At Community World Service Asia, school meals go beyond filling plates; they nurture growth, learning, and well-being. As Sphere’s Regional Partner in Asia, we integrate Sphere food security and nutrition standards into our school feeding project, supported by PWS&D and CFGB, to ensure every child receives safe, balanced, and culturally appropriate meals.
Our approach focuses on:
Assessing nutrition and food security to meet children’s real needs
Preparing meals with locally sourced, balanced ingredients
Upholding hygiene and food safety at every step
By combining care, local knowledge, and international standards, children are eating healthier, attending school more regularly, and thriving academically.
Because when meals are made with care, children learn better, grow stronger, and dream bigger.
In the heart of Umarkot’s desert, communities are finding new strength through collective resilience. With support from Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) and Community World Service Asia (CWSA), villagers across Tharparkar are learning to respond to disasters, protecting their homes, and leading with confidence. Through inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) trainings, purpose driven community structures, and women’s active participation, these communities are not only better prepared for emergencies but are reshaping social norms and standing resilient and ready for an uncertain future.
Building Community Resilience Through DRR Trainings
Where drought, extreme heat, and chronic water scarcity shape daily existence, the struggle for survival is relentless in Umarkot. Yet amid these harsh conditions, the community’s greatest strength lies in its solidarity; sharing land, food, and hardship with unwavering resolve.
For years, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) has been a steadfast catalyst for progress in these remote regions. In recognition of the acute shortage of essential resources, Community World Service Asia (CWSA), in collaboration with DKH, launched a wide-reaching initiative across 15 villages in Umerkot, positively impacting hundreds of households. This multifaceted program integrates in-kind support, cash assistance, and disaster preparedness to fortify livelihoods and nurture resilience in areas where both water and opportunities remain scarce.
Among the most transformative elements of this initiative is the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) component, designed to equip communities with the knowledge and tools to respond swiftly and collectively in times of crisis, without relying solely on external aid.
Across these villages, hundreds of men and women have embraced leadership roles, following comprehensive training and the provision of critical resources. Each village now hosts a dedicated Emergency Response Team (ERT) comprising 15 trained volunteers, organised into three specialised committees: the Information Committee, which issues early warnings; the Search and Rescue Committee, the first to respond when disaster strikes; and the First Aid Committee, which tends to the injured.
Gender inclusive participation has been a foundational principle of these efforts. Both men and women share responsibilities in the village management committees, promoting equitable representation while honouring cultural traditions. Although men slightly outnumber women in the DRR team due to the physical demands of certain roles, women remain integral to the process, leading awareness sessions, conducting risk mapping, and strengthening communication across communities.
These teams have undergone practical training on topics of first aid, rescue techniques, early warning systems, and risk mapping, reinforced by frequent mock drills to test their readiness. Through these sessions, communities are not only learning to respond to emergencies but to do so with confidence and unity.
CWSA conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to identify the most pressing threats across Thar’s arid landscape. While drought remains a persistent challenge, the survey revealed that snakebites and fires pose even more immediate and deadly risks. Residents of several villages recounted harrowing fire incidents that engulfed homes within minutes, leaving families devastated and vulnerable.
To address these hazards, DRR rooms were established in January of 2025, and outfitted with vital emergency tools including megaphones, ropes, axes, torches, shovels, boots, raincoats, fire jackets, helmets, sandbags, and buckets, ensuring rapid access during crises.
Yet the initiative extends far beyond the provision of equipment. At its core, It’s about cultivating knowledge, fostering coordination, and promoting accountability. Communities played an active role in electing DRR committee members and crafting preparedness plans tailored to their unique circumstances and everyday their realities. This participatory approach ensures sustainability and strengthens local ownership of the process.
In Veeharo Bheel and neighbouring villages, a recurring tragedy underscored the urgency of localised solutions; the heartbreaking loss of children who drowned after falling into unsecured water tanks. Rather than relying on commercially available lids that deteriorate over time, villagers, supported by the project’s guidance, constructed durable covers using locally sourced materials. This practical innovation not only addressed an immediate safety concern but also ensured the sustainability of maintaining the solution for years to come.
“Something as basic as a megaphone comes to our aid when an accident occurs and word needs to get out,” shared one villager, reflecting on how small tools now play life-saving roles.
Among those inspiring individuals driving change in Umarkot is Hakeema Begum, a dedicated volunteer from Dayitrio village and mother of six. Hakeema plays a pivotal role in raising awareness, coordinating emergency response, and ensuring that no household is left behind during times of crises. “I want my children to grow up in a safer environment, to learn, to thrive, and to give back to their community,” she says. While deeply appreciative of this initiative, Hakeema continues to advocate for a more comprehensive training, particularly in firefighting and first aid, underscoring the critical importance of these skills in Thar’s unforgiving remote and terrain.
Beyond enhancing preparedness, the project has quietly transformed social norms. Women, who once seldom ventured outside without male accompaniment, are now active agents in community development. “Before, women couldn’t leave the house without a man,” one villager reflected. “Now they go to markets, attend meetings, and take part in trainings on their own.” This shift is celebrated across the community. Sohdi, a member of the Village Management Committee and a DRR leader, expressed her pride.
“There’s no thought of women being confined to their homes anymore. We work, we travel, and we support each other. It has changed the fabric of our community.”
Through inclusive learning, shared leadership and collective action, the efforts of DKH and CWSA have extended far beyond immediate relief. They have restored confidence, renewed dignity, and fortified resilience, ensuring that these desert communities are not merely enduring their environment, but are equipped and empowered to shape a safer future.
Two events in September, co-hosted by Community World Service Asia (CWSA), held in Karachi and Hyderabad, brought together educators, civil society organisations (CSOs), development professionals, and public and private sector representatives to address climate-related challenges and strengthen institutional capacity in Sindh.
Empowering Educators to Lead Climate Action in Karachi
On September 30, 2025, CWSA partnered with the Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC) to host a one-day event titled “Empowering Educators to Lead Climate Action for a Sustainable Future” at the TRC campus in Karachi. The gathering brought together a diverse audience of teachers, coordinators, education officers from public and private schools, and representatives from the corporate, finance sector and other organisations.
The event opened with a keynote address by Ambreena Ahmed, Director of TRC, who emphasised the critical role educators play in advancing climate action aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 13.
A lively panel discussion followed, featuring climate activist Afia Salam, development expert Naveed Ahmed Shaikh, gender justice and localisation advocate Plawashay Arbab, environmental entrepreneur Ahmed Shabbar, incubation head Raza Abbas, and youth leader Rizwan Jaffar. Together, they explored climate education, Karachi’s environmental challenges, and innovative solutions for climate-responsive learning.
The panel discussion focused on how climate awareness must evolve as a ground-up movement, beginning from schools. Speakers stressed the importance of empowering school administrators with the authority to implement tangible measures, reflecting the kind of responsibility often reserved for government bodies. The discussion emphasized the need to educate and engage the most receptive segment of society, the youth, the generation soon to take the lead and bear the brunt of it.
Climate Activist Afia Salam shared, “Climate change should not merely pertain to ecological areas, or be limited to geography or environmental lessons, but should be prioritised across every facet of schooling, as all are equally affected, be it physical activity, design thinking, or critical analysis. A country like Pakistan has faced massive flooding catastrophes in its history, the most devastating being in 2022, when more than half of Pakistan was submerged. Now you tell me, how many children know swimming as a basic life skill?” Afia left the audience with a reflective question, it is not a one-time lecture to be discussed casually during free periods; rather, it is a responsibility that every teacher owes to their students, to convey the weight and urgency of the issue.
Ahmad Shabbar, leading a waste recycling organisation, shed light on how small individual efforts can collectively lead to significant change. He shared a short story about receiving thousands of books and papers meant to be recycled. Instead of discarding them, his team distributed them among underserved children who had little access to water, let alone books. He also recounted how, after floods destroyed several schools, they built small libraries out of recycled bottles, wrappers, and plastics, structures just as strong as concrete ones.
He attributed much of the environmental gap and disparity to a growing disconnect, a disconnect from nature, from the environment, and from one’s surroundings.
Raza Abbas, the Incubation head at the renowned Institute of Business Management, reiterated an emerging phenomenon: climate-tech startups. He reflected on the broader state of Pakistan and its people. How, over time, systemic inefficiencies have alienated many from observing civic discipline, whether in traffic regulations or adherence to policies. Years of frustration with governance and societal systems, he noted, have led to disengagement and apathy toward issues like climate change.
“But the thing is,” he emphasised, “both go hand in hand, and we must focus on leaving the world better than it was before.” He further highlighted the significance of teacher participation, noting that youth remain the most affected population when it comes to climate change and should be the ones most prepared.
Strengthening Strategic Planning for Climate CSOs in Hyderabad
In Hyderabad, CWSA joined hands with the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) to co-host a one-day learning event titled “Funding & Developing Strategy for Climate CSOs in Sindh” at the CSOs Club. The event convened CSO leaders, parliamentarians, academics, and representatives from the public, private, and corporate sectors to discuss strategic planning, resource mobilisation, and institutional sustainability.
Advocate Saima Agha, MPA and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Sindh, addressed the closing session, highlighting the shrinking civic space and the need for policy and legal support to enable CSOs to fulfill their development roles effectively.
The event featured thematic presentations by experts including Khadim Dahot (SEWA Trust), Danish Batool (CWSA), and Kashif Siddiqui (CARD), who shared insights on funding landscapes, locally led initiatives, and strategic planning. A panel discussion moderated by Amarta included voices from BASIC Development Foundation and the Social Welfare Department of Sindh.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was also a key focus, with contributions from Abid Ali Gaho (OGDCL), Asim Ahmed (Askari Bank), and Ghulam Abbas Khoso (GEF CSOs Network), who discussed the private sector’s role in supporting social development through CSOs.
Tahira Joyo, who moderated the event, summarised key reflections and emphasized the importance of strategic planning in adapting to climate challenges and evolving development needs.
Several participants shared their reflections on inclusion, participation, and accountability within climate strategies. One attendee noted: “Our climate strategies will remain incomplete until we actively bring women to the planning table. At the local level, women are not just victims of climate change, they are custodians of knowledge on water, food, and energy. A truly resilient Sindh requires funding and programs that are designed with women, not just for them. When our plans are gender-inclusive, our communities become climate-proof.”
Another attendee representing a local climate advocacy group added a perspective of youth: “While we demand larger systemic change, we cannot overlook the power of our individual actions. Every plastic bottle we refuse, every tap we close, and every native plant we grow is a vote for the future we want to see. Responsibility doesn’t start with governments or corporations alone, it starts in our homes, our universities, and our local communities. We, the youth, are not just leaders of tomorrow; we are the accountable citizens of today.”
A Shared Commitment to Climate Resilience
Through these two events, Community World Service Asia reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue, capacity enhancement, and collaborative action for climate resilience. By empowering educators and strengthening CSOs, we are helping shape a more sustainable and responsive future for communities across Sindh.
Pakistan is facing one of the most catastrophic monsoon flood emergencies in recent history. Torrential rains, compounded by cross-border water releases from India, have triggered widespread riverine overflows across Punjab, while northern regions remain highly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. As of mid-September, over 3 million people had been evacuated, with 150,000 still sheltering in evacuation centres. Though waters in Punjab have begun to recede, the scale of devastation is staggering.
More than 2.6 million displaced people have returned to homes that are damaged or destroyed. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority reports the loss of 2.5 million acres of farmland; severely impacting wheat and cotton harvests and threatening long-term food security. Urban flooding in Karachi has compounded risks, while stagnant water in rural Punjab and Sindh is fueling outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases.
Forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and rising river levels in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has flagged heightened risks downstream, particularly in low-lying areas of Sindh. As floodwaters shift southward, the humanitarian situation remains dynamic and demands sustained, coordinated response.
National Humanitarian Needs
Shelter & NFIs: Over 2.6 million returnees in Punjab require emergency tents, repair kits, and winterization materials.
WASH: Safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, hygiene kits, and disease prevention measures are urgently needed.
Health: Mobile health services, essential medicines, and disease surveillance are critical to address rising cases of diarrhea, malaria, and dengue.
Food Security & Livelihoods: Crop and livestock losses threaten food access and recovery, particularly in Punjab.
Protection: Displaced women and children face heightened risks of exploitation and gender-based violence. Prolonged school closures are worsening child protection concerns.
The Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen inclusive early warning and early action systems, backed by transformative investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) to break Pakistan’s recurring cycle of flood-related loss and damage. Priority areas include:
Community-based DRR; training local residents in search and rescue
Forming Emergency response teams
Building local capacity for immediate medical and psychosocial support
Advancing locally-led climate adaptation requires complementing community knowledge with scientific and technical support to effectively address evolving risks.
Sindh Overview
Sindh province continues to be severely impacted, with intense urban flooding reported in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas. The overflow of the Indus River has displaced approximately 191,500 people across 643 villages in 12 districts. Vulnerable communities residing in katcha1 areas have suffered extensive livelihood losses and significant damage to agricultural assets. Although conditions in Umerkot have now stabilized, the district endured widespread flooding throughout August and September.
Humanitarian Needs in Sindh
Health
Mobile health teams and essential medicines
WASH
Safe water, latrines, hygiene kits
Shelter/NFIs
Tents, tarpaulins, mosquito nets
Food Security
Dry rations and cooked meals
Livelihoods:
Support to restore income-generating activities
Protection/MHPSS
Psychosocial support and community outreach
Gilgit-Baltistan Overview
In September, Gilgit-Baltistan was struck by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and flash floods, resulting in 41 deaths, 52 injuries, and the destruction of 1,253 homes. Infrastructure damage includes 87 bridges and 20 km of roads, with valleys such as Diamer and Ghizer cut off from relief access. Damages are estimated at PKR 20 billion.
Humanitarian Needs in Gilgit-Baltistan
Shelter, clean water, food, and medical care
Winterisation support for displaced families
Strengthened health services to address disease outbreaks
Livelihood recovery and protection for vulnerable groups
Community World Service Asia’s Response
Anticipatory Action in Sindh: With upstream river discharges threatening a “super flood” in Sindh, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) has activated anticipatory measures across flood-prone districts:
Pre-positioned supplies: Lifesaving medicines, medical equipment, and hygiene kits stocked at Umerkot warehouse.
Mobile health units: Strategically placed for rapid deployment.
Risk communication: Disseminating early warnings, safe water guidance, evacuation protocols, and disease prevention messages in local languages.
Coordination: Working closely with PDMA Sindh, health agencies, and cluster partners to ensure targeted, inclusive response and avoid duplication.
Additional support will be needed for winterisation, sanitation, shelter, logistics, and multipurpose cash assistance.
In Gilgit-Baltistan: In response to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and monsoon-induced landslides, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) has initiated emergency relief operations in Hunza and neighboring districts. Emergency Relief Kits have been distributed in Hunza, with preparations underway for the delivery of food supplies, non-food items (NFIs), and winterisation kits.
In Ghizer district, CWSA has established a dedicated field office, secured the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC), recruited and oriented staff, and arranged two vehicles to facilitate field activities. Coordination meetings have been held with key stakeholders, including GBDMA, WWF-Pakistan, the Social Welfare Department, AKRSP, and the Deputy and Assistant Commissioners of Ghizer. Engagements with community organisations in flood-affected areas have also been completed.
Assessments for 240 project participants have been finalised, and data entry is currently in progress. Procurement processes have commenced following the submission of Purchase Request Forms (PRFs) and quotations for food packages. Distributions of food and multipurpose cash assistance are scheduled for October 2025.
Projected Gaps:
Many households remain unreached due to access and resource constraints.
Additional winterisation, sanitation, and shelter supplies are needed.
Multipurpose cash support is critical where markets remain functional.
Enhanced coordination with local authorities is required to facilitate last-mile delivery.
Coordination & Accountability
Community World Service Asia (CWSA) continues to work in close coordination with NDMA, PDMAs, UN agencies, humanitarian clusters, and ACT members in the country to harmonise response efforts and avoid duplication. As Co-Chair of the AAP (Accountability to Affected People) Working Group in Pakistan, CWSA places communities at the centre of the response by ensuring fair access to aid, clear and timely information in local languages, and inclusive decision-making processes and update the coordination networks accordingly. Safe, confidential feedback and complaints channels, through hotlines, community focal points, and helpdesks, are available across Sindh, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan, enabling people to voice concerns and shape the response. Special efforts are made to reach women, children, persons with disabilities, and minority groups, while disaggregated data helps track who is reached and address risks of exclusion. Communities are also informed about the type, quantity, and timing of assistance, strengthening transparency and trust. These accountability measures are not add-ons but an integral part of CWSA’s principled humanitarian action, ensuring that relief is both effective and dignified.
Urgent Funding Priorities:
Expand anticipatory action in Sindh with rapid deployment capacity and community communication.
Scale up winterisation, shelter, and cash support in Gilgit-Baltistan based on community-identified needs.
Strengthen logistics and last-mile transport to reach high-risk, remote communities.
Community World Service Asia 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.
Sikander, a farmer from Babu Syal in Umerkot, is regarded as a pillar of strength by his community; a place where the climate swings from relentless heat that scorches the earth to sudden, destructive monsoon floods. For the sharecropping families of this region, the land is more than just livelihood; it is legacy, sustenance, and survival. Protecting it is not a choice, but a necessity. Sikander understood this deeply, and when he recognised a recurring threat that others hesitated to confront, he chose action over silence.
Living with his mother, wife, children, and siblings, Sikander has long relied on farming to support his family. In 2011, torrential floods swept through Umerkot, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Homes were destroyed, fields submerged, and entire villages lost beneath rising waters. With no preparedness measures in place, communities were left vulnerable and exposed.
The floods of 2022 brought renewed crisis, this time on a national scale. Sikander’s village remained submerged for nearly three months, while surrounding farmlands stayed underwater even longer. The repeated trauma of these disasters galvanised the community. No longer willing to remain unprepared, they committed to building resilience and safeguarding their future.
Through the support of Community World Service Asia’s disaster resilience initiatives, Sikander and his fellow villagers are now charting a new path; one rooted in preparedness, collective strength, and hope. In 2023, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) identified flood-prone regions of Umerkot and introduced disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation trainings. Sikander was among the participants and later joined the Disaster Risk Reduction Committee set up under CWSA’s initiatives supported by CWS Japan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Japan.
By the time the monsoon rains returned in 2024, Sikander, equipped with disaster preparedness training, emerged as a unifying force, rallying not only his own village but neighboring communities as well. For twenty consecutive days, they stood as the frontline against impending disaster, working tirelessly to safeguard their lands and livelihoods.
Under Sikander’s leadership, villagers mobilised every available resource; tractors, fuel, manpower, and even dipped into their own savings to sustain the effort. Men laboured without pause, clearing blocked canals and reinforcing embankments to redirect floodwaters. It was a remarkable display of collective resilience, where women played a vital role by preparing and delivering hot, home-cooked meals and fresh rotis to those working in the field from dawn to dusk.
True to the wisdom that prevention is better than cure, the community acted swiftly on early flood alerts, implementing proactive measures before the crisis could escalate. Their efforts paid off: thousands of acres of farmland and hundreds of homes were protected from destruction. Through the construction of barrier walls, strategic placement of sandbags, and careful management of drainage systems, they successfully averted catastrophic flooding.
Sikander also coordinated with the Livestock Department to ensure timely vaccinations, safeguarding animals from seasonal disease and further loss. His leadership reflects the power of community-led action, where preparedness, solidarity, and timely intervention can transform vulnerability into resilience.
When asked why they worked collectively instead of individually, the answer was simple, “Who could have achieved this alone? Why wouldn’t a person go to every length to save his home, his land, his life’s work? Every village was at risk. Every man had to take charge.” Sikander had long believed that the community’s unity would be their greatest defense against calamity. Even when others were hesitant at first, he persistently urged them to prepare for what lay ahead.
Sikander’s unwavering determination earned him the gratitude of his people. He recalls, “They spoke my name in their prayers and showered me with good wishes.”
Today, after participating in these training sessions, Sikander trusts his instincts and uses his courage to turn resilience into action. “We will not only use these techniques to reduce flood risks ourselves,” he says, “but also pass them down to our children. We cannot change the entire village system overnight, but step by step we are moving toward resilience.”
In the sun-scorched plains of Tharparkar lies village Jumo Dadh, home to families that rely heavily on farming and livestock to earn a living. Most residents here work as sharecroppers, cultivating land owned by others in exchange for a portion of the harvest. This arrangement leaves them with limited means and little control over their financial wellbeing.
When the sky doesn’t rain for months, they miss out on whatever little promise of livelihood they could have had. Without water, the land stays dry and unproductive, and the hard work of preparing the fields brings no return. A lost season is a lost chance. Once it slips, so does the hope it carries.
In June 2025, hope took root in Jumo Dadh village as 26 households came together to receive their first-ever package of crop seeds. This milestone, led by Community World Service Asia in partnership with Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), marked a vital step toward supporting climate-affected desert communities.
This initiative is designed to enhance local agricultural practices, strengthen food security, and support the development of resilient livelihoods. Central to its approach is the empowerment of communities to lead and sustain their own progress through improved response capacities.
During the initial assessment phase, community members were actively involved in identifying their most pressing needs. A range of participatory methods, including focus group discussions, village meetings, and inclusive tools, ensured that voices from across the community were heard, especially those of women, elders, youth, and marginalised groups.
Existing community bodies such as Village Management Committees (VMCs) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) committees play a pivotal role in implementing the project. These structures provide local leadership and help ensure that interventions are contextually appropriate and community-driven.
To promote accountability and continuous improvement, the project has established regular feedback channels. Community review meetings and complaint-response systems enable residents to raise concerns, share suggestions, and will actively shape the project throughout its lifecycle.
For generations, these families have relied solely on rainfall and livestock to sustain their livelihoods, often struggling to cultivate crops due to erratic weather and limited farming inputs. Each season brought uncertainty and hardship. The seeds package they received under the project, offers a chance to grow food and rebuild resilience. Each package includes 18 kg of cluster beans, 16 kg of millet, 8 kg of moth beans, and 1 kg of sesame.
Families were selected using a clear criteria; including household size, number of dependents, women-led homes, income levels, and existing livestock assets. As part of the distribution process, farmers were shown the contents of their seed packages to ensure transparency and trust in the organisation’s commitment. They also received practical training on how to sow and care for the crops effectively. The training inculcated the community with the necessary technique and knowledge to optimise farming. By providing training and capacity-building opportunities, the initiative will strengthen local ownership. Community members will gain practical skills and knowledge, empowering them to sustain the benefits of the project long after its formal conclusion.
The distribution of millet and cluster bean seeds offered more than just agricultural inputs, they sparked a renewed sense of hope. For many families, it marks the first time they received seeds to cultivate on their own land. With support and practical guidance, they began preparing their fields, motivated by the prospect of feeding their families and generating a meaningful income.
Before the project began, the village community faced significant challenges. There were limited opportunities for collective dialogue, and residents had not previously engaged in vegetable cultivation, received food-related financial support, or participated in trainings on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) or climate-smart agriculture. Livestock such as goats, valuable for nutrition and income, were also absent from local households.
Following the intervention, the village has seen a remarkable transformation. Community structures such as Village Management Committees and DRR Committees have been established, creating platforms for shared decision-making and local leadership. Every household now maintains a kitchen garden, providing fresh, nutritious vegetables daily. Many families have also begun keeping goats, improving access to milk and enhancing food security.
Residents have actively participated in trainings focused on DRR and climate-smart agriculture, equipping them with practical skills to adapt to environmental challenges. A dedicated Disaster Risk Management Center (DRMC) has also been set up, serving as a hub for preparedness and coordination.
The village was selected based on a comprehensive vulnerability assessment, which considered factors such as poverty levels, food insecurity, limited access to essential services, and heightened exposure to climate-related risks. These indicators highlighted the urgent need for targeted support and sustainable solutions. The people of Jumo Dadh feel happy and take pride in being hard workers who commit selflessly and limitlessly to their labour and land. A good yield at the end of the day is the only reward they seek. A simple hope of seeing their children go to bed with full stomachs is the catalyst behind their staunch commitment. Despite assistance in other areas, this was the first of its kind for which the community expressed nothing but deep gratitude.
Pakistan is currently facing one of its most devastating monsoon emergencies in recent history. Since the onset of the rains in late June, relentless downpours intensified by cross-border water releases, have triggered widespread riverine flooding across Punjab and recurrent flash floods and landslides in northern and mountainous regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
As of early September, over 883 lives have been lost, with more than 1.8 million people displaced nationwide. Punjab, the country’s agricultural heartland, has been particularly hard-hit, with over 3.9 million people affected, thousands of villages inundated, and entire wheat-producing districts submerged. Emergency responders have deployed boats, drones, and mobile relief camps to reach isolated communities, yet access remains limited in many areas.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, flash floods and landslides have destroyed homes, schools, and roads, cutting off entire villages. Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan have added another layer of destruction, wiping out water systems and power infrastructure. Urban flooding in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas—has caused fatalities, submerged roads, and damaged crops and homes4.
Despite large-scale evacuations and the relocation of over 900,000 individuals, humanitarian needs continue to outpace response capacity. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warns of sustained high flows in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, with floodwaters projected to reach the Guddu Barrages, posing downstream threats to Sindh and straining evacuation and flood defense systems.
Key Risks and Impact
Sector
Impact
Shelter & Displacement
4,700+ homes destroyed and hundreds of thousands displaced, many sheltering in schools or with host communities.
Urgent need for emergency tents, winterisation kits, and transitional shelter as floodwaters recede.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
Widespread contamination of water sources and collapse of sanitation infrastructure.
Rising cases of malaria, skin infections, and diarrheal diseases, especially in urban flood zones and remote valleys.
Critical gaps in hygiene kits, clean water access, and disease prevention measures.
Health
Damage to 40+ health facilities, disruption of medicine supply chains, and limited disease surveillance capacity.
WHO and partners are scaling up vector control and outbreak containment, but access remains a challenge in cut-off areas.
Food Security & Livelihoods
Agricultural losses mounting across Punjab and Sindh, with thousands of acres of crops destroyed.
Livestock deaths and disrupted supply chains threaten food availability and income for rural households.
Need for cash-for-work programs to support debris clearance and recovery
Protection & Education
Over 400 schools damaged or closed, leaving children without safe learning spaces.
Increased protection risks for women, girls, and displaced families, with urgent need for dignity kits, psychosocial support, and safe shelters.
Forecast & Climate Risks
Meteorological forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and landslides through early September, especially in eastern Punjab and northern highlands.
GLOFs and unstable glacial lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan pose ongoing threats, exacerbated by climate change and rising temperatures
ADRRN has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen inclusive early warning and early action systems, backed by transformative investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) to break Pakistan’s recurring cycle of flood-related loss and damage. Priority areas include:
Community-based DRR; training local residents in search and rescue
Forming Emergency response teams
Building local capacity for immediate medical and psychosocial support
Advancing locally-led climate adaptation requires complementing community knowledge with scientific and technical support to effectively address evolving risks.
Immediate Humanitarian Needs
The 2025 monsoon floods have triggered a nationwide humanitarian emergency, with over 2 million people affected and more than 880 lives lost. Punjab remains the epicenter, but downstream threats to Sindh and cascading disasters in Gilgit-Baltistan are rapidly escalating humanitarian needs across provinces.
Priority Needs Across Pakistan:
Shelter & NFIs: Over 4,700 homes destroyed; displaced families urgently require tents, tarpaulins, blankets, and kitchen sets. Winterisation items are critical in northern regions.
Multipurpose Cash Assistance: Where markets remain functional, cash support is critical to enable families to meet diverse needs; food, medicine, transport, and shelter, while preserving dignity and choice.
Health Services: More than 40 health facilities damaged; rising cases of malaria, dengue, and diarrheal diseases demand mobile health units, medicines, and disease surveillance.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH): Contaminated water sources and collapsed sanitation systems have led to surging infections. Hygiene kits, safe water access, and sanitation facilities are urgently needed.
Food Security & Livelihoods: Agricultural losses in Punjab and Sindh threaten food availability. Livestock deaths and disrupted supply chains require food rations and cash-for-work support.
Protection & Education: Over 400 schools damaged or closed; children face heightened protection risks. Dignity kits, safe learning spaces, and psychosocial support are essential.
Climate & Disaster Risk: Forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and landslides. Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan compound risks, especially with winter approaching.
Community World Service Asia (CWSA) Response
Anticipatory Action in Sindh: With upstream river discharges threatening a “super flood” in Sindh, CWSA has activated anticipatory measures across flood-prone districts:
Pre-positioned supplies: Lifesaving medicines, medical equipment, and hygiene kits stocked at Umerkot warehouse.
Mobile health units: Strategically placed for rapid deployment.
Risk communication: Disseminating early warnings, safe water guidance, evacuation protocols, and disease prevention messages in local languages.
Coordination: Working closely with PDMA Sindh, health agencies, and cluster partners to ensure targeted, inclusive response and avoid duplication.
Despite these efforts, additional support is urgently needed to scale operations, particularly for reaching remote communities and covering operational costs.
Continuous Response in Gilgit-Baltistan
In response to GLOFs and monsoon-triggered landslides, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) has launched emergency relief in Hunza and surrounding districts:
Emergency Relief Kits: Distributed to affected households.
Winterisation & NFIs: Planned distributions of household items and kitchen sets to mitigate cold-related risks (if funds are mobilised)
Food & Shelter Assistance: New projects initiated to support displaced families.
Many households remain unreached due to access and resource constraints.
Additional winterisation, sanitation, and shelter supplies are needed.
Multipurpose cash support is critical where markets remain functional.
Enhanced coordination with local authorities is required to facilitate last-mile delivery.
Coordination & Accountability
CWSA continues to work in close coordination with NDMA, PDMAs, UN agencies, and humanitarian clusters and working groups and with ACT members in the country to harmonise response efforts and avoid duplication. As Co-Chair of the AAP Working Group in Pakistan, CWSA places communities at the centre of response, ensuring fair access to aid, clear information in local languages, safe feedback channels, and inclusive decision-making. However, the scale of the crisis demands urgent and flexible funding to translate readiness into lifesaving action.
Urgent Funding Priorities:
Expand anticipatory action in Sindh with rapid deployment capacity and community communication.
Scale up winterisation, shelter, and cash support in Gilgit-Baltistan based on community-identified needs.
Strengthen logistics and last-mile transport to reach high-risk, remote communities.
Without timely and flexible funding, the humanitarian toll in Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other provinces will continue to rise. CWSA stands ready to respond, grounded in local partnerships, strategic coordination, and a commitment to inclusive, dignified humanitarian action.
Contacts:
Shama Mall Deputy Regional Director Programs & Organisational Development Email: shama.mall@communityworldservice.asia Tele: 92-21-34390541-4
Palwashay Arbab Head of Communication Email: palwashay.arbab@communityworldservice.asia Tele: 92-21-34390541-4
References
ADRRN Statement on Recent Disasters in Afghanistan and Pakistan – ADRRN
Live Updates: Pakistan floods 2025 – DAWN.COMhttps://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1336438-trail-of-death-and-destruction-rescuers-recover-bodies-as-rains-floods-toll-tops-350
