PESHAWAR- UNICEF is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the recent flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since 15 August, 333 people lost their lives, including 21 children, in the flood-affected province. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and to all communities affected by this disaster.
Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan said on Monday that an immediate response to the crisis, UNICEF has already dispatched essential medicines to flood-affected areas in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The organization has stated its readiness to scale up support in coordination with the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety and well-being of children and their families.
The impact of the disaster on children is particularly severe. The floods have led to widespread displacement, disruption of education, and limited access to clean water, which poses significant risks to their health and survival. During such emergencies, children face heightened protection risks, including exploitation and abuse, and are in urgent need of psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma and loss.
Many schools in the affected regions have been either damaged or destroyed. Others are currently serving as temporary shelters for the thousands of people displaced, which further limits children’s access to learning and safe spaces.
UNICEF highlighted that despite contributing the least to climate change, children are paying the highest price from increasingly destructive extreme weather events. The monsoon rains this year have been 50-60 percent more intense than in 2024, tragically resulting in the deaths of 171 children and injuries to 256 others across Pakistan since June 26.
With further heavy rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods forecast until mid-September, UNICEF remains on high alert. The organization, along with its partners, is committed to delivering critical support, helping children and communities recover, and building resilience to future climate shocks.
