WHO’s Response to the 2022 Floods: Health Emergencies in Crisis Zones

Introduction: Floods Took Lives — WHO Helped Save More

The 2022 floods in Pakistan were a national catastrophe. Over 33 million people were affected, entire villages were wiped off the map, and stagnant waters turned into breeding grounds for disease.

But as homes drowned and infrastructure collapsed, another emergency unfolded quietly: the public health crisis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stepped in early — not just with medical supplies, but with emergency health teams, disease surveillance systems, and mobile clinics that saved thousands of lives in silence.

🚨 A Health Crisis Within a Climate Crisis

While the media focused on visuals of broken bridges and flooded fields, Pakistan’s health officials warned of another disaster:

Malaria and dengue outbreaks in standing water zones
Waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera due to unsafe drinking water
Maternal and child health risks with clinics destroyed
Mental health emergencies, especially among displaced populations

WHO treated the situation not as a one-time event, but a “complex health emergency” — and acted accordingly.

👩‍⚕️ Rapid WHO Deployment on the Ground

Key Actions Taken by WHO:

Emergency Medical Kits
- Delivered 1.7 million+ medical supplies, including antibiotics, rehydration salts, and trauma kits
- Sent interagency health kits designed to support 10,000 people for three months
Mobile Health Units
- Helped launch and support mobile clinics with local partners, especially in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Provided maternal and child healthcare, vaccination services, and minor surgical care
Disease Surveillance & Outbreak Control
- Deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) for malaria, dengue, and cholera monitoring
- Established Early Warning & Response Systems (EWARS) to track potential outbreaks
- Provided testing kits and vector control supplies
Health Worker Training & Support
- Trained hundreds of healthcare workers on treating flood-related infections
- Distributed PPE kits, hygiene materials, and mental health support guides

📍 Focus Areas: Where WHO Operated

WHO prioritized districts most affected by flooding, including:

Dadu, Khairpur, Jacobabad, and Larkana (Sindh)
Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, and Lasbela (Balochistan)
Charsadda and Nowshera (KP)

Many of these areas were already underserved before the floods, and the destruction made access even harder — making WHO’s mobile and emergency interventions critical.

🧠 Mental Health — The Often-Ignored Emergency

WHO didn’t just focus on physical health. It also emphasized psychosocial support, especially for:

Women and children in temporary shelters
Families grieving lost loved ones
Health workers under burnout and trauma

It launched community mental health sessions, trained frontline staff in psychological first aid, and partnered with NGOs to reduce mental health stigma in flood-affected communities.

🤝 Collaboration with Pakistan’s Health Ministry & UN Agencies

WHO worked closely with:

Ministry of National Health Services (MoNHSR&C)
NDMA and PDMA teams
UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, and local NGOs

This coordination helped avoid duplication, fill gaps in service delivery, and ensure a faster response across provinces.

📊 Key Results of WHO’s Support (2022–2023)

Over 1.3 million people reached with WHO-supported health services
600+ health workers trained on post-flood medical protocols
17 outbreaks contained through rapid surveillance and response
Thousands of childbirths safely managed in temporary clinics

🧾 Final Thoughts: Preparedness Begins Now

The 2022 floods were not the first — and likely won’t be the last. WHO’s response showed how international expertise, when combined with local partnerships, can prevent a health disaster from turning into a full-blown catastrophe.

“It’s not just about saving lives today. It’s about building a system that saves lives tomorrow.”

— WHO Representative in Pakistan, 2022

Moving forward, WHO continues to work with Pakistan on emergency preparedness, resilient health infrastructure, and early warning systems for future disasters.