EU extends Rs350 million emergency aid for flood victims

The European Union (EU) has announced Rs350 million (€1.05 million) emergency assistance to support victims of devastating floods in Pakistan that have claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands displaced and many missing.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims and all those affected by this disaster,” the EU said in a statement on Tuesday.

The package includes life-saving health services, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support to prevent outbreaks of disease, and cash assistance for the most vulnerable families to cover basic needs. However, the funding would be channelled through humanitarian partner organisations.

“The EU remains committed to standing in solidarity with the people of Pakistan during this critical time,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a call from European Union High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas, who conveyed condolences over the loss of life in Pakistan’s recent floods.

Kallas expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, and affirmed the EU’s commitment to support Pakistan’s relief and recovery efforts. “The EU stands with Pakistan in this difficult time,” she said, according to a statement released after the call.

Dar thanked the EU official for her message of support and highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters. He said the country was among those “most severely impacted by the climate crisis.”

Both sides noted what they described as growing momentum in Pakistan-EU relations and reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen cooperation, particularly in climate action, resilience building and sustainable recovery.

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered widespread flooding across provinces, destroying homes, submerging farmland, and displacing thousands. Authorities said the death toll continues to rise while rescue workers struggle to reach remote areas.

The floods, fuelled by torrential rains and the release of massive water from India, have devastated communities, leaving thousands stranded and displaced while inflicting heavy damage on homes, infrastructure and standing crops.

Read More: Monsoon devastation claims 831 lives across Pakistan

Three rivers that cut through Punjab and borders India, have swollen to exceptionally high levels, affecting more than 2,300 villages.

According to NDMA, the hardest-hit provinces are Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) with 480 deaths while Punjab reported 191 fatalities. Sindh recorded 58 deaths, Balochistan 24, and Gilgit-Baltistan 41. Azad Kashmir has reported 29 fatalities, while Islamabad reported eight deaths. Children have borne the brunt of the disaster, with 219 minors among the deceased. As many as 484 men and 128 women are also among the deceased.

The impact on the country’s infrastructure has been devastating, with 238 bridges washed away and 661 kilometers of road networks submerged. The floods have also destroyed 9,000 homes and led to the loss of over 6,000 livestock.

Read More: Worst monsoon floods in decades leave millions displaced in Pakistan

More than 35,000 people have been displaced, most of them have been shifted to the relief camps. K-P has the highest number of displaced individuals at 26,000, followed by 6,000 in Punjab and 3,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate-driven disasters. Officials have warned that extreme weather linked to climate change is likely to intensify the frequency of floods, droughts and heatwaves in the years ahead.