Six Months After Deadly Flooding Submerged 1/3 of Pakistan, Inadequate Funding Has Stopped Recovery in its Tracks

Six months since the unprecedented floods that swept through Pakistan, leaving a trail of destruction and death, displacement is at an all time high and aid recovery efforts are  hindered by a severe economic crisis and lack of funds.

On January 9, 2023, banks and countries including the World Bank and France pledged $9 billion in funding, but how much will be made available to humanitarian organisations on the ground remains to be seen. Pledged funds - the majority of which are loans - have also added to Pakistan’s national debt, which will further delay the country's economic and developmental gains. Pakistan is on the brink of default and has recently imposed new austerity measures, leading to a hike in the price of fuel.

Farah Naureen, Mercy Corps’ Country Director for Pakistan, says:

“Six months on from the worst of the floods, countless people across Pakistan are still displaced and struggling to rebuild their lives. Mercy Corps continues to provide extensive support to flood-affected communities to meet ongoing and urgent needs. But the extent of the flood damage can not be addressed without additional and significant funding and a scaled-up humanitarian response.”

“The worst flood-affected regions of Sindh and Balochistan already had a high prevalence of food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. The 2022 flooding has made large agricultural land uncultivable, which has destroyed local livelihoods and will certainly lead to a food security crisis.”

“Humanitarian responders are ready to help communities rebuild to better withstand future flooding and climate shocks. But if the $9 billion in aid pledged by the international community is not available to the humanitarian organizations on the ground, affected communities will continue to suffer.” 

About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps has been working in Pakistan since 1986 and was one of the first international relief agencies to respond on the ground to the 2022 floods by providing access to water, sanitation, hygiene, primary healthcare, multi-purpose cash, and infrastructure rehabilitation.