Climate crisis swamps Pakistan

The climate crisis is unfolding before our eyes as Pakistan remains submerged in floodwaters 

It’s a race against time to prevent further loss of life as more rains and increased floods are expected in Pakistan. As of early September 2022, 80 districts across the country have been declared by the government of Pakistan as “calamity hit”. 

In Sindh province, Save the Children’s Pakistan Country Director M. Khuram Gondal reports on the devastation caused by the floods.

Poor communities and vulnerable children are most affected

Floods have submerged many villages and caused significant infrastructural damage, including destroying houses, schools, and hospitals. Livelihoods are already severely impacted in a country where half the population depends on agriculture and livestock. 

The greatest impact has been on Pakistan’s poorest districts and communities, and millions of people risk sliding into deeper debt and destitution as a result of the current crisis. Families who were already vulnerable prior to the floods, risk being pushed further into poverty.

Nearly 50% of people affected by the devastating floods are children. With a lack of access to basic sanitation and clean drinking water, they are at risk of deadly waterborne diseases. Schooling has been disrupted due to structural damage to schools, with books, whiteboards, tables and chairs ruined or swept away by the floods. 

A climate catastrophe

Pakistan’s government has described the mega floods a “climate catastrophe”. The floods and torrential rains are symptomatic of worsening weather patterns as a result of the climate crisis, with Pakistan ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. 

Heavy rains started earlier than usual in June. In August, rainfall was nine times higher than average in Sindh province and five times higher across the whole of Pakistan. This is consistent with the predicted impacts of global heating as warmer air holds more moisture, intensifying monsoon rainfall. 

As one-third of the country remains submerged, the impact of the climate crisis could not be clearer. The true impact of the climate crisis on vulnerable children and families across Pakistan is unfolding before our eyes.

Save the Children’s response and your lifesaving support

Save the Children is already operating in the most flood affected provinces and deploying teams to other hard-hit areas to assess the immediate needs of children and their families. Our teams are doing whatever it takes to help children affected by floods.

With your compassionate support you can help children and families survive catastrophes like this and look forward towards a sustainable recovery.