Overview of disasters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2016: Impact, response and managing risks

This end of year report highlights disasters and emergency situations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2016 and captures the response and relief efforts undertaken by National, Provincial and District authorities in Pakistan. 

It gives an overview of the avalanche in Kareem Abad Chitral in March 2016, flash floods, rain and landslides in April 2016, flooding in Ursun Chitral in July 2016, heavy rains in July and September 2016, and the Pakistan International Airlines crash in December 2016; monitors monsoon rainfall in the region; and assesses the damages incurred.

The report also documents the relief and response efforts taken, and specifically assesses the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations, including women, children, the elderly and people with disasbilities, and the gaps that remain in addressing vulnerable population needs in existing disaster management systems.

The report concludes by identifying structural and non-structural measures that can be taken to improve disaster mitigation and management in the province. Recommendations for structural improvements include the enforcement of building codes and improved urban planning, flood protection and damming, and measures for population removal. Non-structural recommendations include policy implementation, streamlined information management, capacity building and coordination, better hazard identification and assessment, and the installation of early warning systems for flash flooding at vulnerable points.