Original disclosure @ ADB website
Updated in EWS Jul 4, 2024
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The APDRF Grant assistance will be used to meet the the key needs of the flood affected people as identified by the government, which include (i) tents and bedding, (ii) mosquito nets, (iii) emergency medical supplies, (iv) WASH supplies, (v) food supplies, and (vi) relief and rescue equipment, where required. However, needs and demands may change as the situation evolves in the coming weeks.
PROJECT RATIONALE AND LINKAGE TO COUNTRY/REGIONAL STRATEGY
The Project is in response to 2022 Flood in Pakistan that has affected over 33 million population across the country. The heavy rains across Pakistan that started in late June and are continuing which have caused flash floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst across Pakistan. The country received over 60% of the total normal monsoon rainfall in just 3 weeks of July. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported in the donors' conference on 25 August 2022 that as compared to the last 30 years' average of monsoon rainfall, Balochistan and Sindh have already received 404.23% and 476% more monsoon rainfall this year.
As of 27 August 2022, around 33 million people have been affected from floods. At least 1,033 people, including 348 children and 207 women, have died, while 1,527 people have been injured. A total of 498,442 people are currently in relief camps. According to the NDMA, 949,858 houses have been damaged, out of which 287,412 have been destroyed. A total of 3,451 kilometers (km) of roads, mostly in Sindh (2,328 km), and Balochistan (1,000 km), have been damaged, in addition to 149 bridges. A total of 719,558 livestock, a critical source of sustenance and livelihoods for many families, have perished. According to the UN Situation Report number 3, around 2 million acres of crops and orchards have also been impacted, including at least 304,000 acres in Balochistan, 178,000 acres in Punjab and some 1,540,000 acres in Sindh. Data from provincial education departments show that at least 17,566 schools were damaged or destroyed during the floods, including 15,842 schools in Sindh, 544 in Balochistan and 1,180 in Punjab.
The disaster came amidst (i) a serious economic and financial crisis in the country due to both external (oil and food crisis, supply chain issues, and ongoing conflict in eastern Europe) and internal (high inflation, fiscal and balance of payments deficits, and debt burden) factors; (ii) aftershocks of recent and still on-going COVID-19 waves, and (iii) a prolonged political instability in the country. The country recorded a current account deficit of $17.4 billion in financial year (FY) 2022 compared to a gap of just $2.82 billion in FY2021. In order to meet the conditions of the ongoing IMF program--the extended fund facility--approved in July 2019, the government has already curtailed spending, increased tax rates and substantially increased energy tariff, which will increase the hardship in the flood-affected areas. In such a tight fiscal position, the government has limited headroom to divert funds to meet the recovery and relief needs--most of the current allocations have been diverted from the already squeezed development budget of the country.
Considering the already challenged financial position of the country, the scale of the current flood is beyond the capacity of Pakistan and its agencies to meet the immediate expenses necessary to restore life-saving services to the affected population. Pakistan needs immediate assistance. The Government of Pakistan requested ADB through the Ministry of Economic Affairs to provide an Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) grant to help meet the immediate needs related to the country's response efforts. The government also requested humanitarian and financial assistance from other international development partners.
IMPACT
To alleviate financial resource constraints to meet immediate needs and deliver appropriate disaster response where required.
The ADB categorized the project E&S risks as 'FI'.
Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund
| Responsible ADB Officer | Shafi, Mian S. |
| Responsible ADB Department | Central and West Asia Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | Pakistan Resident Mission |
| Executing Agencies | Economic Affairs Division (Old) |
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form
ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB
The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.
