Civil Society Flood Situation Report
Report -3, December 2, 2011
Prepared and released by
Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods [PACF]
This report
Issuing situation report about the flood affected communities of Sindh is one of the key activities of PACF. The network has already issued its first report which received quick encouraging media response. This is its second report
Objectives of the Report
· To highlight the real situation and the challenges being faced by the flood affected communities of Sindh province of Pakistan
· To highlight the gaps and issues in flood response and recovery of the flood affected communities by the government and international communities
· Bring forward the voice of the flood affected communities on the issues being faced by them
· Prepare and present suggestions for pro poor and sustainable relief , recovery and rehabilitation of the flood affected communities as per international humanitarian standards
Pakistan Card (Concerns, Issues & Problems)
Keeping in view the sever decline of saving and purchasing power Government of Pakistan initiated the cash compensation program for flood affected peoples living vulnerably. The underlying scenario unfolds the Concerns; Issues & Problems relating to Watan (Pakistan) card are as under:
1. In District Badin and Umerkot there remains huge number of the people yet Watan (Pakistan) Card has not been issued. It is very much challenging to reach at the Watan Card Facilitation center by the flood affected communities.
2. Issuance and distribution of fake tokens have also been reported from Jhol and Jhando Mari towns of District Sanghar, this is happening due to total absence of honest law enforcement agencies.
3. Cards have been distributed to the eligible but yet there is huge number of the people without cash of 1st Installment. People undergoing chronic poverty are visiting ATM centers with the hope to get their money and bearing cost of transport unnecessarily.
4. Corruption on the part of the Government and Private agents has been reported in District Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas by the Community during PACF field monitoring visits.
5. Redressed mechanism for getting the proper information regarding the Pakistan Card is almost absent and non-functional.
6. Lack of prioritized mechanism for mainstreaming the most vulnerable particularly for Pakistan Card and generally for the other flood response activities.
Slow Dewatering Process in Flood Affected Districts
Areas where still water is stagnant are not attended by the government authorities as in Samaro, Golarchi, UC Peero lashari, Kunri Pathoro, UC Odero lal at Dehsil Talhar District Sanghar. Moreover the flash flooding use to destroy natural irrigation flows and channels which are sorely affected by unattended in country like Pakistan. This certainly affects natural stability of the systems. Breaches in canals or distributaries by the farmers have been seen as offensive situation at upper and lower regions of the Indus, thus it can be a prominent update in near future, and this is not clear while the drains were cut from different places in a complete absence of sanitation systems and this will create catastrophic situations. Compaction of canals or distributaries is vital subject; if it is not given importance then it can become another cause of disasters situation.
Saline water drains considered as useful for fertility of land by draining out agriculture effluent was a myth to understand, during the planning and implementation of the mega infrastructure project by World Bank there had been limited number of research findings that had been gathered so far, this has caused desponding among humanitarian sector. While the hazard has raised the issue of dealing with the upcoming floods and rains in such a challenging situation.
Pic-1: A view of nonuse dewatering machines.
The findings of a reconnaissance by the members of the Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) among worse flooded areas of District Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas have found that the areas are still expurgated means of livelihood. As 73% local peoples’ dependency is on agriculture, it is observed that if the areas are again hit by small amount of rain that can make the situation worst, and the problems can be wickedest ever been attended by humanitarian organizations.
The preliminary statistic indicates that the villagers have started migrating to safer places in winter season; nevertheless the volume of the peoples may be smaller in Umarkot, Badin, Talhar then other zones like Mirpurkhas and Sanghar. The migration is a preference to save the lives of the people and youngsters, while the inducement of food security and shelter accessibility for the flood affected communities is observed less than the requirements. Agencies like Oxfam, UN and other can help in this case, while providing the shelter and food; such assistance can help the people to fight against periodic change in weather, and worse can be thought even before it is started. Fighting the winter is a prime concern in these days because the peoples are in short of blankets, tents, and other lifesaving goods.
Early recovery of flood affected communities who are vulnerable to winter cold is observed slow in Tando Allahywar and Mirpurkhas. This situation is already anticipated by humanitarian organizations, whilst the biggest concern of the time is to cope with the winter. The revised response plan for the humanitarian assistance is being finalized by Humanitarian partners.
Still Ban on the Cash Transfers to the Flood Affectees
NDMA has still continued ban on the distribution of unconditional cash among the flood affected communities by the international and relief organizations. After its wrong decision of not allowing international humanitarian agencies including United Nations organizations to provide support to the rain/ flood affected communities in the initial days, NDMA has once again come with anti people decision. NDMA Has issued a policy decision in which it has banned distribution of cash grant amount among the flood affected communities by the national and international organizations. In fact Cash for Choice happens to be key support program of the humanitarian organizations in the initial post disaster days to provide cash to poorest of poor and most vulnerable households. During the floods of 2010 humanitarian agencies distributed billions of rupees among poorest of poor and most vulnerable households in different districts of Sindh. The flood affected communities mainly spent this amount of purchasing food for them and some of them used the amount on the treatment of their ill family members. Thus this activity played a key role for the food security and health improvement of the flood affected communities in Sindh province in 2010.
Now in 2011 while putting ban on the provision of cash for choice to the local flood affected communities NDMA has not only violated the international laws on human rights and humanitarian support in crisis, but also stood as responsible for creating food insecurity among the poorest of poor flood affected communities of Sindh province.
‘Unconditional’ and ‘conditional’ cash grant programs are in fact major humanitarian relief programs the international humanitarian agencies launch soon after the disaster to provide cash support to the disaster affected communities. Under the unconditional cash grant amount ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 15000 are providing to per household head in the disaster affected communities. This amount is provided through bank crossed cheques in through a very transparent system of beneficiary identification, registration, and cheque distribution. Under the humanitarian support criteria, this amount is given to widows, households with seriously ill head unable to make any earning, poorest of poor, women headed households etc. There is no condition put on those poor families to give the open choice to purchase whatever, have immediate family needs which usually happens to be food and medicines etc. However, under the ‘ conditional’ cash grants program, after the identification of the poor families they are asked to carry out any work including construction of their own destroyed house, rehabilitation of their own land or any other household or communal work against which they are paid in cash on daily wages basis. Both the programs are implemented globally wherever disasters hit the local communities and no government of any country has made any objection on these programs, however, interestingly, NDMA has made a policy decision and has communicated that decision to all the international humanitarian organizations that they are not allowed to initiate unconditional cash grant programs in the flood affected areas of Sindh. Resultantly, the humanitarian agencies which had prepared major cash distribution programs and had secured funds for this purpose had to roll back their programs.
Such a major policy decision seriously affecting the food security of the flood affected communities of Sindh province is a major question mark especially when there has been no such decision made by the federal or provincial Sindh Government. On the contrary, the government itself is encouraging cash distribution among the flood affected communities through the distribution of Watan Cards.
Current Situation of Flood Affected Communities and Relief Support
The situation is changing in flood and rain affected communities in Sindh, as already discussed in Civil Society Flood Situation (CSFS) reports 2nd issue here in the fourth week of November that almost USD 230,809,885 were needed, and further assistance to meet the requirements to face the situation.
Activities to sustain flood affected communities’ livelihood, are taking place in a number of areas in district Umarkot, Badin, Sanghar, Banazirabad, Mithi, Tharparkar Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan and other areas by the non-governmental organizations. It is observed in recent visits to some of the affected areas by the PACF team that the stagnant rain water has been prime concern of the villagers, which has caused an increase in waterborne diseases such as anemia, paratyphoid enteric fever, esquistomiasis, trachoma, dehydration, hepatitis, ARI and ophthalmic infections. Whilst the biological and chemical contamination in canals and stagnant water sources can increase the number of patients. Due to shortage of sweet water in dug wells and water ponds can even result into increase of dehydration and deaths can occur.
Status of Shelter Support
The shelter need of the affected population is increasing, however the estimated emergency shelter needed has 44% gap (UNOCHA Situation Report 13) into formal shelter based assistance. The priorities had been mentioned in CSFS 2nd issue that the peoples returning to their homes are even short of proper shelter facilities. The material which is subjected as essential is not given importance, while UN OCHA Statistics show that there are gaps over 90% in shelter based assistance, such as blankets, kitchen sets and bedding and mats.
Speedy humanitarian support in this regard is important, and inputs from different stakeholders in this situation are appreciable. The problem cannot be handled unless it is shared and reviewed time to time in order to reduce the risk on people vulnerable to winter in the month of December, while shelter cluster have received 45 percent funds yet (UNOCHA Situation Report 13). Opportunity risks of temporary residing families are also tricky in tent cities and temporary settlements, where activities like snatching, robbery, clashes between family members are reported normally.
Status of Food Security and Support
Food items dissemination in the areas has reached to 1.1 million by World Food Program (WFP). In a survey by the PACF members to communities the team has found that some of areas in Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas are still not contacted by NGOs for relief support in terms of food and shelter. Humanitarians have observed that the Additional funding will be critical to the implementation of ongoing life-saving interventions and livelihood recovery activities (UNOCHA Situation Report 13).
Status of Health Related Support
The affected communities are also vulnerable to the diseases like anemia, paratyphoid enteric fever, dehydration, hepatitis, ARI have been simultaneously reported in the BHUs and mobile clinics. The major problem has emerged in shape of malaria and it has been increased dramatically.
Status of Support in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Water and sanitation hygiene is a prime concern of the communities these days, because the available water source like dug wells and water ponds are contaminated my chemicals and saline water flowed in the floods and rain floods, therefore speeding up the water availability is more worth then utilizing resources on other informal activities. Sanitation improvement based on infrastructure is also important this time, whereas the cluster based information can be utilized for batter sanitation and its improvement projects. While improving and redesigning the sanitation facilities, the environmental perspective should also be under consideration to batter tackle environmental sanitation. In an affected household the sanitation also involves household food safety, and the maintenance of clean living conditions which do not promote the spread of disease.
1. Watan card should be given to the affected peoples without any political pressure. To reduce the risk of inaccessibility of the people from remote areas should be compensated by going to their areas.
2. Health facilities in those affected areas have to be given excessive interest in order to tackle malaria and other waterborne diseases.
3. Shelter need of the peoples should be satisfied before it is too late.
4. Sanitation infrastructures need to be improved with focus of environmental viewpoint.
5. Peoples of affected areas whose dependency is based on agriculture should be given urea and seed for cultivation where possible in District Badin, Sanghar, Umar Kot, Mithi, and others.
6. NDMA should lift the ban on unconditional cash programs, where as the cash programs for unconditional pay systems are highly encouraged in developing countries. Such type of cash transfers are evenly delivered in climatic hit areas, such as flood and rain affected, earthquake affected, battle fields etc.
