Islamabad, August 28, 2025: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a $1 million donation to help Pakistan combat the devastating monsoon floods, one of the country’s most severe flood emergencies in recent years.
The contribution will be channeled through the World Health Organization (WHO) to bolster emergency preparedness and response in 33 high-risk districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan. According to WHO, the initiative is expected to address urgent health needs of more than 465,000 people.
WHO officials said the funds would support both life-saving interventions and the continuity of essential health services in flood-ravaged areas where clinics and hospitals have been damaged, and access to treatment remains disrupted.
Pakistan is reeling under torrential monsoon rains that have unleashed widespread flooding, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Rivers including the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab have crossed dangerous levels, inundating villages, washing away crops, and isolating communities. Thousands of families remain in relief camps, while many others are stranded without shelter.
Authorities have declared flood emergencies in several districts, with the army and civil administration carrying out rescue and relief operations. Alongside the destruction of homes and farmland, health experts warn of mounting risks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and malaria, making international support critical.
Welcoming the Gates Foundation’s support, WHO said the funds would help scale up field hospitals, mobile clinics, vaccination campaigns, and disease surveillance in flood-affected areas.
