Nearly 10.5 million people (29 percent of the population analysed) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April to October 2023. Approximately 2.1 million people (6 percent of the analysed population) will be in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), and around 8.4 million people (23 percent of the analysed population) will be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).

The present analysis covered 43 rural districts in the three most vulnerable provinces of Pakistan: Balochistan (18 districts), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (9 districts), and Sindh (16 districts). The total analysed population of these collective areas is nearly 37 million people, which accounts for around 16 percent of Pakistan’s total population.

In the latter half of 2022, the vast majority of these districts were hit by severe monsoon rains and flooding, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, significantly impacting food production, consumption, livelihoods, and limited employment opportunities for those affected by the floods. Access to food remains a major challenge due to the impact the 2022 floods had on food commodity prices and limiting livelihood opportunities.

The situation is projected to worsen between November 2023 and January 2024 where 11.8 million people (32 percent of the analysed population) will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity.

Continued provision of the critical humanitarian assistance: Improve access to healthy and nutritous food through appropriate modalities such as cash and voucher assistance and in-kind provision aimed at reducing the food consumption gaps and saving lives of the populations classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and Phase 4 (Emergency).

Livestock and agriculture programmes: Scale-up livestock protection and management interventions such as vaccination and deworming campaigns to prevent livestock diseases. Livestock and agriculture programmes should target vulnerable smallholder farmers including women farmers. Ensure timely provision of quality seeds for high-yielding crops, especially to subsistence level farmers including women farmers and provide training on climate-smart crop and fodder production to help farmers adapt and boost productivity. 

Rehabilitation of water infrastructure: Construct and rehabilitate water infrastructure for agricultural activities such as tube-wells, water channels and reservoirs for better conservation and efficient management and utilisation of the water. Resilient water infrastructure can help reduce the impact of recurring floods and droughts.

Livelihood diversification and skills development training: Initiate income-generation livelihood support interventions and recovery projects. Support livelihood diversification activities for local communities to increase income-generation and employment opportunities through skills development linked to market demand. Skills development trainings for livelihoods diversification to initiate and scale-up in different trades in the most vulnerable areas for households and women facing acute food insecurity, high incidence of poverty and worsening socioeconomic conditions.

Economic empowerment of women: Inclusion of women in economic growth activities to improve their livelihoods. Provide finance and grant access to loans and training programs, as well as encourage women’s involvement in the decisionmaking process.

Use IPC data/analysis findings: Use findings from the IPC data/analysis to inform targeting and prioritisation, including government led social safety programmes.