PESHAWAR:
Despite state authorities’ assurances that life is returning back to normal in flood-affected areas, for many pregnant women, normalcy feels like a distant dream as they confront the fear of raising their unborn babies without a home, husband, or support system.
Every night, 25-year-old Javeria Bibi relives the moment she lost five members of her family in the devastating floods that swept through Buner in August 2025. Eight months pregnant, she carries not only the weight of new life but also the crushing grief of losing her husband, children, and the home they once shared.
“I lost everything. My family, my house, and my hope for the future,” said Javeria, her tearful eyes reflecting the enormity of her loss. “I am living with anger, grief, and fear. Every day feels heavier than the last.” Across Pakistan, thousands of women like Javeria are struggling with trauma, anxiety, and uncertainty after the floods which left entire communities in ruins.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Buner alone recorded 228 deaths, 120 injuries, and the loss of nearly 3,900 cattle. More than 160 homes were completely destroyed, while 575 suffered partial damage. Schools, health centers, and basic infrastructure were all swept away.
The worst hit areas included Beshoni, Qadar Nagar, and Malik Pur in Tehsil Gadezai, along with Pir Baba, Ghazikhanai, and Sultan Das in Tehsil Dagar. For families in these regions, survival is now a daily struggle.
Shahid Khan, a resident of Qadar Nagar, revealed that floodwaters washed away the only health unit in his village. “Eighty per cent of our area was destroyed. My wife is pregnant and in need of medical care, but there is no nearby facility,” said Khan.
Although mobile clinics were set up by the government and NGOs, Khan explained that many families hesitated to send their women due to cultural sensitivities. “The medical teams have few doctors and limited medicines. What we need most are gynecologists and psychologists,” he added.
Doctors working in the district confirmed the dire situation. Dr Amir Taj, a medical specialist at Dagar Hospital, informed that the flood’s psychological and physical toll continued to weigh heavily on women and children.
“When I visited the worst-hit areas, I saw that most of the children and pregnant women were suffering from stress and anxiety. Even now, many villages remain cut off, with roads and health facilities destroyed. Women with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or pregnancy complications are at risk of miscarriages or premature births,” claimed Dr Taj.
Dr Taj estimated that nearly 90 per cent of women in the affected regions were facing some form of traumatic stress. “They need round-the-clock healthcare, particularly pregnant women who cannot afford delays in treatment. Without proper emergency facilities, both mothers and babies remain at risk,” he warned.
Recognizing the crisis, Khyber Medical University (KMU) has deployed teams to Buner to provide medical and psychological support. Professor Dr Inayat Shah, Chairman of KMU’s Institute of Medical Sciences, revealed that his team had been running camps in the most affected areas.
“We found widespread depression among women and skin diseases and malnourishment among children. Our doctors provided not only treatment but also counseling. We even trained students from Buner University to work within their communities and help women manage post-traumatic stress,” explained Dr Shah.
Dr Shah further added that KMU planned to collect household-level data to better understand the scale of the crisis. “Once we have proper data, we can shape long-term interventions. What these families need is sustained support, not just short-term relief,” implored Dr Shah.
Officials from the Maternal and Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) program also insisted that the health department had mobilized resources in collaboration with international organizations and donor agencies.
According to Dr Khizar Hayat, Director MNCH, specialized medical teams are already on the ground. “The floods had a devastating impact on pregnant women, but with timely interventions we managed to stabilize many cases. Slowly, communities are moving back towards normalcy,” he said.
