ISLAMABAD: The British High Commission has been among the first development partners to support regions in Pakistan severely affected by recent floods.
Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across the country, resulting in over 350 deaths, more than 650 injuries, and damage to over 78,000 homes. The UK is addressing the urgent humanitarian and early recovery needs of vulnerable families in 13 of the worst-hit districts, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh.
In collaboration with Concern Worldwide and the World Food Programme (WFP), the UK is assisting over 130,000 affected families—approximately 900,000 individuals—through emergency relief and the restoration of infrastructure and livelihoods. In his first speech as Foreign Secretary, David Lammy prioritized climate, nature, and clean energy for the UK.
Immediate aid includes temporary shelters, essential relief items, and cash assistance for affected families. Efforts are underway to restore drinking water and sanitation facilities, repair irrigation channels, remove debris, and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure. The agricultural sector, heavily impacted by the floods, will benefit from support in climate-smart agriculture, livestock provision, and vocational skills training.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott CMG OBE stated, “While the monsoon may be ending, recovery has only just begun. These floods have resulted in tragic loss of life, livelihoods, and infrastructure. We are committed to providing immediate relief and early recovery assistance to families whose lives have been disrupted. Additionally, we are focused on enhancing Pakistan’s resilience to climate change to help prevent future disasters.”
During the devastating floods of 2022 in Pakistan, the UK aided over 2.3 million people with £39 million in support. The British public also contributed £41.5 million through the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, providing emergency cash assistance, shelter kits, nutritional support, learning materials, and infrastructure repairs.
The UK is committed to enhancing Pakistan’s long-term climate resilience, focusing not just on disaster response. To date, it has helped 1.5 million people improve their resilience to extreme climate events, with a goal to assist an additional 3 million people over the next 4 to 5 years.
