Pakistan

205,000 INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

6 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FOOD INSECURE

33 MILLION PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS

16,000+ beneficiaries

Pakistan, the seventh most affected country by climate change, is regularly affected by many natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes.

 In 2022, the monsoon season was affected by above-average rainfall, resulting in the death of more than 1,700 people and directly affecting 33 million people. As a result, nearly 20.6 million Pakistanis are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

More than six months after the disaster, there are still more than 205,000 displaced people in the country and it has been estimated that nearly 1.8 million people are still living near stagnant floodwaters, exposing them to an increased risk of water-related diseases. In the most affected areas, there are cases of malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria, skin diseases, and respiratory tract infections.

As a direct result of the floods, the World Bank estimates that nearly 9 million people will fall below the poverty line, joining the 44 million Pakistanis already living below the line. The country is also facing a severe economic crisis, making it increasingly difficult for Pakistanis to meet their basic needs. In addition, almost half of the rural population is facing food insecurity.

In areas where SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL teams have conducted assessments, half of the villages report no longer having access to clean water. Most of the water points have been flooded, meaning that 62% are either destroyed or damaged, or the water has become salty or contaminated. Similarly, hygiene conditions are critical due to the lack of sanitation.

231.4 million inhabitants in 2021
21.9% poverty rate
161st out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index

Mission
opened in 2005, 2010, 2022
Team 2 international staff
20 national staff

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has already intervened in the past in Pakistan to address severe humanitarian crises. In 2005, our team intervened in response to the devastating earthquake that affected the country. Then, from 2010 to 2016, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL operated following floods affecting more than 20 million people and destroying more than 800,000 homes, particularly in the Sindh district, improving access to water, hygiene, and sanitation.

Since February 2023, following the new floods, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL staff’s activities have been launched in the most affected areas of Northern Sindh Province.

Today, in collaboration with and in addition to the actions carried out by the authorities and NGOs, our teams are improving access to drinking water, distributing hygiene materials and raising awareness of good hygiene practices among the affected populations. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL works with local partners who are trained by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL staff to strengthen local skills.

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL will then assess the feasibility of supporting the population by implementing agricultural recovery or livelihood support activities to limit the harmful effects of this crisis over time.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

While, up to the first quarter of 2023, 12 villages have benefited from SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s assistance, reaching a total of 1,276 people, the next interventions will target approximately 15,000 people to improve their access to water, sanitation and hygiene, including various activities such as:

rehabilitation and elevation of existing water points,
construction of water points,
water quality monitoring and disinfection,
construction and/or rehabilitation of latrines,
rehabilitation of sanitary infrastructures in schools,
distribution of hygiene kits and awareness activities on good hygiene practices,
emergency response to water, hygiene and sanitation needs.