Pakistan floods

Press release: Pakistan's forgotten emergency - 30 November 2011

Press release: Aid agencies forced to close programmes if funds don't urgently arrive - 9 November 2011

In 2010 Pakistan was hit by its worst natural disaster - floodwater inundated up to one fifth of the country and affected an estimated 20 million people. Oxfam launched an immediate response to provide aid to more than 2.4 million people.

In September 2011 fresh flooding in Pakistan's southern Sindh province put more than 5 million people at renewed risk of disease and widespread malnutrition. 

At least 2.5 million people are still living without basics such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare putting them at serious risk of malnutrition, disease and deepening poverty.

Oxfam has launched an emergency response in Sindh province to provide support to those worst affected by the renewed flooding. So far we have helped 570,00 people in eight districts worst affected by renewed flooding in Sindh.

Our response has included the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities and distributions of hygiene, kitchen and tool kits as well as animal fodder. We have also been running hygiene promotion sessions to help prevent the spread of disease.

At the one year anniversary of 2010's devastating floods, Oxfam called on the Government of Pakistan to do more to protect its people from disasters like these. For example, river embankments in Sindh province have reportedly been increased by only two or three feed after 2010's floods, rather than the recommended six feet.

We're asking the Pakistan Government and international donors to invest more in measures to reduce the impact of disasters, such as flood-resistant housing and effective early warning systems.

Read the report - Ready or Not: Pakistan's resilience to disasters one year on from the floods

Briefing Paper: Pakistan floods emergency - Lessons from a continuing disaster