News Alert: Pakistan at High Risk of Starvation and Disease Outbreak as Harsh Winter Approaches

As water recedes in some parts of Pakistan following monsoon flooding, affected communities face a daunting new challenge: how to survive the approaching winter without housing, food, clean water, and fuel sources for warmth. Described by the Pakistani Prime Minister as “a climate disaster,” August’s epic and unprecedented rain and floods left a trail of death and destruction: OCHA reports that more than 33 million people were affected, nearly 1,700 have died, some 7.9 million people were displaced, and over 2 million houses were either damaged or completely destroyed. The UN warns that about 5.7 million flood survivors will face a severe food crisis in the next three months. Since the flooding, Mercy Corps has reached nearly 28,000 people with critical support like clean water and is scaling up its response.

Mercy Corps’ country director for Pakistan, Dr. Farah Naureen, says:

“We are gravely concerned about the long-term health and nutrition impacts and expect disease and malnutrition rates to rise. With winter approaching, there is an urgent need for winterized tents and other items to keep affected families warm and safe so they don’t develop health conditions like respiratory infections. 

“I recently visited districts in Balochistan where flood waters have receded and communities are no longer living in camps. Most of them have moved back to the site of their damaged or destroyed homes, sleeping either in tents or makeshift shelters. They are waiting for support to rebuild their houses before winter arrives. Many have received immediate relief, but they need support to rebuild houses and restore income sources.

“Sindh province and other districts in Balochistan show little sign of recovery: there is still water everywhere and flood-affected communities need immediate relief. They are suffering from waterborne diseases and lack clean drinking water. Women, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children are in tents, and healthcare facilities are reporting a steep rise in the cases of malaria, diarrhea, and skin infections.”

In collaboration with partners, including the local government, Mercy Corps is conducting community health outreach across Sindh and Balochistan provinces to provide primary healthcare to affected communities given the rise in waterborne diseases. Mercy Corps is screening and treating tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrhea and providing other primary healthcare services, as well as distributing emergency cash, clean drinking water, food, and hygiene items.

Mercy Corps has been working in Pakistan since 1986 and was one of the first international relief agencies to respond to the 2010 floods by providing access to water, sanitation, hygiene, primary healthcare, cash-for-work, and infrastructure rehabilitation.