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An active seasonal window of high-stakes weather systems and prolonged, above-normal temperatures continues to threaten Northern Pakistan. As of June 2, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts ongoing rain and thunderstorms through June 5, maintaining a critical risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods across glaciated valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Over 7.1 million people in these northern regions remain vulnerable.

  • Casualties: Severe early-May storms have already tragically resulted in four deaths and sixteen injuries across the KPK districts of Mardan, Swabi, Malakand, and Shangla.
  • Community Isolation & Access Barriers: Landslides and weather-driven disruptions threaten to cut off remote mountain communities. Major lifelines, including the Karakoram Highway, Skardu Road, Shigar Valley Road, Deosai Road, and Naran Road, as well as vital local routes in the Shimshal and Hunza Valleys, are flagged as highly sensitive to immediate blockages.
  • Upstream Flooding Threat: Rapidly melting glaciers driven by intense heat are creating flood-like conditions across multiple districts, including Hunza, Chitral, Swat, Gilgit, and Neelum Valley.

In line with the commitment to Do No Harm and community protection, local administrations and vulnerable populations are urged to maintain 24/7 vigilance. Local communities are being guided to monitor immediate early warning signs, specifically tracking sudden changes in river levels, unusual deep sounds near water drains (nullahs), and shifts in water color that indicate upstream breaches.

Travelers and local communities are strictly advised to avoid unnecessary travel in high-risk zones during this active severe weather period.

The current situation demands an immediate focus on:

  • Early Warning Systems: Real-time dissemination of alerts to isolated mountainous communities.
  • Logistical Readiness: Preparing for rapid assessments as road blockages on the Karakoram Highway fluctuate.
  • Community Preparedness: Strengthening local-level response capacity in high-risk valleys that may become cut off by infrastructure damage.
Figure 1: Projected GLOF Risk Areas in Northern Pakistan, March–September 2026

Key Risk Domains and Impact Highlights

Key DomainsPotential Impacts
Lives and safetyIncreased risk of sudden flooding, debris flow, landslides resulting in injuries, loss of life and urgent evacuation needs
ShelterDestruction to homes leading to temporary displacement of households in downstream valleys and vulnerable communities
InfrastructureDamage to roads, bridges, irrigation channels, water supply systems and small hydropower infrastructure leading to disrupted transportation, reduced access to essential services and interruptions in water and energy supply.
HealthIncreased risk of injuries, waterborne diseases due to contaminated water along with limited access to health facilities and referral challenges in remote valleys
Food security and livelihoodsLoss of livestock, crops, orchards, agricultural land and household assets
ProtectionIncreased risks for women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and households with limited mobility
Access and logisticsIsolation of remote communities and delayed humanitarian access, disruption to passenger and goods transport, and traffic disruption along key routes including the Karakoram Highway due to infrastructure damage

NDMA’s Summer Hazards Contingency Plan 2026 notes that sudden breaching of unstable glacial lakes may generate flash floods downstream, threatening villages, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure1.

The scale of exposure is significant, with millions of people in GB and KPK living in areas vulnerable to GLOFs, flash flooding and debris-flow risks, particularly communities downstream of rivers, streams and glacial lakes.

Emerging Humanitarian Needs

In the event of GLOF-triggered disasters or flash flooding in the high-risk valleys of Northern Pakistan, humanitarian interventions must prioritise immediate life-saving support alongside the preservation of human dignity. The following domains have been identified as critical for an effective and principled response:

Life-Saving Relief and Shelter: Immediate focus on coordinated evacuation support and the provision of high-quality temporary shelter should be priortised. Essential Non-Food Items (NFIs), including winterised tents, blankets, and kitchen sets are vital for families displaced in the harsh high-altitude terrain.

Health and WASH: Restoration of safe drinking water and sanitation services is a priority to mitigate disease outbreaks. This must be coupled with mobile health units and first aid services capable of providing essential medicines and emergency referrals in areas where fixed infrastructure may be damaged.

Food Security and Multipurpose Cash: Where local markets remain functional, Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) is the preferred modality to provide families with the agency and flexibility to meet their own needs. In isolated areas with market disruption, direct food assistance in this form will be necessary.

Protection and Psychosocial Wellbeing: Critical support and protection to help families and children process the trauma of sudden displacement and loss must be provided. All assistance must be protection-sensitive, specifically tailored to the needs of women, children, older persons, and individuals with disabilities.

Community World Service Asia’s Preparedness and Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) is currently maintaining a high state of operational readiness through its field office in Hunza, GB. This local footprint allows for immediate coordination with Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), building on CWSA’s significant 2025 response where we supported 1,479 individuals with food and cash assistance. Leveraging deep-rooted networks in remote areas like the Chipursan Valley, CWSA is positioned to move from monitoring to formal response activation immediately upon verification of an incident by disaster management authorities or field teams.

The mobilisation strategy is centered on reaching the “last mile” of remote mountain communities. Key priorities include:

  • Targeted Vulnerability: Directing assistance toward women-headed households, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities to mitigate exclusion risks.
  • Integrated Accountability: Maintaining safe, confidential feedback loops and ensuring communities are informed participants in their own recovery.
  • Multisectoral Readiness: Preparedness covers emergency shelter, WASH, mobile health, and psychosocial support, with a preference for multipurpose cash where markets allow.

Proposed Relief and Call to Action: To ensure a rapid and effective response as weather patterns evolve, CWSA has identified three critical pillars for immediate support:

  • Pre-positioning: Securing emergency shelter, hygiene kits, and dry rations in accessible hubs near high-risk valleys.
  • Scaling Life-Saving Aid: Expanding the reach of mobile health referrals and cash assistance for those in the direct path of debris flows.
  • Logistical Resilience: Strengthening “last-mile” transport capabilities to bypass anticipated road and bridge failures along the Karakoram Highway and interconnected routes.

In a region where geography defines the risk, local presence defines the response. CWSA urges the international community and humanitarian partners to support immediate and coordinated response in Northern Pakistan as we work to turn preparedness into a lifeline for the most isolated communities in GB and KPK.

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Tooba Siddiqi
Associate Regional Director
Emergencies & Quality and Accountability
Email: tooba.siddiqi@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Associate Regional Director
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

References

  1. NDMA Summer Hazards Contingency Plan 2026
    Community Meetings
    GBDMA ↩︎

96

Hafeezan has a look of sharp stoicism on her calm face. This may be because she is reconciled to a life of adversity. The only time bleakness shows through is when she speaks of her husband, Ramzan’s blindness. At this point Ramzan speaks up, “Ten years ago, I had trouble with my eyes and the doctors in the government hospital told me my eyes’ battery is discharged,” he says as he pats the back of his head to indicate the location of the ‘battery’. He appeared to have misunderstood the medical explanation he had been given, interpreting the reference to damaged brain cells as a “battery” in the back of his head that could no longer be recharged. Today he can just barely see shapes and tell light from darkness. Despite this profound loss, he continues to face life with courage, supported by Hafeezan’s steadfast presence and their shared determination to endure adversity.

The couple lives in Village Maulvi Wallah. It lies about five kilometres south of Muzaffargarh city centre and about two kilometres southwest of Rohari. All around are neatly parcelled blocks of agriculture and thickly growing mango orchards. Maulvi Wallah is comparatively better off than many surrounding villages, with brick and concrete houses clustered at its center and a government school where both boys and girls attend regularly. Yet, while younger generations are gaining access to education, many elders remain without formal schooling. Despite these modest improvements, poverty continues to affect most households, shaping daily life and limiting opportunities.

Before losing his sight, Ramzan worked as a factory labourer in Muzaffargarh, earning what he recalls as a fair wage. Together with Hafeezan, he raised a large family of seven sons and four daughters. Despite their hard work, limited resources meant they could only construct a modest mud and wattle home.

As their sons grew older, they began contributing to the household income, but soon many married at a young age. Reflecting on this, Ramzan notes with quiet resignation that once children start their own families, parents can no longer rely on their support.

One son, Faiz ul Hasan, lives with them. Though married, he and his wife have no children. Faiz bears visible scars on his face and hands from severe burns sustained in childhood. At the age of five, while imitating his mother as she poured kerosene into the kitchen stove, he accidentally added fuel while the fire was still burning. The sudden flames engulfed him, leaving lasting injuries despite urgent medical care.

Today, Faiz continues to live with the physical marks of that accident, yet his presence in the household is a source of strength and companionship for his parents. He works at a brick kiln shaping the wet clay in the wooden moulds. He says he can mould 700 hundred bricks in an eight to nine hour workday for which he is paid Rs 1000. But that does not make life any better for he goes to work only two days a week. He says his burn-damaged hands ache after a long day of work and he has to take the break. The couple’s youngest son works as a helper in a general merchandise store and brings home Rs 200 every day to make things somewhat better.

For families like theirs in Muzaffargarh district, hardship is not limited to poverty alone. South Punjab is no stranger to climatic extremes. Older residents remember drought; younger generations recall either the dry years of the mid-1990s or the devastating floods of 2010 and 2015, when livelihoods and agriculture were badly affected.

So when government agencies announced evacuations in August 2025 for villages near the Chenab River, many assumed it would be another event like 2015, disruptive but manageable, with no more than ankle-deep water entering the villages. Instead, the flood exceeded all expectations. Houses built of mud or sun-dried brick collapsed within hours once the water rose to thigh height. The force and speed of the floodwaters left families with barely enough time to save the most essential belongings.

Like everybody else in the village, Hafeezan and Ramzan left their home in the flood to take refuge on the flood protection embankment. They were fortunate to receive a tent from the government and that made life a little better. Ramzan says when the water rose, they had 600 kilograms of wheat grain in the house, which was their primary concern. The other very important part of the family was the heifer that Hafeezan tended on adhal1. Were she to lose the animal to the waters, she would have had to make good the value of the animal for the owner. And so they lost most of their bedding, clothing and kitchenware.

Five weeks later, their return was not to the home they had known, but to a heap of clay, timber and household items smashed under the fallen timbers. According to surveys, some 500,000 persons were displaced in Muzaffargarh district. Of these, the majority living in poorly built semi-permanent structures lost most of their household effects.

The humanitarian assistance provided by Community World Service Asia and its partner, Japan Platform (JPF), ensured provision of non-food items to households most severely affected by the floods which offered families vital relief and a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity. Each package, designed to meet the needs of an average family of seven (in line with Sph) included essential items for warmth, cooking, and daily living: blankets, foam mattresses, plastic mats, cooking pots with lids, serving utensils, cups, plates, a kettle, food storage containers, and basic kitchen tools.

Despite his poor eyesight, Ramzan began rebuilding the mud structure with the help of his son Faiz ul Hasan. And so, before the cold weather set in, the family was able to move from the tent to this shelter. But for the two unmarried daughters, and four sons still living with the parents, it was a tight fit. Fortunately, their two older sons had brick and mortar rooms that had survived the flood and the family shared accommodation.

Grateful for the bedding and kitchenware she received, Hafeezan shared that the support spared her from a significant expense, one that would otherwise have forced her into debt. Now she waits patiently for the heifer to be ready to mate. She believes it will happen by the end of 2026. Then by selling the milk and caring for the calf, she might be on her way to becoming a livestock owner. Meanwhile, it is a long, hard grind for the family. Until then, life remains a long and difficult grind. But Hafeezan endures it with the same quiet resolve.

  1. The ‘Adhal’ (or sometimes referred to under similar sharing, partnership, or nomadic grazing terminology) system in rural Pakistan is a traditional livestock management arrangement where ownership and caretaking responsibilities are separated to maximise resources, typically for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, or goats. It acts as a socioeconomic support system for poor households and smallholders, allowing for the herd management of small numbers of animals ↩︎

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A high-alert status remains in effect for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) following a series of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) warnings issued by the NDMA and PMD. A current westerly weather system, active as of May 11, is bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms to mountainous regions. These conditions are significantly increasing the probability of debris flows and flash flooding in vulnerable valleys, marking the start of a high-risk period predicted to last through September 2026.

Recent heavy rainfall has already triggered mudslides and landslides, severely impacting the Karakoram Highway. Key sections in Lower Kohistan, including Dubair and Gloos Banda, have been blocked by debris and floodwater. These disruptions have stranded passenger vehicles and goods transport, creating a logistical bottleneck between KPK and GB. The dangerous travel conditions along these primary routes are currently hindering both commercial movement and potential humanitarian access.

The scale of potential impact is immense, with the Ministry of Climate Change identifying over 7.1 million people in the northern regions as vulnerable to GLOF events. Pakistan’s 13,000+ glaciers are facing unprecedented stress; approximately 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and GB are currently receding due to climate-induced temperature rises. This accelerated melting, combined with shifting weather patterns and early heatwave conditions, has created a volatile environment for downstream settlements.

The current situation demands an immediate focus on:

  • Early Warning Systems: Real-time dissemination of alerts to isolated mountainous communities.
  • Logistical Readiness: Preparing for rapid assessments as road blockages on the Karakoram Highway fluctuate.
  • Community Preparedness: Strengthening local-level response capacity in high-risk valleys that may become cut off by infrastructure damage.

Areas at Risk

RegionHigh-risk areas identified in recent alerts
Gilgit-BaltistanSwat, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Dir, Upper Hazara, and Kohistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)Communities located near glacial lakes, rivers, mountain streams, nullahs (seasonal watercourses), bridges, roads, irrigation channels, hydropower infrastructure, and agricultural land
Downstream settlementsCommunities located near glacial lakes, rivers, mountain streams, nullahs (seasonal watercourses), bridges, roads, irrigation channels, hydropower infrastructure and agricultural land
Figure 1: Projected GLOF Risk Areas in Northern Pakistan, March–September 2026

Key Risks and Impact Highlights

SectorPotential impact
Lives and safetySudden flooding, debris flow, landslides, injuries, loss of life and urgent evacuation needs
ShelterDamage to houses and temporary displacement of households in downstream valleys
InfrastructureDamage to roads, bridges, irrigation channels, water supply systems and small hydropower infrastructure
WASHContamination of water sources, disruption of safe drinking water access and increased sanitation risks
HealthIncreased risk of injuries, waterborne diseases, limited access to health facilities and referral challenges in remote valleys
Food security and livelihoodsLoss of livestock, crops, orchards, agricultural land and household assets
ProtectionIncreased risks for women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and households with limited mobility
Access and logisticsBlocked roads, damaged bridges, isolation of remote communities and delayed humanitarian access, disruption to passenger and goods transport, and traffic disruption along key routes including the Karakoram Highway

NDMA’s Summer Hazards Contingency Plan 2026 notes that sudden breaching of unstable glacial lakes may generate flash floods downstream, threatening villages, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure1.

The scale of exposure is significant, with millions of people in GB and KP living in areas vulnerable to GLOFs, flash flooding and debris-flow risks, particularly communities downstream of rivers, streams and glacial lakes.

This summary refines the projected humanitarian priorities for Northern Pakistan into a concise, action-oriented briefing, ensuring the focus remains on dignity, protection, and the survival of isolated communities.

Priority Needs: Anticipatory Action and Response for GLOF Emergencies

In the event of GLOF-triggered disasters or flash flooding in the high-risk valleys of Northern Pakistan, humanitarian interventions must prioritise immediate life-saving support alongside the preservation of human dignity. The following sectors have been identified as critical for an effective and principled response:

Life-Saving Relief & Shelter: Immediate focus remains on coordinated evacuation support and the provision of high-quality temporary shelter. Essential Non-Food Items (NFIs), including winterised tents, blankets, and kitchen sets are vital for families displaced in the harsh high-altitude terrain.

Health and WASH: Restoration of safe drinking water and sanitation services is a priority to mitigate disease outbreaks. This must be coupled with mobile health units and first aid services capable of providing essential medicines and emergency referrals in areas where fixed infrastructure may be damaged.

Food Security & Multipurpose Cash: Where local markets remain functional, Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) is the preferred modality to provide families with the agency and flexibility to meet their own needs. In isolated areas with market disruption, direct food assistance will be necessary.

Protection & Psychosocial Wellbeing: All assistance must be protection-sensitive, specifically tailored to the needs of women, children, older persons, and individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, psychosocial support is critical to help families and children process the trauma of sudden displacement and loss.

Community World Service Asia’s Preparedness and Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) is currently maintaining a high state of operational readiness through its field office in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. This local footprint allows for immediate coordination with GBDMA and DDMA, building on CWSA’s significant 2025 response where they supported 1,479 individuals with food and cash assistance. Leveraging deep-rooted networks in remote areas like the Chipursan Valley, CWSA is positioned to move from monitoring to formal response activation immediately upon verification of an incident by disaster management authorities or field teams.

The mobilisation strategy is centered on reaching the “last mile” of remote mountain communities. Key priorities include:

  • Targeted Vulnerability: Directing assistance toward women-headed households, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities to mitigate exclusion risks.
  • Integrated Accountability: Maintaining safe, confidential feedback loops and ensuring communities are informed participants in their own recovery.
  • Multisectoral Readiness: Preparedness covers emergency shelter, WASH, mobile health, and psychosocial support, with a preference for multipurpose cash where markets allow.

Urgent Funding and Logistics Requirements

To ensure a rapid and effective response as weather patterns evolve, CWSA has identified three critical pillars for immediate support:

  • Pre-positioning: Securing emergency shelter, hygiene kits, and dry rations in accessible hubs near high-risk valleys.
  • Scaling Life-Saving Aid: Expanding the reach of mobile health referrals and cash assistance for those in the direct path of debris flows.
  • Logistical Resilience: Strengthening “last-mile” transport capabilities to bypass anticipated road and bridge failures along the Karakoram Highway and interconnected routes.

In a region where geography defines the risk, local presence defines the response. We invite you to stand with CWSA and our frontline teams in Northern Pakistan as we turn preparedness into a lifeline for the most isolated communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Tooba Siddiqi
Associate Regional Director
Emergencies & Quality and Accountability
Email: tooba.siddiqi@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Associate Regional Director
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

References

  1. NDMA Summer Hazards Contingency Plan 2026
    https://www.ndma.gov.pk/storage/plans/April2026/des1YHpOOZYMDB3W7rHH.pdf ↩︎

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Overview

Severe heatwave conditions are currently affecting Sindh, with particularly heightened risks for vulnerable communities in Umerkot district during the late April–May 2026 pre peak and peak summer period. According to the Multi Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (MHVRA), Umerkot’s hot, semi arid climate records mean maximum temperatures of around 45°C across April, May, and June. For this district, the intensity of heatwave hazards has been assessed as “Severe to Extreme,” underscoring the urgent need for protective measures and community preparedness.

Umerkot district has an estimated population of 1.16 million people, including 0.90 million rural and 0.26 million urban residents1. The wider at-risk population includes outdoor workers, pedestrians, daily wage labourers, agricultural workers, women, children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and low-income households. These populations have limited access to safe drinking water, shaded spaces, cooling facilities, and timely health referral support.

The heatwave situation in Umerkot is not limited to health exposure alone. Higher temperatures increase dehydration risk, reduce water availability, disrupt outdoor labour, and affect agriculture and livestock-dependent livelihoods. This is particularly relevant in Umerkot due to its rural spread, low rainfall, hot semi-arid conditions, and dependence on climate-sensitive livelihoods.

Heatwaves are forecastable hazards, and the Umerkot District Disaster Management Plan states that actions can be taken before occurrence through warnings, alerts, public precautions, awareness campaigns, water arrangements, heatstroke facilitation camps, mobile medical teams, and mobilisation of non-governmental organisations (NGO) and volunteers. Investing in early action is therefore both life-saving and cost-effective. Evidence from anticipatory action shows that every USD 1 invested in anticipatory action can yield up to USD 7 in avoided losses and added benefits, reinforcing the importance of supporting cooling centers, hydration points, awareness outreach, and referral linkages before heatwave impacts escalate 2.

Impact Snapshot

Community World Service Asia’s (CWSA) current field observations have identified multiple cases of extreme dehydration and fatigue among heat-exposed individuals, indicating increasing health risks at community level. Heatwave alerts circulated by local government/district sources further underline the need for early action before heat-related illnesses escalate into severe cases or avoidable loss of life.

Moreover prolonged heat places pressure on essential elements such as water supply points, health facilities, shaded public spaces, and electricity dependent cooling arrangements.

Heatwave risk is also closely linked with livelihoods, agriculture, livestock, and food security in Umerkot, where many people depend on rural livelihoods, daily wage labour, and outdoor work. Higher temperatures can reduce working capacity, increase dehydration risk, affect crops and livestock, and worsen water stress. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh’s heatwave guidance identifies water scarcity, agricultural disruption, and economic/livelihood disruption as key heatwave impacts.

Women, children, including those engaged in child labour, elderly persons, pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities, outdoor workers, daily wage earners, agricultural labourers, pedestrians, and low income households face heightened risks during extreme heat. Direct exposure, limited access to cooling, and reduced coping capacity compound their vulnerability. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the PDMA Sindh both underscore the urgent need for targeted protection measures to safeguard these groups throughout the heatwave period.

Emerging Humanitarian Needs

Water SecurityWater distribution points ensuring the supply of safe drinking water
Medical Assistance First aid, Oral Dehydration Salts (ORS) supply and urgent medical care
Emergency ShelterHeat camps, shaded resting spaces, cooling centres
Public Awareness & Coordination with District Authorities Dissemination of key messages such as avoiding outdoor exposure during peak heat hours, drinking safe water regularly, using ORS when needed, recognising symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and seeking timely medical support.

Community World Service Asia’s Proposed Relief & Response

CWSA has initiated voluntary heatwave response measures in coordination with the District Administration/DDMA Umerkot by establishing basic heatwave camps for heat-exposed populations pedestrians, outdoor workers, daily wage labourers including minors, and vulnerable groups. These camps are equipped with essential medicines, first aid support, oral rehydration solutions (ORS), cold drinking water, resting seats for heat exposed individuals. Awareness sessions are also being conducted at intervention locations on heatstroke prevention, signs and symptoms, precautionary measures during heatwaves, the use of ORS, first aid and timely cooling during heat related illness.These heatwave camps are set up at three locations including Umerkot city/Deputy Commissioner’s Office area, Village Ramser in Union Council Kaplore, and Government Dispensary Xheelband in Union Council Faqeer Abdullah.

These initial measures have reached approximately 2800 people so far, while the high daily turnout indicates continued need among heat-exposed groups in these and nearby high-footfall areas.

Call to Action

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) urges the international community and humanitarian partners to support an immediate, coordinated heatwave response in Umerkot, Sindh. Current heatwave alerts and field observations indicate that communities with limited access to safe water, shade, cooling spaces, and timely health support are at high exposure risk. Immediate support is required to strengthen existing camps and establish additional cooling spaces in priority locations identified with the District Administration/DDMA Umerkot.

Based on latest needs assessments, CWSA proposes establishing well equipped cooling spaces in priority locations, ensuring the availability of drinking water and oral rehydration solutions (ORS), and providing shaded resting areas with basic first aid support. Trained mobilisers will be deployed to raise awareness through local language materials, strengthen referral linkages, and maintain responsive feedback mechanisms. All interventions will be closely coordinated with district authorities and aligned with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh’s Heatwave Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Tooba Siddiqi
Associate Regional Director
Emergencies & Quality and Accountability
Email: tooba.siddiqi@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Associate Regional Director
Visibility, Stakeholder Engagement & Inclusive Protection
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

References

  1. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Census 2023 ↩︎
  2. https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/saving-lives-time-and-money-evidence-anticipatory-action-may-2025 ↩︎

361

Amir Hamza belongs to village Dain in Tehsil Ishkoman of Ghizer. His household consists of five members and is a male-headed family with four dependents, including one school-age son. Before the floods of 14 August 2025, which devastated Ghizer1 in Gilgit-Baltistan, his story reflected the quiet stability of a self-sufficient rural life. The village of Dain was peaceful, with functioning homes, cultivated farmland, livestock, reliable water systems, and essential infrastructure such as a suspension bridge that connected residents to basic services and markets. This sense of security was shared across the community before the disaster upended their lives.

“Before the flooding, life was peaceful and beautiful. We had our homes, land, cattle, and a strong community,” Amir recalled. He and his family owned a total of five kanals of land, of which two kanals were washed away in the flood. They did not own any cattle.

The sudden flooding destroyed nearly everything including homes, mosques, Jamaat Khanas 2, farmlands, livestock, water channels, and the village’s historic suspension bridge. Families escaped in the middle of the crisis to higher ground, relying on relatives, neighbours, and volunteers for immediate rescue and shelter.

Amir is a father determined to give his young son an education, even though the monthly school fee of PKR 1,000 is a heavy burden for his modest means. After the devastating floods, he returned to driving a rickshaw, his primary source of income, to keep his family afloat. The disaster had swept away much of what he had built: his small shop, along with pear and almond orchards that once supplemented his livelihood. Yet despite these losses, Amir continues to prioritise his son’s schooling, holding on to the hope that education will open doors to a brighter future.

“The situation was unbearable. We nearly lost our senses. Our relatives and volunteers rescued us, gave us food, water, and shelter, and treated us with dignity,” shared Amir.

In the aftermath, the community prioritised restoring essential services, particularly access to clean water. External assistance followed, with NGOs and donors providing food and cash support. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) conducted multiple visits and provided multipurpose cash assistance of PKR 30,000 (approx. USD 108) in three monthly installments, totalling PKR 90,000, starting on 13 Nov 2025. The cash was used for rebuilding and meeting food security needs. Most families used the cash for children’s school fees, debt repayment, to meet daily household needs, and rebuilding homes in safer locations.

Food assistance was also provided under the project. It included wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil, sugar, and salt. The quantities distributed were 100 kg of flour, seven litres of cooking oil, four kg of sugar, one kg of salt, and eight kg of pulses. This support was provided for one month, and it helped meet the basic household food needs during that period.

“We are using the cash according to our needs such as education, housing, and daily survival. This support has helped us stand again,” said Amir.

The family has experienced a significant improvement in living conditions after receiving a new house, financial support, and food rations, which have greatly reduced their hardships. However, some challenges remain unresolved, such as the restoration of lost agricultural land and the full recovery of livelihood assets. Although the family is now more stable due to the assistance, they remain partially vulnerable, particularly regarding income from agriculture and other lost assets.

Amir’s account reflects a broader pattern observed across Ghizer; while the floods caused devastating losses, strong social cohesion, timely humanitarian assistance, and community-led recovery efforts have been central to restoring dignity and hope.

  1. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/22/rains-flash-floods-kill-21-in-pakistan-tourists-rescued-in-hilly-north ↩︎
  2. Places of worship and community work ↩︎

379

Situation Overview

On January 19, 2026, at 11:21 AM local time, a shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw 5.6–5.8 struck Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan. The epicenter near Barishal severely impacted the remote Chipursan Valley in Upper Hunza. Despite its moderate magnitude, the shallow depth and fragile mountainous terrain caused significant localised destruction.

At least two lives were lost, several individuals injured, and eleven villages were affected; three of them completely destroyed. Approximately 300 households (2,100–2,400 people) are displaced, many now sheltering in tents, damaged homes, or with host families in nearby settlements such as Sost and Gulmit. The disaster coincided with peak winter, with temperatures dropping to –20°C, heightening risks of hypothermia and cold-related illness.

Landslides disrupted road access and damaged critical infrastructure, including micro-hydropower systems, water channels, and livestock shelters. Power outages have left families without heating, lighting, or communication during extreme winter conditions.

Impact Snapshot

Impact AreaDetails
Fatalities2 confirmed
InjuriesSeveral reported
Villages affected11 (3 fully destroyed)
Households affected300 HHs (2,100–2,400 people)
DisplacementFamilies in tents, damaged homes, or host communities
Infrastructure damageRoads blocked, micro-hydropower destroyed, water channels & shelters damaged
Vulnerable groupsWomen-headed households, children, elderly, persons with disabilities
Key risksHypothermia, cold-related illness, limited healthcare access

Humanitarian Needs

  • Multipurpose cash assistance for food, heating fuel, medicines, and temporary accommodation.
  • Winterisation support including winterized tents and non-food items to protect families from sub-zero temperatures.
  • Shelter and medical care for displaced families living in unsafe or temporary arrangements.
  • Psychosocial support to address trauma, stress, and displacement-related anxiety.

Community World Service Asia’s (CWSA) Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA), in coordination with the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), Hunza District Administration, and humanitarian partners, has launched a community-centered, gender-responsive emergency response. Quality, Accountability and Safeguarding (QAS) measures have been applied throughout the response, including community consultations, transparent participant verification, and complaint and feedback mechanisms to ensure accountability and safe programming for affected communities.

Plan and Action:

  • Field Office Established: A base set up in Khudadad Sost to coordinate relief operations
  • Household Assessments: Surveys completed across nine villages covering 300 households, with verification underway by the MEAL team.
  • Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): The first tranche for 300 households is planned to be disbursed tentatively scheduled for the third week of March, following completion of verification and administrative processes
  • Winterisation Kits: Procurement of high-quality kits aligned with global standards and community needs for 200 households underway
  • Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS):
    • 10 group sessions conducted, reaching 351 participants (women, girls, children, elderly, persons with disabilities).
    • 27 individual counselling sessions provided, focusing on trauma, stress, and coping strategies.
    • Special session organised for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Chitral, engaging 28 participants.

Solidarity and Partnership

These interventions are made possible through the support and solidarity of our global partners, ACT Alliance and Week of Compassion, whose commitment strengthens our ability to respond swiftly and effectively in times of crisis.

CWSA remains committed to ensuring dignified, inclusive, and effective humanitarian assistance for the affected communities of Chipursan Valley. Our response prioritises the most vulnerable, while building resilience and solidarity across the region.

Contacts:

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Tooba Siddiqi
Associate Regional Director
Emergencies, Healthy & Quality, Accountability & Safeguarding (QAS)
Email: tooba.siddiqi@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Palwashay Arbab
Associate Regional Director
Visibility & Strategic Engagement
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

439

When the earthquake struck Chupurson Valley in January, lives were shattered. Homes split open, families endured nights at –20°C in scattered tents, and fear became part of daily life.

CWSA’s frontline team journeyed across mountains to stand with communities in their darkest hour. In just four days, the team has facilitated structured mental health and psychosocial support sessions for over 230 participants so far— men, women, children and elderly who bravely shared their stories of trauma, resilience, and hope.

But survival needs remain urgent: warm insulated tents, winter clothing, bedding, medicines, hygiene supplies, and dignity kits for women and girls.

This response was made possible through the solidarity of our partners, Week of Compassion. Together, we are helping families heal and rebuild with dignity.

▶️ Watch the full story in our video.

552

Overview

On 19 January 2026 at 11:21 hours (Pakistan time), a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Gilgit-Baltistan. The USGS reported the epicentre approximately 50 km north-northwest of Karimabad, Hunza, near the Yash Kuk Glacier in Chipurson Valley, and around 10 km from Zudkhun village, at a focal depth of ~35 km [9]. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) noted the epicentre near north-western Kashmir, at a shallow depth of 10–35 km. Tremors were widely felt across Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit, Ghizer, and Diamer, as well as parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

The earthquake triggered widespread rockfalls, particularly in Chipurson Valley, causing severe structural damage and making many homes unsafe. Minor injuries were reported among children, and livestock shelters collapsed, threatening livelihoods. Ongoing aftershocks since October 2025 have caused anxiety among residents, many of whom are reluctant to return home. Harsh winter conditions, with temperatures falling to –20°C, have increased the risk to life and wellbeing.

Impact

The earthquake has severely affected 11 villages, leaving around 500 households (2,500 people) impacted. Casualties remain limited but include four injured, two children in Zudkhun and two adults in Shetmerg, all receiving medical care, with further assessments ongoing in remote settlements.

Infrastructure damage is extensive: over 210 houses collapsed or became unsafe, with 150 completely destroyed. Public and community facilities such as schools, prayer halls, Jamatkhanas, and Rural Education Centers sustained major cracks. Water channels, micro hydropower systems, and cattle sheds were destroyed, resulting in livestock losses. Landslides and rockfalls blocked roads, disrupted electricity, internet, and communications, and cut off access to Chipurson Valley and parts of the Karakoram Highway.

Families have been forced into makeshift shelters or temporary camps under extreme winter conditions. Vulnerable groups, women, children, the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities face heightened risks due to overcrowding, damaged housing, and limited access to essential services.

Emerging Humanitarian Needs

Emergency ShelterWinterised tents, tarpaulins, blankets, and warm clothing for families affected by infrastructure/ housing damage, prefabricated homes/sheds, energy and lighting
HealthHealth, Mental Health & PSS, and Protection aimed to support the entire valley, temporary medical services
FoodImmediate food rations & multipurpose cash support
Water & SanitationClean drinking water, hygiene, dignity & maternity kits, and sanitation facilities to prevent disease outbreaks
Psychosocial SupportPsychosocial Support for grieving families and children affected by trauma

Immediate priority actions include scaling up winterised shelter support, distributing winter NFIs (blankets, warm clothing, hygiene, and maternity kits), providing temporary shelters for unsafe homes, delivering in-kind food assistance, and deploying cash support for urgent winter needs. Distributions must be gender- and vulnerability-sensitive, accompanied by health and psychosocial services.

Relief & Response Overview

Relief efforts in Gilgit Baltistan are underway despite challenging access. Road connectivity to Reshet has been restored, and a medical camp set up in Shetmirg is providing care with doctors, paramedics, and Rescue 1122 support. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA ) Hunza has distributed 250 food packs, blankets, kerosene heaters, kitchen sets, and tents to affected families. Senior government officials, including the Ministers for Interior and Tourism, visited Chipurson Valley on 21 January to meet communities and assess needs.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has activated an Emergency Operations Centre in Gilgit, supported remotely from Islamabad. A helicopter mission on 20 January evacuated seven patients, including women and children, to Gilgit for treatment.

The Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), working with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), civil society organisations, and community emergency teams, has launched a rapid needs assessment in Chipurson Valley. Findings will guide coordinated support measures from the GB government, federal authorities, and civil society.

Local NGOs and community groups have mobilised resources such as firewood, tents, and food. Human rights organisations are highlighting gaps in evacuation procedures, medical support, and winterised shelters. While coordination with authorities exists, a systematic multi-agency coordination mechanism has not yet been fully established.

Pakistan’s UN cluster system offers a framework for sectoral coordination, though no formal cluster activation for Chipurson has been reported. NDMA, GBDMA, UNOCHA, and UN agencies have conducted preparedness exercises to strengthen earthquake response.

Community World Service Asia Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) continues inter-agency coordination and rapid assessments in Hunza District and as the situation evolves, it calls on partners and humanitarian actors to join them in scaling up coordinated response efforts and providing timely winter assistance to Chipurson Valley, Upper Hunza, where affected communities face immediate survival risks. Built on existing local networks and partnerships, the response will remain adaptive, inclusive, and community-driven.

Response Plan includes:

  • Winterisation Assistance: Distribution of winterisation kits to vulnerable households to reduce exposure to extreme cold, prioritising families with damaged shelters, elderly members, women-headed households, and children.
  • Non-Food Items (NFI): Provision of essential NFIs to households that have lost or damaged basic household items due to the earthquake.
  • Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): Provision of cheque-based MPCA to enable affected households to meet urgent needs, including food, winter items, healthcare, and minor repairs in a dignified manner.
  • Reinforcement of humanitarian Quality, Accountability & Safeguarding mechanisms to ensure dignity and community engagement throughout the respone
  • Gender-Sensitive Aid Distribution: Ensuring equitable access for women and girls

A multi-sectoral team is on standby for rapid deployment, ensuring that our response remains adaptive, inclusive, and locally led. CWSA’s planned response integrates gender-sensitive measures across all areas of intervention.

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Felix Dennis Joseph
Associate Regional Director
Email: dennis.joseph@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-51-2307484-5

Palwashay Arbab
Head of Communications
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

References

  • (The Express Tribune)
  • (Pakistan Today)
  • (Dawn)
  • (ProPakistani)
  • Local Reports – ASWED (Association for Social Welfare & Educational Development) (internal/field source)
  • KADO Rapid Assessment Report, January 2026 (unpublished/internal)
  • AKAH/AKDN Disaster Assessment Report, January 2026 (unpublished/internal)
  • USGS Earthquake Data & Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)

581

Crisis Overview

On 19 January 2026 at approximately 11:21 am, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Pakistan, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reporting the epicenter near Barishal in north-western Kashmir at a shallow depth of 10–35 km. Strong tremors were felt across Gilgit-Baltistan, including Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit, Ghizer, and Diamer districts, as well as parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad. The shaking triggered landslides and rockfalls in mountainous areas, causing localized infrastructure damage and access disruptions.

The most significant impacts were reported from Upper Hunza, particularly Chipurson Valley, where residential structures were damaged and the only access road was blocked at multiple locations. Public infrastructure was also affected in Karimabad, where the already vulnerable building of Boys Middle School Karimabad developed structural cracks, rendering it unsafe for students and teachers. The earthquake occurred amid an ongoing severe winter cold wave, with temperatures dropping below –10°C, increasing risks for affected communities and heightening urgent humanitarian concerns.

Impact

The earthquake has caused one confirmed fatality and several injuries, including among children, in Hunza District.

Severe structural damage has been reported to homes, public buildings, and community infrastructure, with Chipurson Valley particularly affected, hundreds of families displaced and now living in camps under extreme cold conditions. In Karimabad, the Boys Middle School building has developed major cracks, leaving it unsafe for students and teachers.

Access routes remain blocked by landslides, including sections of the Karakoram Highway, restricting movement and delaying emergency response.

Across Gilgit-Baltistan, families face heightened risks due to unsafe housing, continued aftershocks, and exposure to sub zero temperatures. Vulnerable groups, women, children, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities, are at greatest risk of health complications, protection concerns, and disruption of essential services.

Urgent assistance is required to provide safe shelter, medical care, and protection support to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions.

Emerging Humanitarian Needs

Emergency ShelterWinterised tents, tarpaulins, blankets, and warm clothing for families affected by infrastructure/ housing damage
Medical AssistanceFirst aid supplies, essential medicines, and basic health support to address cold-related illnesses, respiratory infections
Food SecurityImmediate food rations needed for affected families or multipurpose cash support to meet these needs
Water & SanitationClean drinking water, hygiene & maternity kits, and sanitation facilities to prevent disease outbreaks
Psychosocial SupportPsychosocial Support for grieving families and children and women affected by trauma

Local authorities and community representatives have called on humanitarian organisations to provide urgent winter assistance, including shelter materials, blankets, maternity kits, food support, and essential medical supplies, to protect vulnerable populations especially located in Chipurson Valley during the ongoing cold wave.

Community World Service Asia’s Proposed Relief & Response

Community World Service Asia (CWSA) is coordinating with local partners, affected communities and international agencies to mobilise a rapid response. Proposed actions include:

  • Distribution of winter NFIs, including blankets, warm clothing, hygiene kits, and maternity/dignity kits
  • Provision of temporary and winterized shelters, including tents and tarpaulins for families with damaged homes
  • In-kind food assistance for households affected by access constraints and livelihood disruption
  • Gender-sensitive distributions to ensure equitable access for women, children, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities
  • Psychosocial support for children and families affected by displacement and ongoing aftershock fears.

CWSA is engaged in inter-agency coordination and rapid needs assessments in Hunza District and remains committed to delivering principled, inclusive, and locally led humanitarian assistance. As the situation evolves, we call on partners, donors, and humanitarian actors to join us in scaling up coordinated response efforts and investing in long-term resilience across Pakistan.

Contacts

Shama Mall
Deputy Regional Director
Programs & Organisational Development
Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

Felix Dennis Joseph
Associate Regional Director
Email: dennis.joseph@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-51-2307484-5

Palwashay Arbab
Head of Communications
Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia
Tele: 92-21-34390541-4

References

  • https://www.geo.tv/latest/645925-58-magnitude-earthquake-rattles-islamabad
  • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2587984/1-dead-2-injured-as-magnitude-58-quake-jolts-gilgit-baltistan
  • https://apnews.com/article/6ee9e66ff46406fc0a0fafe500932a15
  • https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-01-2026/58-magnitude-earthquake-jolts-islamabad-gb-kp
  • https://pamirtimes.net/2026/01/19/one-killed-three-injured-as-5-8-magnitude-earthquake-creates-havoc-in-hunza-and-ghizer-districts
  • Local Community Reports

824

Ghizer: CWSA distributes 90,000 rupees cash assistance and food rations to 264 flood-affected households in 15 villages

(Press Release) Community World Service Asia (CWSA) distributed financial assistance and food rations to 264 affected households in 15 flood-hit villages of District Ghizer (Dayeen, Asumber, Chatorkhand, Kochuda, Bargoal, Kanche, Tali Das, Haks, Haks Thangi, Khalti, Rawshan, Gupis, Sultanabad, Taus, and Karkalti).

Each affected family received a total of 90,000 rupees in cash through three relief cheques, along with a one-month ration pack consisting of 100 kg flour, 8 kg pulses, 7 liters cooking oil, 4 kg sugar, and 1 kg salt.

Additionally, Dignity Kits were distributed to 100 women to help them meet their basic daily needs.

The local residents and affected families expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to CWSA and the ACT Alliance, saying that this assistance proved to be a great support for them during difficult times.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/176N7Qqsxn/?mibextid=xfxF2i: CWSA Extends Lifeline Support to 264 Flood-Hit Families in Ghizer with Cash Assistance and Food Rations https://www.facebook.com/share/1GAJAjqkD8/?mibextid=xfxF2i: CWSA Extends Lifeline Support to 264 Flood-Hit Families in Ghizer with Cash Assistance and Food Rations https://www.facebook.com/share/1PWa7Xn3Rn/: CWSA Extends Lifeline Support to 264 Flood-Hit Families in Ghizer with Cash Assistance and Food Rations
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