant water, while the incidence of diarrhea is at least five times higher than usual, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, where more than 1 in 9 children under five admitted to health facilities suffered from severe acute malnutrition. More than 3.5 million children’s education was interrupted due to the impact of floods. Some sectors noted inadequate funding and delays in supplies as a major gap in responding to the needs of hard-to-reach areas. Roughly only 15-20 percent of the affected population has received relief assistance from humanitarians.

Public health concerns are high in flood-affected areas of Pakistan, particularly with access to primary healthcare limited by monsoon-induced damage to health facilities. 59 health facilities are destroyed and 461 are partially damaged in Sindh, where nearly 350,000 people were suspected of having malaria, more than 700,000 people had diarrhea, and over 770,000 people reported a skin-related disease between July and early October. Stagnant water has contributed to malaria outbreaks in 32 districts in Sindh and Balochistan. The practice of open defecation has increased from one-fifth before the floods to over one-third of the affected population, with 6 million people no longer having home sanitation facilities.

World Health Organization (WHO) states that around 8 million flood-affected people need health assistance. Vector-borne and water-borne diseases remain a major concern in flood-affected areas. Around 1,000 confirmed cholera cases and 64,767 dengue fever cases, with 147 deaths, have been reported. More than 5.1 million women are of reproductive age, including an estimated 410,846 pregnant women. Approximately 136,950 births are expected in the next three months.
In the Pakistan Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there more than 1 million people were affected by floods. 306 People lost their life and 499 people were injured, 47,750 houses were fully damaged and 90,836 houses were partially damaged,11,462 cattle’s parish, 1,575 km of roads were badly damaged, and 119,254 acres of agriculture land and crops were damaged.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter with its committed team and Partners (ICRC, IFRC, PNS Norwegian Red Cross, and German Red Cross) on the front line in flood response throughout the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and provide direct assistance to 723,339 people with the worth of PKR. 735,754,901 (735.75 million), and USD.3,350.022 (3.350 million). PRCS KP branch provides 2,906 family tents, Provides 69,840 people medical assistance through 9 mobile health units with free medicine, provides above 2.1 million of clean drinking water with 2 CETA water plants in the most remote area of DI Khan, Tank and, Karak. PRCS KP provides in flood initial days 7,944 cook food packs and now provides 5,431 food packages of dry ration with the support of the German Red Cross, Monal, and Turkish Red Crescent. PRCS Provides 75 families cash assistance at @ PKR.7000 per family in Upper Dir with the support of local philanthropists, PRCS KP, first aid department provides first aid to 954 people with the support of ICRC, PRCS KP provides 6,841 families from its own resources Non-food items (Tarpaulin sheets, Blankets, mosquito nets, repellents, shelter tool kits, wood burning stoves, Hurricane lamps, and kitchen sets), Hygiene is much important issue thus, we provide 18,091 family hygiene kits and 10,107 Jerry cane for clean drinking water throughout KP from our own resources and Partners like Norwegian Red Cross and German Red Cross, a unique activity of 1060 prepaid mobile cards distribution in flood affected areas by Restoring Family Links department with the support of ICRC. PRCS KP distributes 16000 rupees cash grant among the 900 families of Tank and Karak with the support of IFRC.

Future Plan.
From March 2023, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society Khyber Pakhtunkhwa branch plans to start the early recovery and rehabilitation phase in 13 flood-affected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the support of The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for next two years. That is all possible with the help of ICRC, IFRC, and Our Partner National Societies like the Norwegian Red Cross, German Red Cross & Turkish Red Crescent Society. “PRCS’s mission is to alleviate human sufferings, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity” and our motive during emergencies is “We Reach first and leave last”. We are here to support you. Come and Join us to serve humanity.