A message from our CEO: Pakistan floods

I’m sure you’ve seen the devastating scenes from Pakistan on the news.

Today, I’m writing to let you know that UNHCR’s teams are on the ground, providing flood survivors with shelter and other survival essentials.

Since mid-June, torrential rainfall and catastrophic floods have swept through Pakistan, destroying homes, and washing away roads and crops.

The situation has escalated in recent days, with approximately one-third of the country now thought to be under water. Thirty million people have been affected and 6.4 million people are estimated to be in urgent need. Those who have managed to escape the flooding are crowding into makeshift camps or living with host families.

Right now, UNHCR teams are on the ground across the worst hit areas in Balochistan and Khyber Paktunkhwa provinces, providing families affected by the floods, with shelter and emergency assistance including tents, plastic sheeting, blankets and sleeping mats. We are reaching many of the 1.3 million Afghan refugees who have been generously hosted in Pakistan for over 40 years.

UNHCR teams are on the ground in Balochistan and Khyber Paktunkhwa provinces, delivering lifesaving assistance to affected communities, including tents, plastic sheeting, blankets and sleeping mats. Photo: @UNHCRPakistan

So far, UNHCR teams have provided refugees and local communities impacted by the flooding with lifesaving assistance, including more than 71,000 emergency items, such tents, plastic sheeting, sanitary products, cooking stoves, solar lamps and sleeping mats.

UNHCR field staff are also distributing 10,000 sand bags to help households build up defences around their homes.

But much more aid is needed now as UNHCR continues to scale up its emergency response.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called on the international community to increase support for Pakistan: ‘’Rain and floods have been catastrophic for millions of people. We urgently need global support and solidarity for Pakistan in these dire times. The international community must step up its support and help Pakistan’s response to this catastrophe.”

UNHCR has been working in Pakistan for more than 40 years – and we will stay and deliver for those in need.

Thank you for supporting UNHCR’s lifesaving work. I’ll be in touch again with further updates as they become available.

Please visit our website to make a donation or find out more about UNHCR’s response and how we are helping families in Pakistan.