Staff on the frontlines — The personal side of crisis response
UNDP Pakistan colleagues share how they have been impacted by the historic floods in the country
Catastrophic floods have affected 33 million people in Pakistan — including our United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) staff. Some were displaced when water entered their homes, while others had floods damage their crops. Fortunately, they have all remained safe.
Despite being impacted, our teams have stepped up to ensure that UNDP responds to the growing needs on the ground. We are working closely with the Government of Pakistan and partners in assessing damages and setting up recovery programs.
As work intensifies amid rising waters, we are in close contact with our staff to ensure their well-being and respond to their needs.
Sohail Khan, Security, Balochistan
“We saw a glimpse of what climate change looks like in Balochistan. In the last week of August, heavy rains continued for more than 24 hours causing heavy flooding in my city. Evacuation orders were issued as houses in my neighborhood started collapsing. Rainwater also entered my house but thankfully did not cause a lot of damage.”
Muhammad Marri, Communications, Balochistan
My area is not used to the type of rains we received in the month August. People are still stranded in neighboring districts. The only way to leave or travel in some areas is by boat. Some families are staying back because they do not want to leave without their livestock.
Nazakat Jabeen, Monitoring and Evaluation, Gilgit-Baltistan
Flash floods also struck our village where 10 people lost their lives and 150 families were impacted. Displaced people found safety in neighboring villages but unfortunately most of what they left behind was destroyed by the water. Our elders are shocked as even the safest areas in the village were impacted.
Kashmala Javaid, Operations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
“We were given three hours to evacuate our home. The most difficult part was to think of important belongings we would take with us as there was a chance that water would flood our house. I relocated to Islamabad and continued to work until the situation improved back home.”
Amanullah Khan, Environment Portfolio, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
“We live in the center of Mardan. Our family has a tradition of supporting the community in tough times. For these floods, we did a quick survey to identify the most-affected places and spoke to people to learn about their needs. My aunt is leading the efforts and I support her after work.”
The floods, that followed a period of extreme heat, droughts and glacial lake outburst floods earlier in the year, have caused billions of dollars of damage. Farmlands, roads and bridges have been destroyed. A grave reminder of the reality of climate change.
Our staff, supported by SURGE planning teams, is helping us make a pivot for existing programs and set up new ones to help communities get back on their feet. The international community must move quickly to support with resources and expertise to help Pakistan build forward better from this climate catastrophe.
