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When disaster strikes, the first things people think of are food, shelter, and clothes. Understandably so. But what often gets pushed out of the conversation, every single time, are periods.

With the devastating floods sweeping across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, that erasure is happening all over again. The death toll from this year’s monsoon floods has crossed 750 nationwide — of which over 400 deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — with hundreds more injured or missing. Entire villages have been washed away, and thousands are now homeless.

But amid the tragedy, Mahwari Justice and Dastak Foundation are refusing to let menstruators be forgotten.

In a collaborative Instagram post, period rights activist Bushra Mahnoor, who helms Mahwari Justice, urged Pakistanis abroad to help fill the glaring gap in flood relief. “Pakistan has been hit by devastating floods that have killed 700 people and rendered thousands homeless. In such situations, the needs of people who get periods are often neglected by the state and mainstream relief efforts,” she said.

The group is putting together period relief kits that include pads, underwear, detergent, soap, and painkillers — basics that many of us might not even think about until they’re gone. Each kit costs just €2 (Rs700).

The caption summed up the campaign perfectly — “The floods sweeping across Pakistan have taken homes, schools, and livelihoods, but they must not take away dignity. Menstruators are once again left invisible in disaster relief, without the basic care they need to survive with safety and respect.”

An earlier post by Mahwari Justice highlighted why we need to pay attention to period relief during disasters. It reinstated that periods don’t stop for floods. And while shelter, food, and medicine are prioritised during flood relief efforts, thousands of people who get periods resort to “rags, contaminated cloth, or plastic” in the absence of sanitary products, which can cause long-term health issues.

In a post four days ago, the organisations shared that while each kit costs Rs700, people can also donate materials from the list.

It’s not just about supplies. It’s about recognition. As Mahnoor pointed out, hundreds of young people in these regions will experience or are experiencing their periods in the middle of this disaster. The thought of doing that without access to pads, clean underwear, or even pain relief? Unimaginable.

Which is why this campaign feels so vital. It’s saying: yes, food and shelter matter, but dignity does too.