September 2, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor & Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
As Punjab battles the worst flooding in decades, thousands of women in government-run relief camps are fighting silent battles, against disease, lack of privacy, and the indignity of managing menstrual health without basic facilities.
A mother’s despair amid rising waters
Tayyaba Farooq, a mother who has set aside her own suffering during the floods and hardships of the relief camp, speaks about her one-and-a-half-year-old son who has been battling a high fever.
“My son has had a high fever since yesterday. I brought medicine for him today, but his condition is not getting better,” she told Voicepk. “Our houses have drowned, and we had to leave everything behind. We could only grab a pair of clothes before leaving. Now, we are left with nothing.”
Like thousands of others, Tayyaba’s family was evacuated after the Ravi River embankment broke, submerging entire neighborhoods. Around 15,000 residents of Theme Park Society alone have been displaced, now living in makeshift relief camps.
Scale of disaster
According to the Punjab provincial government, the floods have devastated 3,243 villages, displacing over 2.4 million people across the province. Authorities have evacuated nearly 999,086 individuals to safety, but thousands remain in dire conditions in temporary shelters. Currently, 395 flood relief camps are operational, housing 14,393 people, with 392 medical camps and 336 veterinary camps set up to address health crises. However, despite these efforts, women in these camps continue to face unique and severe challenges that remain largely overlooked.
The silent struggle: Menstrual health and hygiene
In the cramped camps, basic necessities like clean water and sanitary products remain scarce. For women, this adds an unbearable layer of suffering.
“I am on my periods and there is no water facility. I and other women are tearing spare clothing items to manage because we do not have sanitary pads,” Tayyaba revealed. “Women are getting infections, and because of that, their children also get infected.”
Shaheen, another flood affectee, echoed the same concerns:
“Menstruation is a taboo topic here. Nobody has provided us with sanitary pads or even soap. Children have been wearing the same clothes for four days.”
Living without privacy and safety
Around 100 people share a single hall, including men, women, children, and the elderly. For pregnant women and young girls, this lack of privacy is especially distressing.
Rabia, 20, who is days away from delivery, spoke through tears:
“I fear my child might get affected because we are living on the floor with just thin mattresses. There are no blankets, and I am constantly worried about infections.”
Saniya, six months pregnant, said the physical strain is unbearable:
“I have severe back pain, but I have to sleep on the mattress on the ground. I get headaches and pain all the time.”
An elderly woman from Jammu Ghati, suffering from thyroid disease, shared her ordeal:
“I feel cold at night, and my back hurts because I sleep on the floor without a blanket. I have grandchildren to care for. My husband died years ago. We are getting food, but we need mattresses and blankets.”
Government relief vs. ground reality
Some women, like Shehnaz, acknowledge that the government is providing food and shelter but insist it is not enough.
“Some women have been given sanitary pads, but those are not enough for everyone in the camp,” she said.
The unheard voices
In relief camps, women continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. With no access to sanitary products, clean water, or private spaces, many face infections, malnutrition, and psychological stress.
As Shaheen put it, “Nobody talks about these issues. Menstruation, pregnancy, dignity, none of this matters to anyone when we are all just trying to survive.”