Islamabad — As Pakistan battles one of its worst flood seasons in recent years, the United Nations has announced an emergency allocation of $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to bolster government-led relief operations.
The announcement came as relentless monsoon rains, sudden cloudbursts, and water releases from Indian dams submerged large parts of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Gilgit-Baltistan, displacing millions and causing widespread destruction.
UN Funding and Relief Efforts
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed the allocation on Tuesday, saying the funding would deliver life-saving assistance to some of the 4 million people affected, including more than 2 million displaced who have fled to higher ground.
According to a UN press release, the money will be funnelled through UN agencies and local partners to provide safe drinking water, food, shelter, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, medical services, psychosocial support, and emergency cash assistance.
The package supplements $600,000 already allocated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for pooled funds supporting NGOs delivering aid on the ground.
“The Government of Pakistan has done incredible work to evacuate people, saving countless lives, but the communities are struggling,” said Mohamed Yahya, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan. “These funds will help the UN supplement the Government’s efforts to provide flood-affected families with critical relief interventions, in coordination with local NGOs.”
Rising Humanitarian Toll
Since June 26, 2025, floods and heavy rains have claimed 932 lives, left 1,060 injured, and damaged or destroyed over 8,238 houses nationwide. Thousands of villages remain underwater, with some areas experiencing water depths of up to 10 meters, severely hampering access and delaying humanitarian assessments.
The latest flooding comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters. The 2022 floods, widely regarded as the most catastrophic in the country’s history, killed 1,700 people, displaced 33 million, destroyed 2 million homes, and caused $30 billion in economic losses.
Climate Vulnerability and Financing Gap
Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan ranks among the top ten most climate-vulnerable countries. Rising temperatures, glacier melt, and extreme weather patterns are intensifying disasters across the region.
With over 7,200 glaciers, Pakistan faces both rapid ice melt and looming water scarcity for its population of 220 million. In recent years, the country has also endured 50°C heatwaves, further compounding environmental stress.
Officials estimate Pakistan will need $348 billion by 2030 to adapt to climate change and build resilience. While the UN’s $5 million allocation is considered timely and crucial, experts stress it represents only a fraction of what is required to address the massive climate financing gap.
Flood Timeline: August to September
Pakistan’s monsoon crisis unfolded through a series of devastating events:
- 15 August: A catastrophic cloudburst in Buner district (KP) brought over 150 mm of rainfall within an hour, triggering flash floods that forced the provincial government to declare a state of emergency in nine districts.
- 19 August: Urban flooding in Karachi and adjoining districts prompted authorities to declare a rain emergency.
- 22 August: A Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) struck Ghizer district in Gilgit-Baltistan, inundating multiple villages.
- 26 August: Sudden dam water releases by India displaced 200,000 people, killed 15, and destroyed tens of thousands of acres of crops across Punjab.
- 25 August onwards: Continuous monsoon downpours, sudden cloudbursts, and dam water releases from India triggered record flooding across several districts of Punjab.
- 6 September: The Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers reached record-high levels, submerging over 3,900 villages in Punjab and destroying vast stretches of farmland in what officials described as the province’s worst flooding in decades.
- 7 September: With floodwaters moving south, authorities in Sindh evacuated more than 100,000 residents from low-lying areas along the Indus River, including Katcha settlements.
Looking Ahead
Humanitarian agencies warn that immediate priorities include sanitation and hygiene, shelter, food, health services, and clean drinking water for displaced families. However, the scale of devastation underscores the urgency of long-term investment in climate resilience.
While the UN’s intervention provides a critical lifeline, Pakistan’s repeated exposure to such disasters highlights the pressing need for global climate justice and sustained financing to safeguard vulnerable populations.
