The Monsoon season in Pakistan started in Mid-June 2022 with such heavy rain fall it led to severe flooding across the Country. August 2022 saw almost eight times more rain fall than the previous monthly total for August. Calling the incessant monsoon rains a “climate-induced humanitarian crisis of epic proportions”, the Pakistan government officially declared a ‘national emergency’ on Thursday 25 August 2022
Flood-affected areas in Balochistan province in Pakistan. Photo credit: Oxfam GB
The people of Pakistan have been left devasted with more than 1.5 million people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance including WASH, food, shelter, and emergency cash assistance. Oxfam partners on the ground report that many people have lost their homes and are living on roadsides, leading to serious protection and health issues, especially for women and girls. People don’t have access to sufficient and clean drinking water or access to hygiene/sanitation facilities.
After conducting needs assessments, Oxfam has prioritised the provision and storage of safe drinking water, with the distribution of 14 litre- capacity jerry ans as part of our hygiene kits. These award-winning Oxfam designed jerrycans will help to alleviate the spread of water-borne and diarrheal diseases by ensuring water collected for communal water points is kept clean and safe. It also reduces the frequency of long distances women and children would usually have to travel in a crisis to collect fresh water.
Emergency WASH kits ready to be distributed. Photo: Oxfam GB
For more information, visit Oxfam GB’s website.