Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Component has been phenomenal in responding to the natural catastrophes in Pakistan. In recent pasts, DP&R initiated emergency responses against Floods of 2013 in Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan and extended relief assistance in Naseerabad, Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan. In September 2013, the earthquake of 7.7 magnitudes turned 40,000 households into rubble and debris in Awaran and Turbat Districts of Balochistan. SPO was quick to respond the emergency and managed to start the response within 48 hours after the disaster. SPO in cooperation with other civil society organizations Khawaja Gharib Nawaz Trust (KGNT) Relief Foundation Pakistan provided food, medicines, and NFIs to 3000 thousand families in Mashkay, Gishkor, and Awaran. SPO also formed a district-level coordination body comprised of local civil society organization with the name of Awaran Disaster Response Forum (ADRF). This district body played a pivotal role in the effective coordination for interventions and distribution of relief items with district administration, humanitarian organizations, and Government of Balochistan.

On 23rd of March 2014, SPO took the initiative and landed in Thar with food for 300 families of village Dhaklo, UC Rajoro, ChahchrooTaluqa. 191 beneficiary families were Hindus and 109 were Muslim. The food packs contained nutritious diet for children, lactating mothers, and pregnant women, and the pack was enough for a family of 7 for a period of 3 weeks.

This is pertinent to mention that the majority of small-scale relief operations were undertaken by SPO’s own kitty. So far SPO has almost spent 4.8 million PKRs in reporting year (2103-14) in 3 natural disasters and could not expand the emergency operations due to the absence of funds.