Tens of thousands have been displaced by the worst flooding in years across Pakistan’s Punjab Province, as communities grapple with scarce local resources and a glaring lack of international aid.
Heavy monsoon rains have claimed more than 800 lives and displaced over 200,000 people across Punjab since late June, submerging villages, wiping out livelihoods, and turning schools into temporary shelters.
Classrooms in districts such as Kasur have been converted into cramped living spaces, where families sleep on thin mats and depend on sporadic aid.
"This school was meant for learning, now it's a shelter. We have nothing to give them except education. These people need homes. International community should step forward," said Nasira Khatoon, one of the volunteers.
Despite urgent appeals, international response has been critically insufficient. The United Nations has allocated just 600,000 U.S. dollars in emergency funding, while the Gates Foundation contributed an additional 1 million U.S. dollars for medical support, amounts that fall far short of the escalating humanitarian need.
"We came here with nothing, no food, no medicine. They're providing us with meals and basic facilities," said Hameed Ashraf, one of the flood victims.
With government capabilities stretched thin, affected families face an uncertain future.
"My real concern is, what will happen once the water recedes? Our homes are gone, our animals are dead," Hameed said.
Hameed's mother said all her memories have been washed away.
"I only had one picture album of my husband. He passed away 15 years ago, all the pictures are gone," said Muradan Bibi, Hameed's mother.
Devastating floods displace thousands in Pakistan’s Punjab, with schools becoming shelters
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
