Floods Displace 2 Million, Women Struggle in Pakistan Relief Camps

Severe monsoon floods in Punjab, Pakistan, have devastated both rural and urban areas, displacing over two million people and forcing many, including pregnant women, to seek refuge in overcrowded makeshift relief camps on Lahore’s outskirts. Women in these camps, such as the 19-year-old Shumaila Riaz and Fatima, a mother and expectant mother, face critical shortages of sanitary pads, essential medicines, and pregnancy-related healthcare, leading to heightened risks of infections and complications. The camps lack basic sanitation, with women struggling to manage menstruation amid cultural taboos and insufficient facilities, which exacerbates their vulnerability. Over 750,000 people have been evacuated in what is Punjab’s largest rescue operation, yet relief efforts have not adequately addressed the urgent healthcare and hygiene needs of displaced women. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying the severity and unpredictability of monsoon rains in South Asia, worsening the humanitarian crisis triggered by such floods. Provincial officials confirm the scale of the disaster, highlighting the urgent need for improved medical and sanitary support in relief efforts.