One year on—the persistent plight of the 2022 floods on health in Pakistan

People in Pakistan continue to suffer one year after the disastrous flooding of July 2022. Monsoon rains unleashed significant floods that wreaked havoc on the lives of 33 million people—more than one sixth of Pakistan’s population—and over 1000 lives were lost.1 The economic impact was estimated at $30bn, requiring $16bn for reconstruction alone.2 These challenges are compounded by Pakistan’s severe economic downturn, characterised by high inflation, limited mechanisms to mitigate the decline in citizens’ purchasing power, and low economic resilience.34 Climate related flooding has transformed land once arable for rice and wheat cultivation into floodplains, depriving many individuals of their livelihoods and exacerbating food scarcity.Challenges in accessing clean water and food add to significant health concerns. The situation is dire for the millions of people who lack access to safe and clean water.5 This is exacerbated by summer temperatures of up to 51°C,6 some of the highest globally.7 Running water…
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