ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s monsoon floods have already claimed 910 lives and injured more than 1,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Officials and health experts warn, however, that the deadliest phase of the disaster may only just be beginning. Outbreaks of dengue, malaria, diarrhoea and other diseases now threaten to claim even more lives than the floods themselves.
According to WHO’s Health Emergency: Situation Report #8 – Monsoon and Floods 2025, the deluge — which began in late June — has affected over five million people across the country. Torrential rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outbursts have devastated large parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has also reported casualties.
The death toll is grim. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 504 deaths. Punjab has seen 234 fatalities, Sindh 58, Gilgit-Baltistan 41, Pakistan-administered Kashmir 38, Balochistan 26, and Islamabad 9. Among the dead are 241 children and 149 women. A further 1,044 people have been injured, including 315 children and 285 women.
Infrastructure damage has been severe. Nearly 7,850 homes have been destroyed or damaged. In addition, 239 bridges and 671 kilometres of roads have been washed away. More than 6,000 livestock have perished, raising concerns over food security in rural areas. The health system has also been hit hard. A total of 120 healthcare facilities have been damaged, including eight that have been completely destroyed in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In KP alone, 68 residences of Lady Health Workers were wrecked, undermining essential frontline health services.
Disease outbreaks are already emerging in many flood-affected communities. Dengue fever clusters have been confirmed in Murree, Rawalpindi, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh. Acute watery diarrhoea cases have surfaced in Landikotal and Astore.
Malaria is on the rise in several districts. Skin infections, scabies, eye infections, snake bites, and dog bites are also being reported widely. Doctors warn that prolonged displacement, combined with shortages of safe drinking water and sanitation, could trigger large-scale epidemics in relief camps and isolated villages.
Despite significant rescue and relief efforts, the needs remain immense. More than 2.4 million people have been evacuated in over 4,500 rescue operations. Punjab alone accounts for 2.26 million of those evacuated, as rivers Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej have swollen to dangerous levels. There are currently 1,632 relief camps in operation, sheltering 85,856 displaced people. Medical camps have been vital in providing care. Punjab has set up 977 medical camps, KP 421, Sindh 178, and smaller numbers have been established in Gilgit-Baltistan. These camps have treated over 313,000 patients to date.
Access to healthcare remains limited. Of the 120 damaged health facilities, 112 are only partially functional, and eight remain completely out of service. At least 24 facilities are inaccessible due to destroyed roads. Where care is available, critical shortages of medicines, mosquito nets, safe water, and hygiene kits are compounding the crisis.
Authorities in Punjab and KP have deployed additional doctors, nurses, and rapid response teams. WHO and its partners have supplied millions of medical items, including oral rehydration salts, antimalarials, and therapeutic food for malnourished children. In Gilgit-Baltistan, plans are underway to build a replacement village for families displaced in Tali Das. Temporary medical camps and field hospitals continue to provide emergency care. Relief officials stress that the immediate priorities are to restore access to healthcare, prevent post-flood epidemics, and protect vulnerable groups in camps. Mental health support is also being identified as an urgent need for families who have lost homes and loved ones.
As the monsoon season nears its end, forecasts warn of more rain in Sindh, Punjab, KP, and Kashmir. For the millions displaced, the coming weeks will be a decisive test. The challenge now is not just to recover from floodwaters, but to prevent a second disaster — one caused by the diseases that are now spreading rapidly in their wake.
Published in The News on September 09, 2025.
