DPRD has been phenomenal in responding to the natural catastrophes in Pakistan despite having limited resources and space for humanitarian interventions for those who are directly affected. In recent pasts, DPRD 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 inhabitants of Awaran faced earthquake of 7.7 magnitude on Richer Scale turned 40000 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 for the effective coordination for interventions and distribution of relief items with district administration, humanitarian organizations and Government of Balochistan.
Last month (23rd of March 2014) SPO took the initiative and landed in Thar with food for 300 families of village Dhaklo, UC Rajoro, ChahchrooTaluqa. 191 recipient families were affected Hindus and 109 were Muslim families of the village. The food packs contained nutritious diet for children, lactating mothers and pregnant women, and pack was enough for a family of 7 for a period of 3 weeks.
This is pertinent to mention that majority of small scale relief operations were under taken by SPO’s own kitty. So far SPO has almost spend 4.8 million PKRs in reporting year (2103-14) in 3 natural disasters and could not expand the emergency operations due to absence of funds and permission of launching large scale humanitarian assistance response particularly in Awaran and flood hit districts in 2013.
