One Year on from devastating floods in Pakistan, MP Afzal Khan visits impacted communities to re-ignite the call for climate justice

The MP for Manchester Gorton met families affected by the floods and saw the work of Islamic Relief, who were at the forefront of the humanitarian response from the start, delivering life-saving aid including food, water, sanitation and cash vouchers to 1.5 million people. 

Over 33 million people were affected by the catastrophe in 2022, which cost $30 billion in infrastructure damage and economic losses and continues to destroy lives. 

One year on, Islamic Relief has so far rebuilt 6,420 permanent homes for those affected and many of the houses Islamic Relief rebuilt after the floods back in 2010 withstood the disaster last year.  

The charity has also been training people on rebuilding, supporting schools and health clinics, providing women with support, distributing clean water and solar energy units as well as providing latrines.  

One of the areas the MP visited was Dadu in Sindh where in one small village Islamic Relief are rebuilding flood-resistant homes for 77 families. The MP also visited school projects and clean water programmes as well as other villages.  

A recent report by Islamic Relief assessed that 40% of children in flood-affected areas were now suffering stunted growth as families struggle to access food and healthcare, and 80% of mothers report sickness among children – with outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue fever increasing. 

Afzal Khan CBE MP was very intent on his trip to highlight the impact that climate change is having on communities as floods and droughts intensify in Pakistan. He met with Ahmed Irfan Aslam (Federal Minister for climate change and environmental coordination) as well as Sherry Rehman (Former Federal Minister for climate change and environment) to discuss solution-orientated partnerships. 

Islamic Relief is calling for Pakistan to be a priority for increased climate financing. It is one of the most vulnerable countries to the negative effects of climate change, yet despite being the world’s sixth most populous country it is responsible for just 0.88% of global emissions – less than one eighth of the United States’ per capita emissions and one third of the United Kingdom. 

On the trip Afzal Khan CBE MP also saw how communities were coming together to help each other and was also impressed by the generous donations of the UK public towards Pakistan which have helped make life saving and rebuilding projects possible. 

Afzal Khan CBE MP said:

“Those of us in places like the UK have a responsibility to call on our Government to do more to address the climate emergency and ensure climate financing is directed to countries such as Pakistan that are least responsible for the climate crisis but one of the most impacted. 

“Thank you to Islamic Relief for all the excellent work they have done and thank you to all those who have donated to make this possible.”