KARACHI: Speakers at a programme on Tuesday demanded that the government take measures to ensure proper rehabilitation of vulnerable communities in Sindh as they faced marginalisation during the flood relief process.

The event ‘Advocacy meeting on floods 2022 in Sindh: mapping vulnerabilities in relief and rehabilitation’, organised jointly by the National Commission for Human rights (Sindh) and The Knowledge Forum (TKF)

The consultation was attended by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Sindh Member Anis Haroon, Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) chairperson Nuzhat Shireen, MPA Adeeba Hassan, representatives of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindh Social Welfare department, civil society and other international organisations.

Ms Haroon said it is the need of our times that hurdles being faced by the flood victims after so many months should be documented and a proper mechanism be devised for their speedy rehabilitation. “Pregnant women, persons with disabilities, children and people with compromised health are suffering the most in displacement situation,” she noted.

Lack of transparency in disaster response affects vulnerable communities the most, moot told

She further emphasised that the government should ensure transparency in the rehabilitation process. “Lack of transparency in disaster response affects the vulnerable communities the most, as they don’t have the voice, the agency and external assistance to influence change,” she said, adding that many areas in Sindh are still inundated under flood water where people suffer a lot due to winter seasons. No healthcare facility is available for flood victims.

Ms Shirin said that when she visited the camps, she found that the women and children were suffering the most because of the nature of their vulnerability. Moreover, she said that the government departments involved in aid lacked data of the vulnerable people, which complicated the overall process of delivery of relief and rehabilitation.

Zeenia Shaukat said the TKF is working with the NCHR to conduct a research seeking to map the experiences of the vulnerable communities in Nawabshah and Sanghar during and after the floods. “These communities include scheduled caste population, women, transgender, disabled persons and displaced persons,” she said.

Researchers Zameer Awan and Ishak Soomro shared the data from the field.

“Based on responses from Sanghar and Nawabshah/Benazirabad, every community has been affected by the rains and floods in these areas. However, the challenges for those from scheduled castes, particularly Bheels, Meghwars, Kolhis and the Christian community engaged in sanitation work have been particularly bad.

“This is because many affected people from scheduled communities were dependent on agriculture and the floodwater has inundated the land and deprived them of their livelihood. Predominantly, they live in kacha houses on land that they do not own, including state-owned land. Such houses have often not been surveyed for assessment of damage,” it was noted.

A Sindhuwaas Foundation representative, Anita, said that the flood-affected people in many areas in Qubo Saeed Khan did not receive any substantial support for reconstruction of homes.

“Only food relief was distributed. The camp at Hub Chowki has over 500 people. They don’t want to go back as all their homes and livestock have perished,” she said, adding that a large number of people are sick and there is no healthcare facility is available. Meanwhile, some 80 per cent people in the camps are suffering malnutrition.

Pirbhu Satyani of the International Rescue Committee highlighted a recent research, which noted 40 per cent cases of discrimination. Most people were unaware of where to get healthcare. He said issues such as standing water and lack of information on where to find post-floods assistance contributed to community distress.

Sadiqa Salahuddin of the Indus Resource Centre, Ross Mahta of Community World Service, Malka Khan from Aurat Foundation, Qazi Khizar of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, researchers Ishak Soomro, Zamir Awan and others also spoke.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2023