Country: Pakistan Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. A. SITUATION ANALYSIS Description of the crisis The 2025 monsoon season, which began in late June and intensified between August and September, brought exceptionally heavy rainfall across Pakistan, triggering widespread flash floods, riverine inundation, and localized Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The disaster affected all major provinces, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab emerging as the worst-hit regions. 1 Secondary impacts—including waterlogging, infrastructure damage, and disruption of essential services—persisted into late 2025, although receding floodwaters and improved weather conditions enabled a gradual transition from emergency response to early recovery. Between September and November 2025, approximately 1, 037 fatalities and over 1, 060 injuries were reported nationwide, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and partner agencies. 2 Children were disproportionately affected, with hundreds of child deaths reported. 3 At the peak of the crisis, millions of people were affected and displaced. Estimates indicate that over 2. 5 million people were temporarily displaced, and more than 3 million people evacuated or rescued through large-scale operations. 4 By late 2025, displacement levels had significantly decreased as floodwaters receded and affected populations began returning to their areas of origin. Punjab experienced some of the most severe flooding in decades, particularly along the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab river systems. Reports indicate that approximately 4 to 4. 5 million people were affected in Punjab alone, with widespread inundation of settlements and agricultural land. 5 Nationwide, the floods caused extensive infrastructure damage, including thousands of houses damaged or destroyed, hundreds of kilometres of roads and dozens of bridges washed away. Electricity, communication, and transport networks were also significantly disrupted. 6 In KP, intense rainfall and cloudbursts—particularly in districts such as Buner—triggered deadly flash floods and landslides, leading to high mortality and isolation of mountainous communities. 7 The floods severely impacted Pakistan’s agrarian economy, with over 2. 2 million hectares of agricultural land inundated nationwide, affecting staple and cash crops such as rice, cotton, maize, and sugarcane. Livestock losses and destruction of farming assets further weakened rural livelihoods. 8 Punjab, as the country’s primary agricultural hub, faced significant crop losses during the Kharif harvest season, contributing to rising food prices and economic strain. Despite this, the transition to the Rabi planting season (2025–26) has supported early recovery, with improved water availability in reservoirs aiding wheat cultivation. Flooding and stagnant water significantly increased public health risks. Additionally, overcrowded camps and contaminated water sources contributed to outbreaks of waterborne diseases (e. g. , cholera, diarrhea) and vectorborne diseases (e. g. , dengue, malaria). 9 Damage to water and sanitation infrastructure exacerbated risks, particularly for children and vulnerable populations. Millions of people remained at risk due to limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and healthcare services. Vulnerable groups, including women, children (over 500 child deaths reported nationwide), older persons, migrants (including Afghan refugees), and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), face ongoing risk from mobility barriers, aid exclusion and inadequate shelters, particularly in northern areas, where communities are bracing for one of the coldest winters in decades under La Niña conditions. Undocumented migrants and 1. 5 million malnourished children remain highly susceptible to contaminated water. Approximately 30 per cent of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems remain compromised (down from 50 per cent), fueling surges in waterborne diseases like diarrhea and vector-borne illnesses such as dengue and malaria. The Government of Pakistan, led by NDMA and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), mounted largescale rescue and relief efforts. Over 3 million people were rescued or evacuated, placed in thousands of relief camps established at the peak of displacement. Assistance included the provision of food, shelter, and essential Non-Food Items (NFIs). Humanitarian partners, including the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the IFRC, United Nations (UN) agencies, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), provided multi-sectoral assistance covering health services and mobile medical units, WASH support, cash for immediate needs, food assistance and emergency shelter. By late 2025, the response had transitioned toward early recovery, focusing on shelter reconstruction, livelihood restoration, agricultural recovery, strengthening resilience and disaster preparedness. While immediate life-saving needs have declined, recovery remains uneven and fragile. Key priorities include strengthening access to health facilities and services, restoration of agricultural livelihoods, strengthening of WASH systems to prevent disease outbreaks and preparedness towards climate-resilient interventions, including flood management and early warning systems. The 2025 floods once again underscore Pakistan’s continued high vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, with increasing frequency and intensity of monsoon events linked to climate change.
Pakistan Monsoon Floods 2025 – Operation Update #4 (MDRPK028)
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