Disaster Response Pakistan Project #6064

ActionAid's Pakistan Flood Relief

by ActionAid USA

Project Report | Oct 26, 2012
Dhapo is happy on receiving shelter support

By Ghulam Zakaria Khan Nutkani | Program officer

Dhapo, 32

Dhapo is a widow. She has seven children (three daughters and four sons). A few years back, her husband died in a tragic accident while digging a well when he fell into it and was buried alive. She is a scheduled caste Hindu who is double marginalized: one for being a general minority and second for being a minority within the minority. She is leading a very difficult life as food insecurity remains a major cause of worry for her.

‘I am very glad to have a shelter (Chora) after my house was destroyed by heavy rainfall in the previous year (2011). I thank ActionAid and SAMI for taking care of my need of shelter. They also provided me food and non- food items in the very early days of flood devastation.” Said Dhapo.

After floods, I got seed support from SAMI and ActionAid, and was able to cultivate the crop. I want my children to study therefore I have to work much more than other fellow women. I weave caps and rilly(local shawl), do small jobs like making an earthen cooking pot and supporting other women in daily household chores.

This is how I provide for my children’s basic needs. I trust my Bhagwan (God) and remain hopeful of the good times ahead. I love to attend the REFLECT center where women discuss their issues, learn how to read and write and speak for women rights but mostly it is an opportunity to spare myself from multiple responsibilities of earning livelihood and running my home.

On recalling flood days, I feel scared of the fact that my children were crying with hunger and I really had nothing to offer them. I still wonder if SAMI and ActionAid had not come to our rescue and support, we could not have survived longer with hunger, homelessness and a chaos.’

Thank you for supporting our work in Pakistan!

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in 50 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. Together with more than 2,000 civil society partners worldwide, ActionAid works with and supports the poorest and most vulnerable people to fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, basic healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. View the website at www.actionaidusa.org.

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Jun 5, 2012
Community women driving change!

By Zakaria Nutkani and Javeria Malik | ActionAid Staff

Naseem Bibi

In order to help poor people especially women to overcome the trauma and devastation of the 2010 floods, ActionAid provided immediate relief such as food rations, shelter materials, and hygiene kits to thousands of poor and vulnerable families, and cash support to women headed households to rebuild their homes, grow food (kitchen gardens), and set up small shops and businesses (livelihood). ActionAid’s village schools provided an opportunity to many children to resume their education which also helped in their emotional healing.

Most important, we supported women to understand their rights in the post emergency situation and demand access to government’s compensation program (Watan cards). In Kot Adu (South Punjab), women groups that had been formed with the support of ActionAid as part of long term work, were supported to launch an advocacy campaign to claim their right to equal compensation.

Members of Tareemat Sanjh (community women’s groups) organized rallies, press conferences and sit-ins with the support and participation of Haali Sanjh (community men’s group), local civil society activists, and other flood affected people.

"We were very active in Tareemat Sanjh groups even before the floods came. We used to meet regularly and discuss our problems. After the floods we saw an opportunity to reorganize and lobby the local government to ensure equal and timely compensation for flood hit women" tells 32 years old Naseem Bibi from village Basti Langah, an active member of Tareemat Sanjh.

With the legal support provided by ActionAid’s local partner Hirrak development Centre, women activists from Tareemat Sanjh were able to file a writ petition in the High Court, which was followed by a series of public demonstrations and press conferences. As a result of social and legal action, the court gave a verdict in community’s favour and hundreds of households, including women headed families were included in the government’s compensation program.

"This is a big achievement for us. How long can we depend on relief items being distributed by NGOs? We want to be included in the government’s beneficiary list so that we are eligible for all future compensation programs and benefits. We want long term solution to the problem. This is our right". Says Naseem.

*Thank you so much for your continuing support, ActionAid will retire this project soon. Please support our other projects on Global Giving or visit our website at www.actionaidusa.org to learn more about our work in Pakistan and around the world.

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Mar 5, 2012
Women and child friendly spaces

By Javeria Malik and Zakaria Nutkani | Communication Officer

Zahida and her mother

11 years old Zahida, ActionAid’s sponsored child is amongst thousands of children whose villages and towns were inundated by the 2010 floods. They lost their homes and schools, and their families had to flee their native tons to take shelter in nearby safer places.

Life in the relief camps and temporary plastic shelters was hard with scarce food, and a lack of clean drinking water and essential medical care.

Shahadad Kot district of Sindh is one the places that saw massive destruction and damage to infrastructure.

When water reached Zahida’s village Qubo Saeed Khan, her older brother, a daily wage worker, quickly packed some belongings. He younger brother carried their bed ridden ailing mother and the whole family left on foot towards a nearby village.

"People were shouting and screaming. My mother asked my brother to leave her behind as she thought carrying her would slow us down. This was the most traumatic moment of my life."

Wading through water, it took them almost 2 hours to finally reach their uncle’s house, where they stayed for over a month.

"My uncle treated us with kindness but his one room house was too small to accommodate all of us. My mother used to cough all night and this worried me. We had no money to buy medicines and government dispensaries were all closed."

Soon ActionAid reached them with food support, clean drinking water and household items. The family also received plastic sheets which they used to convert the veranda into an additional room. Food support and other relief items also lightened financial burden on Zahida’s Uncle.

ActionAid’s local partner NGOs Development Society also set up free medical camp for flood survivors.

"We got medicine for my mother’s cough and fever and which made her feel better. We also received tooth paste and soaps and the doctor told us to wash our hands regularly to avoid diseases."

As the water receded and Zahida’s family returned to their village, ActionAid supported them in rebuilding their damaged house. As reconstruction work started in the village with government and humanitarian community’s support, Zahida’s brother found wage work which helped the family to afford basic necessities.

In the meanwhile, to support village women and girls to overcome the traumatic experience of flood devastation, and to provide educational and recreational activities to children, ActionAid established ‘women and child friendly spaces’ in the Zahida’s village. She immediately became a member.

"At the WCFS, I have received notebooks, pencils, and crayons. My teacher is very kind. She talks to us about our problems and gives us good advice. She embroiders very well and I have asked her to teach me the skill too."

"I enjoy coming here. I have many friends; we tell jokes, play with dolls and read books. I am very happy to be back home."

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