Islamabad, Pakistan, September 9, 2025 – Pakistan is facing one of its deadliest monsoon seasons in decades. Record monsoon rains, combined with dam water releases, have swelled the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers, leaving more than 4 million people affected in Punjab province alone. Over 1.5 million people have been evacuated in the province as villages and towns are inundated. CARE Pakistan has begun distributing relief supplies in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district, and is preparing to provide support in Punjab providence as needs rapidly increase.
Relief camps have been established but are struggling with sanitation challenges, shortages of clean water, food, and healthcare. The crisis is disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, with women and children at the highest risk. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are struggling to access proper nutrition and medical care. The lack of privacy, safe toilets, and secure shelters puts women and girls in constant danger. In addition, girls are at risk of losing their education, while entire families grapple with survival and trauma.
“At 2 a.m., the floodwater rushed in. I ran to the roof while my brother went back to save our belongings but was swept away. He survived but everything we owned, including our livestock, was gone. Now I am staying with relatives,” said Parveen*, a resident of a Chakwal, Punjab.
“The needs are immense. Families require shelter, food, safe water, and urgent medical support, especially women and children who are the most vulnerable,” said Adil Sheraz, CARE Pakistan Director. “Together with local partners, we are providing relief including hygiene kits, cash assistance, and other essential items in Buner. In Punjab, we are assessing the needs and are preparing to provide relief as soon as possible and we also have initiated anticipatory action in Jamshoro, Sindh. In the first phase of the response, we aim to reach at least 2,000 households with food, hygiene kits, shelters, clean water and cash support. But recovery must go beyond survival. It means restoring livelihoods and investing in climate-resilient systems, so communities are stronger and better prepared for the future.”
Since 26 June 2025, floods from cloudbursts, glacial outbursts, and now swollen rivers have claimed nearly 910 lives, damaged over 9,000 homes, and washed away nearly 240 bridges.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Buner) and Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer), CARE Pakistan is distributing 400 hygiene kits in each district to flood-affected families. Assessments for cash assistance are also underway for 100 households in Chakwal (Punjab), 400 households in Diamer (Gilgit-Baltistan), and 400 households in Buner (KP) to help families meet urgent needs.
In Sindh, CARE Pakistan has initiated anticipatory actions in Jamshoro, Thatta, and Sujawal districts ahead of expected flooding. These include repair and maintenance of WASH facilities at evacuation sites and support for evacuation to relief camps. Planned support at the camps covers the provision of hygiene kits, livestock fodder, and mosquito nets for 300 families in each district.
Additional support in Jamshoro includes the distribution of 200 food kits, provision of clean water, relocation of 400 households to safer areas, installation of 40 latrines in selected camps, livestock fodder for 100 families, 150 hygiene kits, four mobile health camps, and 100 non-food item kits.
For media inquiries, please email usa.media@care.org or contact Sarita Suwannarat, Asia Regional Communications Advisor, based in Bangkok Thailand, email: Sarita.Suwannarat@care.org