Pakistan

19 November 2024

On 18 November, Pakistan reported its 50th case of wild poliovirus type 1, a substantial increase from 6 cases in 2023, 20 in 2022, and 1 in 2021. The provinces with the most cases are Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. Low vaccination rates and vaccine reluctance pose significant challenges to public health efforts. (CNN 21/10/2024, NEOC 19/11/2024, CDC 12/09/2024)

27 August 2024

From 1 July to 22 August 2024, severe monsoon rains led to widespread flooding across multiple provinces in Pakistan. The flooding displaced 33,178 individuals in Sindh province and submerged 25 schools in Khairpur district. It also damaged 80% of the crops in the district, affecting the livelihoods of families relying on agriculture. In Balochistan province, the floods destroyed 158 houses and damaged 620, along with seven bridges and 35km of roads. The monsoon also killed 131 heads of livestock, affecting farmers' livelihoods. In refugee villages, the floods damaged water supply infrastructure, limiting clean water access and increasing the risk of diseases. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the rains killed 72 people, injured 128, damaged 874 houses, and led to the region’s first confirmed mpox case in Mardan. A flood emergency was declared in Upper Chitral district from 22–30 August. (OCHA 19/08/2024, IMC 20/08/2024, OCHA 23/08/2024)

23 April 2024

Between 12–21 April, Pakistan experienced severe weather, with heavy rainfall causing significant casualties and damage. The weather event resulted in approximately 90 fatalities, 90 injuries, and damage to over 450 schools and 3,500 homes. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province was hit the hardest, followed by Balochistan. Nearly 1,200 people were displaced in KP’s Lower Chitral district. The Pakistan Meteorological Department warns of continued adverse conditions, including rain, windstorms, and hail, particularly affecting Balochistan, Islamabad, Kashmir, KP, and Punjab. Provincial governments in Balochistan and KP are actively supporting the affected communities. (OCHA 22/04/2024, Al Jazeera 16/04/2024, ECHO 23/04/2024)

13 March 2024

Since 26 February 2024, heavy snowfall and rain have been causing floods, landslides, and destruction in northern and western Pakistan. As at 5 March, 40 people died and 62 were injured. The adverse weather conditions led to the destruction of 80 houses and damage to 554. As at 12 March, nine people died and 3,200 houses were damaged in Balochistan. Thousands of people have been displaced, but numbers are yet to be confirmed by official sources. The national and provincial governments are providing food, tents, and cash in the affected areas. Persistent snowfall and rainfall have resulted in the blockade of key highways, roads, and bridges in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing access constraints. The adverse weather has also caused internet outages, which are likely hampering the flow of information from the affected regions. Pakistan has not yet recovered from the 2022 flood that left 20.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, with 1.5 million people still displaced in flood-affected districts. (ECHO 06/03/2024, RFERL 05/03/2024, Samaa TV 13/03/2024)

09 October 2023

In Pakistan, 2.14 million children are facing acute malnutrition, a more than 40% increase since 2022. Acute malnutrition is an enduring issue in the country, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, where high rates prevail. The economic crisis and the impact of the 2022 floods have reduced access to food, healthcare, and livelihoods, aggravating the nutrition crisis. (IPC 09/10/2023, WFP 29/09/2023, UNICEF 10/08/2023)

03 October 2023

Pakistan has issued a directive for more than a million undocumented Afghan refugees to leave voluntarily by 1 November 2023, warning of deportation through law enforcement or federal government institutions if they do not comply. Pakistan has also tightened entry rules for Afghans, requiring valid visas and passports. Since October, over 800 Afghans, including some with legal status, have been detained in Pakistan. These refugees are already facing challenges in renewing their documents. The new directive raises concerns about further hardships and vulnerabilities for them. (BBC 04/10/2023, AP 03/10/2023, VOA 02/10/2023)

19 September 2023

Afghan refugees in Pakistan are facing increased protection concerns, mainly because of a lack of legal documentation. In mid-September 2023, the caretaker government in Pakistan announced working on a new policy that would send back all Afghans in an irregular status in Pakistan back to Afghanistan. Since that announcement, there has been an increase in the arrest of Afghan refugees. Over 500 Afghans have been arrested, including women and children, despite some holding required documentation. The proof of registration cards that Afghan refugees were provided as a legal document in Pakistan expired in June 2023. Since then, renewal has been difficult for most given bureaucratic hurdles. Without legal documentation, refugees face arrest, torture, and deportation, and they cannot access essential services, such as healthcare, education, or employment. Between January–August 2023, 747,000 Afghans voluntary or forcibly returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, higher than 548,000 during the same period in 2022.
(DAWN 19/09/2023, TOLOnews 16/09/2023, OCHA 06/09/2023)