ISLAMABAD – United Nations reported on Friday that the total flood-ravaged area across the country was measured over 160,000 square kilometres which is greater than the size of England while over 3.4 million hectares of crops have been lost across the flood-hit areas.
The latest humanitarian update issued by UN Office on Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows that over 17.2 million people are directly affected by floods, of which, 8 million are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Over 1.2 million homes are destroyed and 4.8 million people are grappling with tough living conditions without shelter.
Floods have caused widespread damage to public infrastructure, with roads submerged and tens of bridges swept away, and many schools (an estimated 7,173) and hospitals being severely damaged. Power and communication lines are down in many areas.
While livelihoods damage is still being assessed, at least 3.4 million hectares of standing crops have been lost, in KP and Punjab alone. At least 200,000 pieces of livestock have been lost, and more may die without proper feed and veterinary support, the UN reports.
The Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan (PIFERP) envisages activities costing $ 459.7 million for the initial relief period, but the requirements will be revised as necessary. Contributions have so far been received for 291 million (63.5 percent of requirements), and pledges for 20 million (reaching 67.7 percent with pledges).