HELP THE FLOOD AFFECTEES OF SINDH, PAKISTAN

Executive Summary

Pakistan is worst-hit by torrential rains in August 2020 that lashed several cities and remote areas; triggering flash floods, causing deaths, injuries and loss of property in Province Sindh and Baluchistan. District Dadu and District Sanghar were hardly hit by the flood and more than 150 villages of both the districts were declared CALAMITY AFFECTED.

PMS Disaster Response Team immediately decided to respond to disaster after hearing heart-rending stories from the field office of PMS in Sindh. The Rapid Need Assessment was conducted which highlighted the immediate needs of the beneficiaries. Keeping in view, the need of synergy building, PMS joined Dadu Disaster Management Consortium (DDMC) established by the Government for coordination and networking. The Objective of this consortium was to work in close coordination with the Government and to avoid duplication of provisions. Pak Army supported PMS in security and in data collection from the affected areas. Disaster Response team has followed the implementation guidelines as well as all Core humanitarian standards to reach the most affected families.

Pak Mission Society responded immediately in 5 villages of District Dadu. We were funded in the end of February, then we started our Procurement. After this, we started dispatching our goods to beneficiaries. The distribution took place in April, 2021 in District Dadu. Representatives from the Local Government, civil society and few politicians participated in the relief distribution. Adequate spaces were selected for distribution of relief packages. It was ensured, that distribution points were easy to access for the selected beneficiaries. In order to adopt COVID precautionary measures, distribution points were setup with appropriate markings to ensure social distancing. Village Development Committee (VDC) members and PMS volunteers were engaged for facilitation of beneficiaries. Complaint and suggestion cell was organized during distribution to record rehabilitation needs and to address the issues related to distribution immediately.

Through this immediate response, PMS contributed to reduce starvation from the lives of 200 disadvantaged families of District Dadu by the provision of Food Items, health and hygiene kits. Through the relief work, the coordination of PMS has strengthened with local Government and civil society organizations.

The Media team of PMS collected various stories; specifically, 2 stories are highlighted in this report entitled as, LIVING ON THE EDGES and HOPES ARE BEING WASHED AWAY. The communities and beneficiaries are extremely thankful to HUMEDICA for this timely support and ensured their co-operation for relief, rehabilitation and development work in their areas.

The need of Re-habilitation as per the Detailed Need Assessment is very High in District Dadu; and PMS is requesting Humedica International, Germany to support the flood affectees in District DADU in building their houses and livelihood.

Challenges Faced:

1. It was difficult to reach in many areas because of high level of water, Hot weather and muddy roads.
2. Need of the flood affectees was high and the PMS has limited resources.

Solution:

1. 200 flood affected disadvantaged families of District Dadu received Food Items, health and hygiene kits.
2. Strengthened Networking with the local organizations and Civil society
3. PMS become the part of the District Disaster Management consortium formed by the Local Government.

Long Term Impact

The long-term impact through the timely provision of Food Items and Hygiene Kits to the above 200 flood affected families can be gauged through the fact that if those families would not have been supported, they would have adverse impact on their lives, sustenance and livelihoods in the following ways:

• The spread of diseases among children, women and elderly and resultant loss of their already meagre family income and sustenance;
• They had been supported to avoid any immediate loss or likelihood of any other incidents that would further increase their sufferings and miseries.
• In the absence of the given support, they would have been likely to lose their capacity and wellbeing to sustain their lives and livelihoods.
• By provision of Food Items, they were able to find livelihood for themselves.