The World Health Organization (WHO) will provide urgent health assistance to more than 465,000 flood-affected people in Pakistan after receiving a $1 million grant from the Gates Foundation. The support will strengthen disease surveillance, supply of medicines, and emergency response across 33 high-risk districts in four provinces.
Pakistan’s monsoon floods have left widespread devastation, claiming over 800 lives and injuring more than 1,000 people since late June. Nearly 90 health facilities, thousands of homes, and critical infrastructure have been damaged nationwide, prompting fears of worsening outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases due to stagnant water and mass displacement.
(Source: Business Recorder)
With the new funding, WHO will work with federal and provincial authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan to ensure the continuity of life-saving services. The six-month initiative will focus on pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups.
“Rapid response and strong preparedness are essential to preserve public health during such crises. WHO stands with Pakistan to save lives today and build stronger, more resilient health systems for tomorrow,” said Dr Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan, during a visit to Swabi District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, flash floods and heavy rains have killed at least 450 people, injured 265, and affected more than 860,000 residents. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority reports that 57 health facilities, 4,243 homes, and 60 schools have been damaged. Nationally, the NDMA has carried out 832 rescue operations, saving over 122,000 people, while nearly 30,000 remain in relief camps.
WHO has already dispatched medicines to treat 15,000 patients within a day of flooding in KP, and since June, its teams have provided emergency medical supplies to reach nearly 380,000 flood-affected people nationwide.
Looking ahead, under the Monsoon Contingency Plan 2025, WHO and partners are prepared to deliver emergency health services to up to 1.3 million people across 33 priority districts if the crisis escalates.
Health officials emphasized that the $1 million support from the Gates Foundation will not only meet immediate needs but also boost Pakistan’s preparedness for future climate-driven health emergencies. With rains forecast to continue and disease risks rising, authorities stressed the urgency of sustained action to protect lives.
