Humanitarian Assistance and Early Recovery Response For Flood Affected Communities
Status: Completed Start Date: Oct 2010 End Date: Mar 2011 Geographic Coverage: District Muzaffargarh, Punjab Focus Area: Humanitarian Assistance (Early Recovery) SDG Goal: – Implementing Partner: SPO Funding Partner: Care International in Pakistan
Country-wide torrential rains, which began late July 2010, have caused unprecedented flooding throughout Pakistan. The overall damages on the economic sector and infrastructure, including power supply lines, also impacts casual laborers’ access to employment opportunities.
The disaster did major harm to a struggling Pakistani economy. While the immediate effects of the floods already staggering, the longer‐term consequences on food security, livelihoods and displacement were almost certain as the floods continued to ravage the agricultural heartland of Pakistan.
A portion of the flood affected population faced acute food insecurity having lost all their assets including food stocks. They were left with limited opportunities to earn an income through casual work and as the water level recedes.
Considering the scale of the needs, SPO focused in five union councils of tehsil Kot Adu of district Muzaffargarh in Alliance of four NGOs in order to maximize effectiveness in the response through jointly exploring different modalities like livelihood cash grants, cash for work, rehabilitation & reconstruction and enhancing awareness on DRR adapted to the specific circumstances in the affected areas.
SPO reached out to flood affected communities through project titled ‘Emergency food security and livelihood support to flood affected populations in Pakistan’ in Punjab. The specific objective of the project was to (a) Ensure that targeted communities have access to adequate and appropriate food to uphold their survival and prevent erosion of assets in a manner that fosters early livelihoods recovery, and upholds their dignity. (b) Livelihood opportunities benefiting flood affected communities-at-large are developed and implemented.
As result of SPO and Care International;
Provided cash grants to 900 small traders’ families with special focus to female headed household (benefiting 6,300 individuals) for restoring their income generating activities as well as regenerating markets (Financial support for establishment of micro enterprises).
Created awareness on disaster preparedness and mitigation at community level through Orientation session on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and formation of Village Development Plans for the identification of community infrastructure needs with the help of Village Relief Committees (VRC) formed at community level. The VRC members comprised of local community to identify most vulnerable and needy members of flood affected villages of district Muzaffargarh.
Provided Short-term employment and income opportunity to 1000 HH (7000 persons) agricultural and other laborers that generates short-term employment and income to ensure their food security.
Provided support in reconstruction and rehabilitation of community infrastructure for benefiting at lar SPO field teams based in Punjab ensured that Livelihood Cash Grants distribution, Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructures, DRR sessions, follow ups are done in line with SPHERE guidelines, which may not comprise the overall purpose of benefitting local community especially marginalized segment such as women headed households of flood affected area.
