Pakistan Flood Crisis: Millions Affected, Crops Destroyed, Urgent Relief Needed
Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, is once again devastated by monsoon floods that have affected more than 6.3 million people and claimed at least 989 lives. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports extensive infrastructure damage, including 8,400 houses, 239 bridges, and 674 km of roads destroyed or damaged.
The floods have also wiped out 2.2 million hectares of cropland, crippling agriculture and fueling a 25% surge in wheat flour prices between August 28 and September 4. These losses are driving up food insecurity across the country.
- Punjab Province, Pakistan’s agricultural hub, is enduring its worst riverine flooding in decades, impacting 4.7 million people.
- In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least 1.6 million people are affected, with 604,000 requiring urgent assistance, and 80% of communities reporting crop destruction.
- Gilgit-Baltistan has been hit by flash floods from glacial lake outbursts, while Sindh Province remains on high alert for a potential super flood that could endanger another 1.6 million people.
The crisis is compounded by widespread food insecurity and malnutrition. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 10 million people—20% of Pakistan’s population—are facing acute food insecurity, including 1.4 million in emergency conditions.
Humanitarian experts warn that repeated climate shocks are reversing development gains, leaving families in desperate need of life-saving aid, livelihood recovery support, and long-term climate resilience investment.
