Pakistan

Pakistan is grappling with a severe food security crisis marked by a shortage of wheat and soaring food prices. This crisis is affecting low-income communities and flood-affected areas, where 14.6 million people require emergency food assistance. In 15 flood-affected districts, a recent survey found that one-third of children under two years old suffer from moderate acute malnutrition and 14% from severe acute malnutrition. With more than 4.4 million acres of agricultural land destroyed in the 2022 flood, wheat and rice production will be lower in 2023. Food price inflation continues to increase, reaching 48% in April. Several factors contribute to food scarcity, including adverse weather conditions, the macroeconomic crisis, political unrest, bureaucratic challenges, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The scarcity of food has resulted in social unrest and violence. The country's lower foreign reserves make it difficult to meet the increasing demand through imports.?

High Constraints

Pakistan’s humanitarian access situation has remained stable with high constraints over the last six months. Freedom of movement and access to basic services for civilians remain highly restricted in Balochistan province and Pakistani-administered Kashmir because of the presence of military checkpoints and armed group activity. These activities primarily drive violence in Balochistan, involving groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army, and affect the freedom of movement and access to services of affected people. A similar situation regarding armed group activities has been observed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Tehreek-e-Taliban, an organisation comprising several Islamist armed groups, is also reported to run an extortion network imposing taxes on developmental projects, such as road construction and the building of schools and hospitals in Waziristan and adjacent districts, limiting the availability of and access to services. As for refugees, Pakistan provides smart identity cards to Afghans, which are necessary to access services and assistance.

A complex registration process and strict regulations allowing the Government of Pakistan to refuse NGO registration and conduct raids of their offices without prior notice have been hindering humanitarian response. The widespread floods that hit Pakistan mid-2022 have eased some of these processes. Some financial screening processes are also likely to be relaxed after the October removal of Pakistan from the list of the Financial Action Task Force (the global money laundering and financing watchdog) of countries under ‘increased monitoring’.

One incident regarding violence against humanitarian personnel and assets was reported in the last six months. Two aid workers were attacked and injured in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab province while transporting aid for flood-affected people. The perpetrators also looted some relief items. No violence against humanitarian personnel or assets was reported in the previous period.

Heavy rains and floods have affected 33 million people in Pakistan in 2022. The floods have damaged and destroyed many schools and health facilities, reducing people’s access to education and health services, as well as roads and communication structures, cutting off the people in need from services and aid. Pakistan also suffers from topographic obstacles, such as mountainous parts with winding sections, rough roads, and steep slopes, and vehicle weight limitations, making access to some remote areas challenging for humanitarian responders.

For more information you can consult our latest Global Humanitarian Access Overview – December 2022.