Flood Crisis in Pakistan: a mass destruction to economy and fragile health care systems.

Flooding has occurred in Pakistan as a result of unprecedented rainfall, particularly in the provinces of Baluchistan and Sindh. Torrential monsoon rains caused the worst floods in Pakistan’s history, destroying communities and leaving over 3.4 million children in need of aid and at heightened risk of waterborne infections, drowning, and starvation. The extent of the destruction is becoming clear as the floodwaters recede. There is a need for government and international organizations to intervene now to implement public health initiatives and multi-sectoral strategies. In Pakistan, the monsoon season is still having an impact on several provinces, bringing with it floods, flash floods, and other severe weatherrelated occurrences, as well as a greater socioeconomic burden. This flooding is attributed to record-breaking rainfall, especially in the provinces of Baluchistan and Sindh (CDC n.d.). As of September 8th, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) estimates around 1,400 fatalities and over 12,700 injured (ReliefWeb 2022). Floods have a variety of effects on human health which may be affected directly by coming into contact with floodwaters or indirectly by damage to infrastructure, ecology, food security, and water supply. The effects of floods might show up immediately or within days, weeks, or even months after the floods have subsided.