PAKISTAN FLOOD ACUTE JOINT RESPONSE

Pakistan has endured severe monsoon weather since June 2022. Rainfall in the country is equivalent to three times the national 30-year average. This has caused widespread flooding and landslides, with severe repercussions for human lives, property and infrastructure. Some 80 districts across Pakistan have been declared ‘calamity hit’ by the Government of Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan estimates that around 33 million people across the country are affected by the rains, floods and consequent impacts such as landslides. More than 421,000 refugees living in calamity-declared districts are also affected or at risk. Some 6.4 million people are estimated to urgently need assistance.

Over 287,000 houses have been destroyed and over 662,000 partially damaged. Livelihoods are also being heavily impacted; more than 700.000 livestock, a critical source of sustenance and livelihoods for many families, have died. Around 800.000 hectares of crops and orchards have also been affected to date, mostly in Sindh and to a lesser extent in Balochistan and Punjab.

The Joint Response

The Pakistan Joint Flood Response proposes a multi-sectoral response in 13 districts in the 4 main provinces. The  regions  were  selected  as  first  priority locations, based on the severity of the flood situation, number of affected people, and food insecurity.

Target people in need  include  women  and  children (particularly  female-headed  households and households with children under 5), unaccompanied minors, gender-based violence victims, people with disabilities and elderly people). Partners will ensure that these minority groups are fairly represented in community committees involved in the implementation process.

The activities carried out under this JR are the following:

Food security: 16.450 beneficiaries will be provided with food baskets (rice, lentils, sugar, cooking oil, salt, tea, etc.) for immediate relief and agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer, etc) for rapid recovery.

Health: mobile teams organise health campaigns and integrated community case management, as well as provide lifesaving medicines, essential medical equipment and supplies such as mosquito nets, diarrheal disease kits, and acute respiratory disease kits for 12.800 beneficiaries;

Multi-purpose cash assistance will be the main response modality to the flood crisis. Cash will allow beneficiaries flexibility and dignity of choice. The JR will reach a total of 36.876 individuals with unrestricted and unconditional cash worth € 1.057.600;

Shelter and non-food items will be provided to 8.413 beneficiaries through provision of a weatherproof relief tent & shelter kit (kitchen utensils, mats, bed linen, towels, purification tablets, etc. ) for households that currently are living in open spaces, damaged houses, or overcrowded relief camps. All these households will additionally receive hygiene kits during hygiene sessions that include child protection and psychosocial first aid;

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) will reach 40.020 people in need. This consists of constructing water points and public latrines, as well as distribution of hygiene kits and organising hygiene promotion campaigns on handwashing, menstrual hygiene, clean storage of drinking water and safe disposal of excreta;

Protection will be mainstreamed by all partners. Alongside the Food security, Health, Shelter, Non-food items, Cash assistance and WASH response, partners will raise awareness on common gender-based violence and child protection issues, and community-led risk mitigation and preventive measures. This will be done through for example community meetings and the distribution of leaflets.
The JR is planning to reach 93.000 people during this response.