ACAPS Briefing Note: Floods Briefing Note – 02 October 2014 Pakistan: Floods Need for international Not required Low Moderate Significant Urgent assistance X Insignificant Minor Moderate Significant Major Expected impact X Crisis Overview The fourth consecutive year of high-impact monsoon rains in Pakistan has affected more than 2.5 million people and caused 360 deaths as of 29 September. Punjab was put under a state of emergency with nearly 2.4 million people affected and 283 deaths as of 29 September. Nearly 47,000 were affected and 64 killed in Azad Kashmir, and 2,000 affected and 13 killed in Gilgit-Baltistan. Crops, agricultural land, and food stocks have been submerged, and diseases are spreading. The Government has not yet formally requested assistance to the international humanitarian community. Local and international NGOs are working with national Key Findings and provincial authorities on the ground to provide evacuation and relief. Anticipated Losses are likely to increase as water recedes and damage is Crops Persons in No. affected Houses scope and assessed. Authorities estimate a total of 3 million people to be Province Deaths Injured affected relief persons damaged (acres) camps scale affected by the floods. Punjab 2,474,727 283 491 42,795 2,413,803 11,969 Priorities for Most pressing need includes rescue and evacuation humanitarian operations. Azad Kashmir 46,979 64 129 8,963 2,048 378 intervention Water, sanitation and hygiene needs are acute, as is shelter Gilgit-Baltistan 1,975 13 26 4,854 713 0 for people living in the open or returning home. Health: diseases are spreading; there is a shortage of medical Sindh 0 0 0 0 0 2,431 equipment. Waterborne diseases have already been reported. Delivery of food, in addition to cooking materials, is urgent. Total 2,523,681 360 646 56,644 2,416,558 14,778 Source: NDMA, 29/09/2014 Humanitarian Stagnant water, fresh rains and transport systems remain badly constraints affected and are hampering humanitarian relief efforts. 1 ACAPS Briefing Note: Floods Crisis Impact Shelter: Swollen rivers have swept away thousands of villages. As of 29 September, nearly 57,000 houses have been damaged, 43,000 in Punjab, 9,000 in Azad Kashmir, and 5,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan (NDMA, 29/09/2014). Around 15,000 people are in 65 relief Flash and urban floods ravaged northeastern Pakistan and western India when late camps set up across the three abovementioned provinces as well as Sindh province and concentrated monsoon rains started on 4 September. Punjab, Pakistan- (WHO, 23/09/2014). Others have taken refuge with their relatives or live in the open. The administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are currently the most affected areas, collapse of houses and roofs is the leading cause of death and infrastructure destruction with more than 2.5 million people affected, 360 dead and 646 injured as of 29 (ACT, 09/09/2014). As waters recede, families start to return home and need support to September. rebuild their damaged houses (Muslim Aid, 10/09/2014). So far, 683,687 people have been evacuated and 14,778 are in relief camps. 65,583 people were evacuated across Sindh province, 2,431 of whom are in relief camps, Protection: Incidents of violence as well as risk of SGBV and human trafficking have after alerts of medium to high level of floods on 19–21 September (NDMA, 29/09/2014). been reported in several villages in Srinagar district in Azad Kashmir, where thousands The associated social and economic cost is massive, with partial or total damage to of people lost their homes and were stranded for weeks without aid thousands of homes, significant loss of livestock and livelihoods and considerable crop damage at the height of the harvest period (OCHA, 19/09/2014). Critical Infrastructure: As of 15 September, 13 hydro power stations in Neelum Valley had been washed away and two Spans of high transmission electricity lines at Lower Impact on Access of Affected Population to Essential Services Plate Muzaffarabad had been destroyed, along with roads and bridges (NHN, 16/09/2014). Food: Crops, agricultural lands and food stocks have been submerged, causing a There was no power supply to 85 villages in Sialkot over 1–11 September (DAWN, 12/09/2014). severe impact on local livelihoods (ACT, 09/09/2014). Fields of corn, wheat, rice, cotton and sugar canes, which were almost ready to harvest, have been devastated, and livestock Humanitarian and Operational Constraints food submerged (USAID, 25/09/2014). As of 29 September, in Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, more than 2.4 million acres of crops have been lost and 9,000 cattle Until now, assessment and relief efforts have been hampered by stagnant water, fresh perished (NDMA, 29/09/2014). rains, and transport systems, which remain badly affected (Pakistan Red Crescent Society, 15/09/2014). Physical access is a challenge as many roads have been destroyed, and WASH: Landslides and floods have damaged 80% of water supply schemes in affected water covers access routes; boats are required to reach the most affected areas. areas. Water, sanitation, and hygiene needs are acute and increase the risk of waterborne diseases and other health concerns (ACT, 09/09/2014). In Azad Kashmir, the In northern and central Punjab, waters have been seen to recede. In Gilgit-Baltistan and lack of latrines on households' premises, especially in rural areas, heightens the risk of Azad Kashmir, landslides and avalanches have impeded access to affected areas and water contamination; toilet facilities have been damaged in all villages (Sphere India, much of the land was below sea level as of 19 September (OCHA, 19/09/2014). Waters 23/09/2014). were said to have receded in both provinces as of 1 October (PI, 1/10/2014). Health: Waterborne diseases like gastrointestinal infections, diarrhoea, and fungal and skin infections have been reported in Bajwat, Head Marala, Chaprar, and Pasrur in Sialkot district in Punjab province. Outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis A and typhoid are likely to be severe (DAWN, 12/09/2014). Public health concerns include shortages of essential medicines, notably vaccines, and poor access to information and health services, rendered difficult by damage to roads and infrastructure. 74 health facilities have been affected by the floods (WHO, 23/09/2014). Standing water is becoming stagnant, posing a significant health risk to people and animals (PI, 1/10/2014). 2 ACAPS Briefing Note: Floods Aggravating Factors Key Characteristics of Pakistan Outlook Demographic profile: In 2013, 182.1 million people living in Pakistan, 62% of After passing through Punjab, the flood waters have been moving towards the south of whom are living in rural areas and 11% of whom are 15–19 years old (World Bank). Pakistan. As of 29 September, mainly dry weather is expected over most parts of the WASH: 87% of displaced families are not treating water at home as of 18 August country with isolated thundershowers over Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rawalpindi (OCHA, 15/08/2014). An estimated 690,000 people – largely IDPs escaping violence Divisions, as well as Azad Kashmir. National and provincial Disaster Management North Waziristan and returnees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and FATA – Authorities are taking precautionary measures by moving people to safer places (NDMA, urgently need access to safe drinking water. Hygiene conditions among them are 25/09/2014). As of 1 October, water levels have been normalizing in Guddu and Sukkur very poor (OCHA, 07/08/2014). 40% of displaced families in Bannu are not using latrine barrages, and entering the flood plains (PI, 1/10/2014). facilities and practice open defecation (OCHA, 15/08/2014). Lighting and cooking: Biomass fuel is the major source for cooking and heating Political Stability and Security (WHO, 2006). Health: Infant mortality: 69/1,000 live births; Maternal mortality: 170/100,000 live Tensions in the Kashmir region, disputed between India and Pakistan, render births, according to 2013 census (World Bank). humanitarian assistance to affected residents difficult. On 22 September, Pakistan- administered Kashmir's parliament called upon India to open the de facto border Food insecurity: An estimated 1.21 million people, almost exclusively IDPs and returnees, were in critical need of food assistance in February (OCHA, 20/02/2014). An separating the two sides of the disputed territory to allow rescue officials to reach estimated 58% of the population was considered food insecure in November 2013 residents hit by the floods (AFP, 22/09/2014). (National Nutrition Survey). Nutrition: More than 200 people have died from malnutrition-related causes so far Shifting Monsoon in 2014 and an estimated 44% of children under five are suffering from chronic Over the past three years, the monsoon region has shifted 100km west. As a result, malnutrition (OCHA, 09/05/2014). heavy and unpredicted rainfall has occurred in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Literacy: 55% of people aged 15 and above are literate according to 2011 census Pakhtunkhwa, causing massive destruction (Government, 20/08/2014). Some of the areas (World Bank). most affected in Punjab are the same ones still dealing with the 2013 floods when some 1.5 million people were affected. The water management system of Pakistan remains vulnerable with year-on-year damages and limited repairs and maintenance, making it Response Capacity difficult to flow out flooded areas (OCHA, 19/09/2014). Local and National Response Capacity Other Factors of Vulnerability Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) coordinates aviation and As of 24 September, there were 166 wild polio cases reported in 2014 in Pakistan, maritime rescue and relief efforts with the Pakistan Army, provincial DMAs, rescue compared to 28 during the same period in 2013.