Pakistan’s most vulnerable children are at high risk from the harms of recurrent natural and human-caused disasters, whose impacts are deepened by entrenched inequality, climate change, and political and economic uncertainty. Food insecurity, high malnutrition, soaring inflation, and restricted access to essential social services heighten risks. Limited government resources as well as competing priorities impede prevention and constrain the response to humanitarian crises. Pakistan also hosts approximately 3.2 million Afghans of varying legal status, who are in a position of vulnerability to the impacts of security and humanitarian crises. This vulnerability has recently increased due to the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, which targets Afghan Citizen Card holders.
Following the devastating 2022 floods and significant storms in the 2023 monsoon season, severely affected districts continue to face limited access to essential services. Water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure remains particularly affected. UNICEF remains committed to supporting the Government with post-flood recovery, addressing humanitarian needs, and strengthening climate resilience and emergency preparedness at the national and provincial levels. In 2024, 35.7 million people, including 24.4 million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
This year UNICEF remains committed to delivering life-saving humanitarian and sustainable interventions to children and families across Pakistan. In the first six months of this year alone, UNICEF has:
- Vaccinated 33,994 children (16,657 girls, 17,337 boys) against measles
- Screened 1.5 million children for malnutrition, including 65,910 children under the refugee response plan (RRP)
- Provided psychosocial support to 37,869 children and caregivers
- Reached 116,401 children through formal and non-formal education initiatives
- Rehabilitated drains for wastewater for 211,624 people living in refugee villages
With your support, UNICEF can continue this critical work across Pakistan.
