LAHORE: Participants in the “Floods 2022” consultation stated that the government and relief organisations must keep the vulnerable populations informed about the response, recovery and rehabilitation strategies.

The provincial consultation that Aawaz II organised in Multan focused on the flood response and how to make flood relief and rehabilitation more accessible, accommodating, and secure for vulnerable groups.

Unicef, FAO, district administration, civil society organisations, transgender communities, and organisations involved in the relief and restoration of flood-affected areas were represented at the conference.

They said women, children, transgender persons, religious minorities, and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable and are at risk of harassment, exclusion, and lack of mobility. Information, relief, and rehabilitation often do not reach these groups because of the social and structural barriers they face.

The consultation addressed concerns raised about the needs of the most vulnerable groups and issues relating to their protection from social, economic, and health issues beyond their control.

It came up with recommendations to ensure that these groups are taken into account in the Flood 2022 response, recovery, and rehabilitation plan. The participants discussed that the vulnerable groups had been severely affected by the recent floods and affected people, especially women, are in acute distress; therefore, they immediately need psychological support.

Aawaz II’s Head of Programme Delivery Arshad Mahmood emphasised the need for an inclusive response system while also taking into account the vulnerabilities of marginalised groups of people.

He also praised the government’s and civic society’s efforts to assist those affected under challenging circumstances.

Education Specialist at Unicef Rubina Nadeem said the impending winter season is making underprivileged communities more vulnerable.

She said there were not enough policies in place to ensure that food was fairly distributed and wash facilities were available and children were safe to be engaged in educational activities.

She said there were no specifically designated safe zones for women and children and Unicef was opening a regional office to address the issues.

Moreover, mobile units for women have been set up for nursing moms, trauma, and water-related illnesses, which are on the rise.

Other speakers said there is a significant data gap, especially in regard to marginalised groups.

They stressed the need for weighing the needs of flood victims by bringing the relevant government departments to the table to work together, especially to soil research as acres of fields are now covered in mud caused by floods.

They said people with disabilities are not visible, they are frequently disregarded, particularly in emergency situations.

Such people are severely impacted by the flood in 2020; in rural places, many people who are mentally ill and paralysed as a result of their disabilities lack access to food, shelter, and immediate response services.

Surveys are immediately necessary to determine where assistance and support are currently needed. The gathering concluded that the flood-affected people were dependent on agriculture and the floods created an alarming scenario in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2022