Islamabad: Pakistan’s 2024 monsoon season has resulted in severe impacts across multiple provinces, with over 200,000 people displaced and 354 fatalities reported, as per the latest update from the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities and the National Disaster Management Authority. This season has seen significant damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and has posed extreme challenges to the affected regions’ educational and health sectors.

According to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in Sindh province alone, 141,601 individuals have been displaced across ten districts, with 163 relief points and 40 medical camps established to aid those affected. The School Education and Literacy Department reported that 230,976 children’s education was interrupted due to damages in 1,348 schools and the functional disruption of 2,293 schools due to floodwaters.

In Balochistan, 13 districts were declared calamity-hit, affecting 168,041 people and resulting in 42 deaths. Significant damage was reported with 1,591 houses destroyed and 66,134 acres of cropland impacted. Localized humanitarian efforts have begun in districts like Sohbatpur and Jaffarabad to provide essential supplies to the affected families.

Punjab’s Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts reported that approximately 764 villages were affected, impacting 10,146 people and 13,281 acres of cropland. Active health teams in the area have treated over 3,698 individuals, and efforts to vaccinate livestock have been implemented to prevent further agricultural losses.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, monsoon-related incidents led to several casualties and damages, prompting the PDMA and district administration to issue flood alerts and closely monitor the situation for potential risks from heavy rainfall or rising water levels in the Kabul River. The health department, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, assessed the operational status of 181 health facilities in the region, highlighting the need for significant restoration efforts.

The ongoing monsoon season underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to manage the recurrent impacts of heavy rains and flooding in Pakistan, focusing on immediate relief and long-term sustainable disaster management solutions.