Lahore: More than 4.2 million people have been affected by monsoon floods in Pakistan's Punjab province, with southern districts bearing the brunt, according to a rapid needs assessment released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Friday. The survey, conducted jointly with the provincial government from Sept. 8 to 18, covered nearly 2,000 villages in 18 flood-affected districts.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the assessment found that around 2.8 million people were displaced, about 161,700 houses were damaged, and health and education infrastructure also suffered extensive damage. The report highlights the significant impact on the local population and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance.

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported that around 3 million people were rescued or evacuated between June 26 and Sept. 19 nationwide. Floods also damaged 12,559 houses and resulted in the loss of 6,509 livestock, exacerbating the challenges faced by affected communities.

In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a doubling of ex-gratia compensation for the families of those who lost their lives in the floods. The compensation amount was increased from 1 million rupees to 2 million rupees (about 7,000 U.S. dollars), aiming to provide some relief to those severely impacted by the floods.