Extreme Drought Threatens Lives And Livelihoods

Amid falling rainfall and extreme heat, Pakistan is confronting an intensifying drought crisis.

According to Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD), the country has experienced below-normal rainfall from September 2024 to January 2025, adding a further strain to communities already struggling with water shortages. Sindh, Pakistan’s southern province and the country’s food basket, has been the hardest hit, receiving 62% less rainfall than average. Parts of southern Pakistan have endured over 200 consecutive dry days, further worsening the ongoing drought crisis. This sharp deficit has caused a severe drop in water reserves at major dams like Tarbela and Mangla, while river levels across the region remain critically low.

Only three years ago, a record monsoon triggered devastating floods that submerged nearly a third of the country. Entire communities were displaced, and vast agricultural lands — especially in Sindh — were left underwater. Today, the country faces the opposite extreme: a deepening drought marked by vanishing rainfall, scorching temperatures, and widespread water shortages. Recent extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 45°C, triggered powerful windstorms that caused widespread damage across the country. The consequences of this situation raise a serious alarm for the well-being of affected communities, the stability of local food systems, and the broader humanitarian response. The country’s fragile food system and marginalized communities are caught in this climate-induced whiplash.

When the Rain Stops: The Impact of Water Scarcity on Food Security

Pakistan, already one of the most water-stressed countries globally, is witnessing the drying up of reservoirs and irrigation canals. Moderate and severe droughts have been declared in several parts of Sindh,  including Thatta district, posing urgent risks to water availability, food security, and livestock health, with vulnerable communities being at risk as conditions continue to deteriorate. 

To understand the current situation and urgent needs, Action Against Hunger and Rural Development Foundation carried out a series of focus-group discussions with communities living in Ongar and Jheruck Union Councils in Thatta district. In Malook Arbab village, men reported losing access to farmland due to tenancy issues with landlords. Saline groundwater, high farming costs, and water shortages have made it difficult to grow crops, forcing many to turn to daily wage labor. In a desperate attempt to earn income, some villagers have started cutting down trees — a practice that, if it continues, could lead to widespread deforestation and long-term environmental damage. 

Pakistan is known for its extensive rice production, but water scarcity has made this crop less viable, as rice requires large amounts of water. The community of Jhando Mari village reported similar challenges, including severe water shortages and limited daily wage opportunities. In these areas, houses are usually made of huts due to a lack of resources, and villagers rely on alternative income sources such as collecting stones and working in coal mines. Water prices have tripled, with families now spending over 10% of their income on water, far above the international affordability threshold of 2% to 5%. The high cost of purchasing water is a significant financial burden, and the scarcity of dry grass for livestock is a major challenge.

“We used to grow rice, but now the land is dry and lifeless. My children go to bed hungry. The groundwater is salty, and the handpump has dried up. I’ve taken my son twice to the health post for malnutrition. There’s nothing left to give.”, Shahnaz, 35, Mother of Four, Malook Arbab Village, Thatta. 

Loss of tenancy and deforestation for income were among the main challenges identified by our teams in the field. Due to a significant decrease in crop production due to lower precipitation, the tenants have lost their tenancy with landlords, affecting income generation. Farmers have resorted to deforestation as an alternative livelihood, collecting wooden sticks to sell. 

ACF Staff Perspective: The Humanitarian Alarm

According to Qamar Din Tagar, Head of Programs at Action Against Hunger in Pakistan: “One person can collect 50-100 kg of sticks in a day, which are sold at 40 kg for 180 PKR, earning around 400-500 PKR per day. This practice is leading to environmental degradation and loss of forest cover”. 

Saline groundwater, high cultivation costs, and a lack of drinking water add to this long list of burdens. The groundwater source is saline, and drilling boreholes is very expensive for many households. As for irrigation, farmers rely on river water, which hasn’t been available this farming season. Many are forced to spend large amounts on cultivation, including hybrid seeds and fertilizers, relying on loans from internal institutions and local shopkeepers. “Villagers spend 4,000 PKR every two weeks to purchase water for drinking and domestic use. This expense is a significant financial burden, especially for low-income households.”, explains M. Tagar. “Animals now survive on dry fodder, which is quickly running out as livestock farmers face a shortage of dry grass”. 

The drought response team, deployed in Thatta, has been facing an impossible task supporting communities with limited resources. “Our Drought Response Teams (DRT) and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) partners face immense pressure. There are no quick fixes. We need more than relief; we need adaptive solutions. Girls are dropping out of school to collect water, men are migrating for work, and food insecurity is rising fast,” shared a DRT member trained under the Start Network initiative.

Anticipatory Action Against Extreme Drought

In Thatta district, Action Against Hunger, together with Rural Development Foundation, has launched an anticipatory drought response* to help communities better cope with the ongoing crisis in Sindh. The initiative aims to strengthen local resilience before conditions worsen and consists of two major phases: Preparedness Activities and Anticipatory Actions. 

Preparedness activities included household assessments to identify those in need of targeted support, awareness sessions on water conservation and hygiene to encourage long-term behavior change, and the distribution of detailed information materials on drought preparedness. Drought response teams and District Disaster Management Authority officials received a series of capacity-building training focused on drought mitigation, response strategies, and mental health and psychosocial support. Regular coordination meetings with government authorities are held to strengthen institutional disaster response and improve contingency planning.

In response to the drought, several support activities are underway, such as providing multipurpose cash assistance to 667 vulnerable households. Our teams distributed 600 Hippo water rollers to make it easier for families to collect water. Clean drinking water is being delivered to 1,000 households through water trucking. To support farmers, livestock fodder is distributed to 1,000 households.

In coordination with the government, 1,500 animals are vaccinated to help prevent disease outbreaks. Additionally, nutrition awareness sessions are being held, focusing on healthy diets for children aged 6 to 59 months and the importance of breastfeeding for pregnant and lactating women. As of today, medical teams have conducted 75 sessions, reaching  1875 participants in 28 villages across both Union Councils. 

Action Against Hunger emphasizes the urgent need for a drought contingency plan for Thatta District. Such a plan is essential to provide a structured approach for managing water resources and responding effectively to water shortages caused by climate-related droughts. With the current weather conditions and seasonal forecasts, the drought is expected to get worse in the affected areas. Urgent action is needed to reduce the impact, including better water management, support for farmers, and efforts to improve water conservation and storage.

* The Anticipatory Actions Preparedness and Response on Drought Hazards is supported by Start Network-Ready Pakistan.