Since June 2022, Pakistan has been bombarded by severe monsoon weather. As of August 27, rainfall in the country is equivalent to 2.9 times the national average. The extreme weather has caused widespread flooding and landslides, leading to the destruction of property and infrastructure. There has also been an enormous impact on human lives: Since June 14, an estimated 1,033 people have been killed and 1,527 people injured, with those numbers expected to increase with the continued rain.
Right now, approximately 33 million people in Pakistan have been impacted by the disaster. Some of the most urgent needs among those affected are those in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). An estimated 3.8 million people are in need of WASH support due to contaminated water and limited access to hygiene items.
The contamination of water supply and destruction of water filtration systems in Pakistan has already exacerbated ongoing disease outbreaks. The World Health Organization has already noted the increased spread of illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea, dengue fever, malaria, polio, and COVID-19. The humanitarian situation in Pakistan will likely worsen even more with the continuation of heavy rain over areas already hit by flooding.
3.9 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEED OF WASH SUPPORT
33 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED
FLOODS COVERING MORE THAN 1/3 OF THE COUNTRY
GlobalMedic’s Rapid Response Team is on the ground in Pakistan working to respond to these growing concerns. In response to the growing outbreaks of diarrheals and other communicable diseases, our team is distributing oral rehydration salts and other medicines to prevent minor cases from developing into life threatening illnesses. 312,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts have been distributed to health clinics and directly to families impacted by the flooding.
We are also working to provide access to clean drinking water both with large point of use systems being used at communal kitchens and clinics and through the provision of Family Emergency Kits. Seven large scale systems have been purchased locally and the RRT carried two AquaResponse3 systems into Pakistan with them. The Family Emergency Kits provide an at home water purification solution as well as essential hygiene supplies. These units will allow families to have access to clean drinking water for up to a year which will be crucial in maintaining their health through the recovery phase of this disaster. To date we have distributed 3,600 FEKs in multiple flood affected regions.
Finally, we are providing food hampers to families displaced by the flooding. These hampers provide a mixture of culturally appropriate staple goods and are procured and packed in Pakistan, supporting the local economy. To date, 10,000 food hampers have been distributed. The needs in Pakistan are immense and our teams continue to evaluate the situation on the ground so we can be mobile and adaptive in our response.
