Pakistan Floods Leave Children Facing Trauma, Lost Education and an Uncertain Future

September 22, 2025

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused unprecedented devastation, with children among the most affected. From the loss of parents and homes to disruptions in education and health, the disaster has left thousands of young lives in limbo.

Lives Turned Upside Down

Nine-year-old Muhammad Azan from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lost his parents and three brothers when flash floods swept through the valley in mid-August. Now living with his uncle, Azan struggles to process the tragedy.

Seventeen-year-old Qadir Ahmed from the same district lost his mother and home on August 15. Once a student dreaming of college, he is now responsible for his four younger siblings. “My education has stopped,” he says. “I must take care of my family.”

Widespread Destruction Across Pakistan

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), since late June, over 1,000 people have died and nearly 1,100 have been injured due to floods and landslides.

In Punjab, historic rains and river discharges submerged villages and farmlands.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, entire valleys were cut off by landslides, forcing 3,000 people into temporary camps.
In Sindh, more than 150,000 people were evacuated as of mid-September.

Diseases caused by unsafe water and overcrowded shelters are now an additional threat.

Education in Crisis

Floods have disrupted schooling for over 700,000 children in Punjab alone, with more than 2,900 schools closed or turned into shelters. In Gilgit-Baltistan, many children have no access to books, uniforms, or classrooms.

Experts warn that prolonged closures could push children into child labour or early marriage, repeating the warnings raised after Pakistan’s 2022 floods.

Silent Trauma: Mental Health at Risk

While rescue operations focus on physical survival, children’s mental health needs are being overlooked.

Teachers in Gilgit-Baltistan report changes in children’s behaviour, such as anger, silence, and fear.
Social workers in Punjab see children showing signs of panic attacks and anxiety after losing parents.
Rescue workers confirm that long-term counselling is almost nonexistent, leaving children vulnerable to lasting trauma.

Researchers call this crisis “Environmentally driven Adverse Childhood Experiences (E-ACEs)”, warning that repeated exposure to disasters can affect brain development and increase lifelong health risks.

Policy Gaps Exposed

Despite Pakistan being one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, experts say climate policies barely address children’s needs. Plans for early warning systems after the 2022 floods were never fully implemented, leaving communities unprotected.

An analysis by the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) found that while Pakistan mentions children in its climate policies, the focus is only on mortality rates—ignoring nutrition, education, healthcare, and trauma recovery during disasters.

Beyond Survival: A Call for Rebuilding

Teachers and aid workers stress the need for more than just temporary rations.

Safe housing, schools, libraries, and hospitals are critical for children’s long-term recovery.
Clean water, medicine, and psychological support are just as important as food and shelter.

As floodwaters recede, families face the enormous challenge of rebuilding. For children like Azan and Qadir, survival is just the beginning. Without urgent investment in adaptation, education, and trauma care, Pakistan risks raising a generation defined not by potential—but by loss.