As torrential rains continue to lash parts of Pakistan - triggering flash floods, claiming lives, and destroying infrastructure - the United Nations Development Programme is gearing up to support the country with its immediate and long-term recovery plans.
Immediately following the life-saving relief efforts by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations, it is important to come up with plans for recovery and reconstruction to help affected communities build back better.
"To rebuild, reconstruct, and put people's lives back on track is a whole different dimension. 33 million people have been impacted by the flooding in Pakistan. People have lost their houses, livelihoods, and livestock. Infrastructure and crops have been destroyed. As the UN's lead agency on recovery and reconstruction, UNDP is committed to work with the Government of Pakistan in helping rebuild from this calamity."
-Knut Ostby, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan
Since June 2022, Pakistan has endured harsh monsoon weather resulting in a serious humanitarian and development crisis.
According to government estimates, about 33 million people across the country have been affected by unrelenting heavy rains and flooding - the worst in decades.
Till date, more than 1,200 people have been killed and 4,900 injured.
More than 400,000 houses have also been destroyed and over 700,00 are partially damaged. The waters have claimed hundreds of thousands of livestock.
About 3.6 million acres of crops and orchards - many of those ready to harvest - have been damaged and destroyed, and the next planting season is threatened.
Agriculture is a critical source of sustenance and livelihood for the majority of families in Pakistan, and for the economy of the country.
Pakistan has a total of 160 districts. To date, half of these across the country are declared "calamity hit." And that number is expected to increase.
Southern and central Pakistan have been hardest hit, particularly Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
While the northern areas have been hit by this 'monsoon on steroids', as effects of climate change have caused the monsoon to traverse mountains that it did not cross before.
Flooding in Balochistan, Sindh, and south Punjab, has inundated fields and villages, and the government says these waters are unlikely to recede.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted more than normal rains in the south-eastern areas of Sindh in September.
As the rains continue the toll on human lives and damage to infrastructure keeps growing.
More than 5,000 kilometres of roads and nearly 243 bridges have been destroyed or damaged, further impeding the ability of people to flee to safer areas and hampering the delivery of aid.
More than 400,000 houses have also been destroyed and over 700,00 are partially damaged. The waters have claimed hundreds of thousands of livestock.
About 3.6 million acres of crops and orchards - many of those ready to harvest - have been damaged and destroyed, and the next planting season is threatened.
Agriculture is a critical source of sustenance and livelihood for the majority of families in Pakistan, and for the economy of the country.
Pakistan has a total of 160 districts. To date, half of these across the country are declared "calamity hit." And that number is expected to increase.
Southern and central Pakistan have been hardest hit, particularly Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
While the northern areas have been hit by this 'monsoon on steroids', as effects of climate change have caused the monsoon to traverse mountains that it did not cross before.
Flooding in Balochistan, Sindh, and south Punjab, has inundated fields and villages, and the government says these waters are unlikely to recede.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted more than normal rains in the south-eastern areas of Sindh in September.
As the rains continue the toll on human lives and damage to infrastructure keeps growing.
More than 5,000 kilometres of roads and nearly 243 bridges have been destroyed or damaged, further impeding the ability of people to flee to safer areas and hampering the delivery of aid.
Compounding the crisis, this year, Pakistan has faced a series of disasters linked to climate change including unprecedented heatwaves early in the year, followed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in Gilgit Baltistan, and forest fires in the province of Balochistan.
In Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UNDP's GLOF-II project is installing Early Warning Systems in 24 valleys to alert people against oncoming disasters.
The project aims to empower communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of climate change, strengthen public services to lower the risk of disasters related to GLOFs, and improve community preparedness and disaster response.
Compounding the crisis, this year, Pakistan has faced a series of disasters linked to climate change including unprecedented heatwaves early in the year, followed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) in Gilgit Baltistan, and forest fires in the province of Balochistan.
In Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, UNDP's GLOF-II project is installing Early Warning Systems in 24 valleys to alert people against oncoming disasters.
The project aims to empower communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of climate change, strengthen public services to lower the risk of disasters related to GLOFs, and improve community preparedness and disaster response.