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Pakistan Floods: Live updates from the Ground

2 September 2022

Pakistan is currently experiencing catastrophic flash flooding across the country, leaving one-third of the country underwater and affecting more than 33 million people.

Donate to our Pakistan Floods Appeal now and help save lives.

According to local authorities the death toll has surpassed 1,100, with over 1,500 injured and millions displaced.

Over 6 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. 

Islamic Relief is responding to the crisis, distributing vital aid and working with the local government to help communities recover from the disaster.

I travelled to the region from the UK to shed light on the scale of devastation the flooding has caused, as well as to assist with relief efforts. 

Read on for facts and my updates from the ground.

Key Facts

  • 33 million people have been affected in total
  • 6 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid
  • At least 1,290 people have lost their lives
  • Over 12, 500 people have been injured in the floods
  • Millions of people have been displaced from their homes
  • 220,000 homes have been completely destroyed
  • 662,000 homes have been damaged
  • 5, 500 km of road infrastructure and 243 bridges have been damaged
  • At least 800,000 livestock has been lost
  • 3.6 million acres of cultivated crops have been affected

Tufail Hussain (Director, Islamic Relief UK) is currently in Pakistan overseeing our response to the floods.

05/09/2022

Today I visited an area in Thatta, Sindh, that has been devastated by the flooding.  It used to host five villages. Now, it is completely submerged in water. 500 homes have been completely destroyed and even more lives have been shattered. 

It’s hard to fathom the amount of water here, but it’s literally as far as the eye can see in every direction. The water is around 10 feet deep. 

It’s devastating to think that this is where people lived, played and tended the land- now it is all gone. 

People have set up temporary shelter on the little dry land they have and are living in poor, squalid conditions. To make matters even worse, the area has been infested by mosquitoes. Families are expected to live in these terrible conditions for 6 months and the need here is great. Please continue to support our efforts to support affected families. 

 

04/09/2022

Today I travelled to Mirpur Khas, Sindh, the province most severely affected by the floods. The area has seen widespread devastation and these communities are most in need of aid. 

The village is surrounded by water. Families have lost everything- their homes, lands, crops and livelihoods. They were forced to escape with just the clothes on their backs. They’re now dependent on aid agencies like Islamic Relief who reached the area within 48 hours of when flooding began. 

We’re distributing food packs to vulnerable families. Each family will receive staple food items such as  oil, rice and lentils. 

So far we have helped over 30, 000 individuals across the country. With your help, we hope to reach around half a million InshAllah. 

02/09/2022:

This morning I departed from the UK to join the Islamic Relief teams on the ground in some of the most affected regions in Pakistan. I’ll be joining our team in Sindh who are working tirelessly to support millions affected by floods in the area.

 

Zia Salik, our Head of Fundraising, visiting Balochistan early August when flooding first started in the province. The updates below were from Zia during his visit.

 

04/08/2022:

This morning I departed from Manchester airport to join the Islamic Relief teams on the ground in Pakistan in some of the most affected regions. It’s important to identify the challenges those in need now face and how Islamic Relief can best assist. Islamic Relief has been working in the region for over 21 years to combat poverty, and Balochistan continues to be one of the most affected by flash flooding.

 

05/08/2022:

I’ve touched down in the capital of Balochistan Province, Quetta, where it is currently 33 degrees celsius. Upon arrival, I met with the team on the ground for a security briefing and was made aware that 28 out of 35 districts in Balochistan have been severely flooded. As a result, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has declared a state of emergency in all 28 affected districts. So far, 9 of the districts are in the most desperate need of immediate and urgent assistance.

Tragically, over 200,000 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed in the province.

To further grasp the situation on the ground, I travelled to Mian Khanzai, a hamlet of  70 homes and 500 people in the Panchpai district. The villagers reported that within four short hours, waves started to make way from the mountains towards the village, destroying all 70 homes. The ordeal was petrifying for the residents, as several children were swept away before being caught.

The majority of the hamlet’s income is from agriculture, all of which has now been destroyed. With the crops now gone there will be no source of income for the next year.

Islamic Relief has provided each of the families here with cash grants to purchase basic essentials from the markets in the city. It’s evident that it will take a long time to rebuild their lives.

 

06/08/2022:

Today, I visited Batto village in the Nushki District, which is approximately 3 hours from Quetta near the Iranian border. The area is extremely remote, meaning that NGOs don’t typically operate in this area and the population is not receiving the support that they need.

The region is extremely hot, currently it is 45 degrees Celsius. This area in Pakistan is one of the hottest during the summer and one of the coldest in the winter, with temperatures dropping well below zero degrees Celsius. Between tremendously hot temperatures, the flash floods, and a looming harsh winter, the population is being thrust between extreme circumstances with no time to recover.

Tragically, a 400-year-old underground spring that used to supply the village with water has now been blocked with mud due to the floods. Now, the villagers have no water, and with their homes destroyed from the floods, they also have no shelter from the blistering heat.

Aminah Bibi and her children

Aminah Bibi and her children

 

There, we met a woman named Bibi Aminah, a mother of 10 children and carer for six orphan children left in her care due to the passing of her brother. Tragically, Aminah’s home was completely destroyed by the recent floods.

Aminah’s brother’s orphan children sitting in the rubble of where their house used to be.

Aminah’s brother’s orphan children sitting in the rubble of where their house used to be

 

Upon hearing that Islamic Relief was distributing aid in the area, she visited each and every home in the village to gather representatives before seeking Islamic Relief staff and registering every household for aid. Aminah didn’t just want support for herself, her children, and the orphans in her care, but the entire village that’s suffered.

Islamic Relief has since provided 60 multi-seasonal tents for every family in Batto. Each of these tents are designed to last for the long term, including the winter months. However, they are intended to be temporary while Islamic Relief supports the villagers with the rebuilding of their homes.

The tents will provide protection from the elements across the seasons. The outer tarpaulin sheet acts a waterproof membrane against the rains which are expected to fall again the coming days, as well as a reflector, protecting the family from the blazing sun and scorching 45 degree temperatures.

Each family has also been provided with vital resources, including a home kit that contains essential cooking pots, pans, cutlery, plates, jugs, and cups so that each person can cook and eat with dignity.

Multi-seasonal tents provided by Islamic Relief.

Multi-seasonal tents provided by Islamic Relief

 

For families that have lost everything, these basic essentials are an immediate priority.

Donate to our Pakistan Floods Appeal now and help save lives.

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