Responding
to Pakistan’s Devastating Floods
Pakistan’s devastating floods that started
in July 2010 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have so far displaced 4 million
people, killed over 1,600 victims, and washed away over 1.2 million
houses. The United Nations estimates that up to 3.5 million children
are at high risk of cholera and other deadly diseases. The super floods,
now in the province of Sindh and partially in Balochistan, continue
to force migration as small towns, cities, residential and business
centres, schools, hospitals and all other structures that provide
necessities of life stand destroyed. Around one-fifth of Pakistan
is submerged in water today.
Being a resource-starved country, Pakistan was ill prepared for the
scale of natural disaster that has struck its population. The UN has
pitched an emergency appeal for $460 million while the government
maintains that the cost of rebuilding after the floods could be as
high as $15 billion. Despite assistance by donor agencies and foreign
countries, there is growing fear that gaps in relief efforts will
continue to persist as donor fatigue, a shaky political environment,
and lack of trust on state institutions bog down the resettlement
initiatives.
As vital as resource commitment is, it is also important that relief
efforts are channelized in most effective and productive manner, incorporating
maximum involvement by local organisations and strengthening the state’s
relief apparatus for streamlining of aid. Pakistan’s civil society
organisations, political forces, and members of public have already
stepped forward to assist the government with relief initiatives.
The proximity of the civil society organisations to the grassroots
as well as to the policy-making institutions allows them wider space
to contribute to the settlement drive and to make way for rebuilding
of formidable structures based on rights, equality and more environment-supporting
fundamentals, when flood victims return home.
The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, as a part
of its national responsibility, has been actively participating in
relief efforts following the devastating floods. The PILER seeks to
make direct and indirect contribution to the ongoing initiatives for
the flood affectees across the country. In terms of indirect contribution,
the PILER has been working in partnership with civil society groups
and relief agencies across the country mobilising resources, establishing
linkages and forwarding material assistance for the victims. For direct
contribution, the PILER has been focusing on targeted initiatives
in Karachi and Hyderabad with emphasis on clean drinking water, health,
and education.
Starting from a point closer to home, PILER launched its relief efforts
at the Labour Complex Camp located at Gulshan-e-Maymaar, Karachi.
The Labour Complex is a 960 flats compound constructed by the Workers
Welfare Board as a part of its mandate to provide low-cost housing
to labourers. These flats have been lying vacant and lack access to
utility services including electricity and water supply. The Sindh
Government moved in 10,000 flood victims to the premises in the third
week of August. These individuals mostly hail from Jacobabad, Qambar
Shahdadkot, and Kandhkot.
As a camp housing the highest number of people, there are critical
challenges to health and sanitation that need to be addressed on an
urgent and comprehensive basis. At least four lives were lost, all
children, to gastroenteritis and the camp faced the threat of disease
outbreak owning to inadequate clean drinking water and medical facilities.
After a series of meetings for the purpose of needs-assessment with
the camp authorities, including the Town Committee Members and officials
of the Revenue Board of the City District Government of Karachi, that
is also in-charge of the camp, the PILER decided to undertake interventions
in clean drinking water, health and education.
Keeping in view the dire need for safe drinking water in the Camp,
the PILER immediately installed three 1,800 gallon plastic water tanks
along with motors/pumps and water purifiers (three-stage filters).
This was a much-needed facility in the backdrop of the threat of the
outbreak of water-borne diseases. The camp residents are patiently
lining up in queues to avail clean water for drinking purpose. However,
there is a need to install more such facilities for a population of
10,000 people. The doctors at the medical camps emphasized that with
the consumption of safe drinking water, people can be saved from gastroenteritis
and other infectious diseases. One unit (including tank, motor and
purifier) costs Rs. 50,000 ($600).
Moreover, PILER has also arranged medicines for treatment of gastroenteritis
and other infections and supplied these to the in-charges of the medical
facilities set up at the Labour Complex Camp. Besides medicines, PILER
has helped in establishing a medical ward for the sick.
A makeshift primary school for boys and girls of flood-affectees has
already been launched. The school has been running for two weeks and
currently 500 plus children in the age bracket of 6 -12 years are
registered. These children have been enrolled in grades 1 to 4. Volunteers
assisting with teaching and management have been drawn from local
community-based organisations and the camp residents to promote the
concept of self-help and productive engagement at the community level.
The relief operation at this particular camp is being closely monitored.
The PILER plans to launch a survey to assess the crisis and damage
to livelihoods in flood affected areas of Sindh and develop plans
for future rehabilitation of the flood-hit victims. The survey will
be launched shortly followed by the production of a report on the
subject.
Apart from the Labour Complex Camp, PILER is also active at other
relief camps in Sindh where it is working through partners supporting
their efforts and making targeted contribution to assist with relief
operations.
In Hyderabad, PILER is working in collaboration with the Sindh Rural
Support Organization (SRSO) and providing food items and medicines.
In Shikarpur, PILER is working through local officials of the Red
Crescent (Paryal Mari- 03003138617) and providing water cans and food
items for children.
In collaboration with the Pakistan Peace Coalition and the Pakistan
Medical Association, PILER is working on a plan to establish medical
camps in Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh.
PILER Partner organization Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFF) is independently
engaged in large scale relief work particularly focusing on fisherfolk
communities.
PILER is also part of civil society consultations and actively participates
in efforts for better coordination and information-sharing to assist
with relief work. The Sindh Disaster Response Forum has been established
and PILER is a part of it.
The PILER Flood Relief Desk has been established and we are also recruiting
volunteers in Karachi for help with management and implementation
of PILER’s relief efforts at the camps.
PILER also organised an ‘Advocacy Meeting’ on Flood Relief Operations
at the Karachi Press Club on August 27, 2010. Participants included
representatives of political parties, civil society members, activists
assisting with flood relief, and the media. Participants exchanged
notes on the situation arising out of the floods and the way forward
for rehabilitation and resettlement. A set of recommendations was
drawn to specify measures to plug gaps in the ongoing relief efforts
and also to develop a comprehensive resettlement plan for the displaced
persons. A five-member committee comprising political representatives,
civil society members and activists was formed to follow up on the
recommendations with the government. PILER has decided to facilitate
coordination to take these efforts forward.
Funds and Contribution are required for:
PILER would appreciate any kind of contribution which would be used
in emergency relief including provision of safe drinking water, medical
aid, temporary schooling, and provision of food for the displaced
persons.
Bank/ Account Details for Funds Transfer
Account Title: Pakistan Institute of Labour Education
and Research (PILER)
Account No: 1087-0081-000818-04-2
Swift Code: BAHLPKKAXXX
Bank Name: Bank Al Habib Limited,
Gulshan-e-Maymar Branch, Karachi.
Bank Address: Bank Al Habib, Gulshan-e-Maymar Branch, Karachi.
PILER’s Address: SB-10, Sector Z-5,
Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi, Pakistan.
Tel No: (92-21) 36832880-83 Fax: (92-21) 36832879
