Empowering Women in Flood Affected Areas

The devastating floods of 2011 and 2013 in Pakistan particularly in the Sind region has affected about 5.3 million people and 1.2 million homes (approx) in 12 districts of the province. These internally displaced people have lost their homes, land, livestock and belongings and are settled in various relief camps set up by government and international organizations. However what they are actually looking for is the  rebuilding and rehabilitation of their lives. 

Working as a UN volunteer I had my first hand experience of visiting the flood affected areas earlier this year. We visited few villages in District Badin & Thatta and spoke to the common people to get an account of the relief work being carried out in their villages. Most of the people settled in these areas have lost all their belongings, their cattle (usually their only means of livelihood). There is an acute shortage of drinking water and people have to walk miles to fetch water for their families. Due to scarcity of water, agricultural activities are also not feasible in these areas which is leading to food shortages and obstruction in their means of livelihood.

Living in such dire conditions, women and children are the worst affected with no facilities or access to any kind of health care. Maternal death ratios are very high in these areas along with child mortality due to outbreak of diseases; most recently being the measles outbreak. Ironically it is usually the women who are capable of earning any kind of livelihood for the family after losing their land and livestock in floods. They are involved in stitching, embroidery and handicrafts.  They sell their work to buyers in cities through middlemen who usually do not compensate their work to its true worth.



The Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Sind (PDMA) is already working in close connection with International Organisations for rehabilitation work. However some issues need to be higlighted; instead of focusing on providing relief goods and rations, measures should be taken to ensure pre disaster preparation and recovery plans. If proper skills development and capacity building trainings are held, these women are capable of bringing considerable change in their lives. Regular trainings on DRR (Disaster Risk Recovery) and Gender Mainstreaming conducted in all affected areas will ensure that women are not marginalized. Adult litracy programs focused towards health and hygiene can built awareness on issues such as reproductive health, spacing births and choosing family size. Skill development and grant support programs running in parallel can revive small businesses and cottage industries in these areas. There is low investment and infrastructure cost involved in setting up handicrafts/garment and small production units since most of the women have adequate skills and are equipped with basic tools. Other cottage industries like weaving, pottery, ceramics and textiles should be introduced on a mass level which can become a fruitful means of earning for themselves and their families.