Pakistan Floods Leave Millions Homeless, Needs Remain Huge

A seven-year-old wades through waist-deep floodwater in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous – and hardest-hit – province.

A senior UN humanitarian official has warned that “the needs are huge” as massive floods continue to devastate Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan, leaving millions homeless, destroying crops, and pushing fragile communities to the brink.

More than six million people have been affected since unusually heavy monsoon rains began in late June, with nearly 1,000 lives lost—including 250 children. About 2.5 million people have been displaced, many sheltering in government-run camps or with host families already stretched to their limits.

“From the field, we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” Carlos Geha, head of the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) in Pakistan, told UN News from Islamabad. He added that many families may find their homes and livelihoods wiped out when water levels recede.

Riverine flooding has submerged large parts of Punjab—Pakistan’s food basket—affecting over 4.7 million people after India released water from upstream dams, causing rivers to burst their banks. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen 1.6 million affected, while glacial lake overflows have devastated parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Sindh remains on high alert for potential “super floods.”

“The Government has done a tremendous job evacuating 2.5 million people, something we did not see in 2022,” said Mr. Geha. “But when water reaches 25 feet, swallowing entire villages, there is little anyone can do.”

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that over 8,400 houses, 239 bridges, and nearly 700 kilometres of roads have been damaged or destroyed. More than 2.2 million hectares of cropland lie under water, pushing food prices higher. Wheat flour alone rose 25 percent in early September.

“These are farming families who feed the nation. Now their land is submerged, their animals are gone, and they are left with nothing,” Mr. Geha said.

The UN and its partners are struggling to meet the scale of the disaster. OCHA has released $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), with an additional $1.5 million channeled to local NGOs. UNICEF, WFP, and other agencies are trucking safe water, providing health and nutrition supplies, and setting up temporary learning centres.

Yet aid workers warn this is far from enough. Many communities remain cut off by collapsed bridges and submerged roads, with food and medicine reaching them only by boat or helicopter. Waterborne diseases such as malaria and dengue are already rising, with fears of cholera outbreaks in the weeks ahead.

“The immediate needs are food, healthcare, shelter, water, and sanitation,” said Mr. Geha. “But the next phase will be even more difficult—helping millions rebuild after losing everything.”

Pakistan has endured repeated climate disasters in recent years, from the record-breaking 2022 floods to heatwaves and droughts. Humanitarians warn that each shock pushes already vulnerable families further into poverty.

“This is not Pakistan’s fault—it is one of the countries most exposed to climate change,” Mr. Geha emphasised. “The international community must stand with Pakistan not just in this emergency, but in helping rebuild resilience and restore livelihoods for the long term.”