90% of people affected by devastating flooding in Pakistan are facing long-term food shortages, a new survey by Islamic Relief has found.
The assessment, carried out in late August in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, also found that three quarters of respondents did not have access to safe drinking water.
Islamic Relief held 50 focus groups involving around 400 people in communities hit by flooding. We also conducted in-depth interviews with more than 85 affected people, community leaders, government officials and humanitarian workers.
The findings reveal how the floods have stripped many people of their main sources of food and income, making it more likely that they will now face long-term hunger and poverty.
Livelihoods destroyed, savings washed away
One-third of Pakistan is now under water, according to officials, after the country was hit by 2.9 times more rainfall than the 30-year average.
More than 1,300 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. The total number of those affected is estimated to be as high as 33 million people – or 1 in 7 Pakistanis.
A majority of respondents to Islamic Relief’s survey (73%) told us that they had lost their main sources of income, with 81% saying they had lost livestock. Others lost agricultural land or access to fisheries, with 84% reporting losses of food crops.
The widespread destruction had led to growing fears of outbreaks of deadly diseases. In Balochistan, 73% of people Islamic Relief surveyed said they did not have access to clean drinking water, while 71% said they were forced to defecate in the open as latrines were no longer functioning due to the floods.
Many people have also seen their savings wiped out, particularly in rural communities where many people do not have bank accounts and keep cash savings at home. This money has been literally washed away by the flood waters and those who do have savings left are exhausting them to cope with the current crisis.
For women, there are additional concerns as the destruction has resulted in a lack of safe and private spaces. Many of the women Islamic Relief spoke to said the extremely basic and crowded conditions they are now sheltering in have left them in fear of harassment, sexual assault and abuse.
The humanitarian situation is expected to worsen as monsoon season continues, with more heavy rain expected.
A devastating impact ‘for a long time to come’
Abdul Hadi Khattak, Islamic Relief’s monitoring and evaluation specialist, who led the assessment, says the floods are “affecting the whole fabric of life.”
“People have lost everything and we’ve seen colossal damages to homes, dams, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, incomes, water systems and sanitation facilities. The floods are affecting every aspect of society and we fear they will continue to have a devastating impact on people’s lives for a long time to come.
“With so much destruction of crops and cattle and with livelihoods wiped out, it is clear that many more people are going to be pushed into severe hunger and poverty over the coming months. It is vital they get the right support now.”
Working to reach half a million people
Islamic Relief is on the ground in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, and is working as part of the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to raise more funds and reach more of those most in need.
The assessment was carried out to ensure a well-informed, tailored approach to our efforts to support those affected by the floods. So far, we have reached over 50,000 people with emergency aid including food, tents, hygiene kits, cash, kitchen sets and clean water supplies.
We are working with national and provincial authorities to help those in need. We have trained volunteers in emergency response and assisted with evacuations. We will also be providing shelter to more than 4,000 families left homeless by the flooding.
Our goal is to reach half a million people through relief efforts. As our emergency response continues, we are advocating for a long-term development plan to help Pakistan recover from this unprecedented disaster.
The people of Pakistan are in desperate need of assistance, including basic survival items. Please help us to continue reaching vulnerable people. Donate to the Pakistan Floods Appeal.
