Islamabad, The United Nations has sounded the alarm over catastrophic flooding in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which has left more than six million people affected and 2.5 million displaced since late June. Nearly 1,000 lives have been lost, including 250 children, as monsoon rains and river overflows continue to devastate communities.

Carlos Geha, head of the UN humanitarian coordination office in Pakistan, described the situation as “just the tip of the iceberg,” warning that many families may return to find their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed.

In Punjab Pakistan’s agricultural heartland over 2.2 million hectares of cropland are submerged, driving food prices sharply upward. Wheat flour alone has risen 25% in early September. Infrastructure damage includes 239 bridges, 8,400 homes, and nearly 700 kilometers of roads, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

The UN has released $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund, with an additional $1.5 million directed to local NGOs. Agencies like UNICEF and WFP are delivering clean water, health supplies, and temporary learning centers, but access remains limited due to collapsed bridges and flooded roads.

Waterborne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and potential cholera outbreaks pose growing threats. The UN emphasized that the immediate needs include food, shelter, healthcare, and sanitation, but long-term recovery will require sustained international support.

“This is not Pakistan’s fault,” Geha stressed. “It is one of the countries most exposed to climate change. The world must stand with Pakistan nnot just now, but in rebuilding resilience for the future”.