CRS Responds to Devastating Floods in Pakistan

As record monsoon rains and glacier melt in northern mountains, have triggered catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is working with the government and local partners, including Caritas Pakistan, to meet the most urgent needs of the people impacted. Since the rain and flooding began in July, more than 1,391 people have been killed, nearly 950,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, over 2 million displaced and nearly 33 million lives disrupted according to the government. With an estimated one third of the country being under water, houses, roads, railway tracks, bridges, livestock, and crops have been swept away.

“The people living in the districts I visited were already marginalized,” said Gul Wali Khan, CRS emergency response coordinator in Pakistan. “Now they have become even more vulnerable in terms of their shelter and livelihoods. With the impact of the flood and the rain, we have seen people lose the food they planned to use over the next few months.”

CRS is working in the most affected provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan, where 86% of the people impacted by the floods live. In assessments of 25 communities in those provinces, CRS and partner Community Development Foundation found 72% of water systems are damaged or destroyed and 79% of people have no food left. CRS’ immediate support includes cash for thousands of families to help cover their most urgent needs, with future plans to provide shelter, restore livelihoods and access to clean water.

To continue reading this article: Pakistan Floods-CRS

Financial contributions are needed to address the desperate needs of the millions who have been affected. To donate, please go to Pakistan in Crisis-Donate CRS.