Rapid Need Assessment Flood 2014, Tehsil Wazirabad District Gujranwala- Punjab-Pakistan

Rapid Need Assessment flood 2014, Tehsil Wazirabad district Gujranwala- Punjab-Pakistan Submitted to UNOCHA Submitted by Nasir Mehmood Ghuman Executive Director Rural Development Organization 1 Rural Development Organization (RDO)-Rapid Need Assessment of Flood-2014-Tehsil Wazirabad-Gujranwala FLOOD SITUATION OF THE AREA District Gujranwala remained highly prone due to flash flood of 2014. This is the most worst affected district of province of the Punjab in current flood situation. Current flood-2014 has left much catastrophic impact on women and children population, leaving them in the web of increased protection, social and economic vulnerabilities. The flood affected population particularly most vulnerable communities including female headed families are in situation of food shortage, shelter need, health & hygiene, protection of children and their livestock. This recurrent flood, 2014 has added miseries into their existing problems blowing up protection problems for vulnerable women and their families also. The flood 2014 has played havoc with the lives and the livelihoods of the affected areas. Hundreds of villages have been flooded under 4 to 5 feet deep water, while standing crops on thousands of acres of agricultural lands destroyed. In different rain-related and house collapses incidents 4 people killed up-till now since flood situation occurred. Floods also washed away crops on thousands of acres of farmlands in Gujranwala. People took refuge on their rooftops, at height places and in school buildings. The flood affected areas are left at the mercy of nature in this district due to the negligence of district administration. RDO conducted rapid need assessment in Wazirabad Tehsil during flood situation to respond the emergency in regard of Rashan distribution, shelter, medical support etc. This rapid need assessment is conducted for initial response in the Tehsil Wazirabad, the most affected area of the District Gujranwala. Out of 1070 affected families in 9 assessed villages more than 500 families have lost their shelters, more than 200 livestock (sheep & goats) dead, dry Rashan (wheat & rice) had destroyed by the recent flood. No death toll is recorded in Wazirabad however dozens of people are recorded injured. The recent flood also destroyed thousands acres land of agriculture and standing crops. The majority of community is dependent agriculture and livestock. People of this area grow Rice People crossing water to reach the access road, teh. Wazirabad crop, wheat, red chili, onion and potato. In current situation the population here is in great risk of food in security due to recent flood. Approximately 80% of poultry died in flood however the remaining livestock, like buffaloes, cows, goats, sheep etc have less possibility of survival due to unavailability of fodder. Besides damaging the livelihood assets and other infrastructure, the flood also destroyed the communication and transmission system of affected areas, and affected population was left with no choice but to live on roads and to their nearby relatives. The water has risen at both sides of the houses. Being saline and contaminated water women and children are in great danger; the flood water is causing Diarrhea, Malaria, scabies, cholera and many skin diseases due to poor hygienic practices. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSESSMENT The overall objective of this assessment was to gauge the situation of flood affected population in worst tehsil of Wazirabad, district Gujranwala in Punjab and identify areas of possible intervention to assist them. The specific objectives of the assessment are as follows: To establish a good understanding of the entire humanitarian crisis by effective consultations with affected population to control the situation 2 Rural Development Organization (RDO)-Rapid Need Assessment of Flood-2014-Tehsil Wazirabad-Gujranwala To assess the emergency needs of the flood affected population of tehsil Wazirabad, Gujranwala To identify most vulnerable segments of flood affected population and understand the challenges being faced by them. To provide recommendations for immediate and medium to long term actions needed to assist the flood affected population of tehsil, Wazirabad- Gujranwala. METHODOLOGY RDO Team conducted FGDs with effected men, women and children groups. The respondents were randomly selected from the village population at road side. Recognizing the traditional and conservative culture in the area, the team made sure to incorporate interviews with women headed households in the assessment process. Therefore, the team tried to interview such households through ‘deliberate sample selection’ wherever possible. SELECTION OF TARGET LOCATIONS Keeping in view the limitations, the team tried to focus on those areas where still no any organization/agency reached or having limited access. As since last one week villages are stuck under water but very less humanitarian organization are reached over the said union council for the support to those communities. The team was also able to visit a very brief part of the affected area that was under water. SELECTION OF RESPONDENTS The team used both purposive and random sampling techniques to select respondents. The types of respondents selected are as follows: Men, women and children affected by rains and floods TIMELINE The entire period of assessment from beginning with an initial planning meeting and ending with the preparation of the draft report covered a period of 03 days. The assessment itself was conducted over a period of two consecutive days from September 6-8, 2014. TECHNIQUES Participatory techniques were utilized to get basic information from a range of respondents including men, women & children. These techniques helped in collecting both qualitative and limited quantitative data in terms of loss /damages. Qualitative data comprising, type of basic needs, degree of challenges, quality and degree of assistance provided or not, people’s perceptions, beliefs and experiences RDO team conducting FGD with affected community etc. The collected quantitative data is comprised of statistics related to deaths, injured, damages of households and livestock, crops and other assets. Following are some of the techniques adopted: Focus Group Discussions Key Informant Interviews Transect Walk & Observations 3 Rural Development Organization (RDO)-Rapid Need Assessment of Flood-2014-Tehsil Wazirabad-Gujranwala KEY FINDINGS Village Size The assessment teams were able to reach 9 villages and conducted the FGDs. The village size varied from one to the other. The average size of the village was 90-180 households. The household size observed was 7 members averagely where people live in extended families system. Social construction of communities The affected area host different caste groups. Each and every caste groups have branches representing different clans. Overall, Muslims are in majority but the in some villages minority communities also living. Punjabi is the vastly spoken language. About 60 % of the villagers are tenants/formers called “Muzaray” in Punjabi language. Social relationships within the community are good at the grass roots level, whereas the power distance exists. Internal lending on interest is carried out at local level whereas the some local institutions also provide microfinance to the communities. Livelihoods Patterns Agriculture: is the largest source of earning for 90% community members in the villages. It was observed that 60% of the community members are tenants. The Tenancy pattern includes the shared cropping. Rice, red chili, potatoes, onion and vegetables are grown in the area. The areas had established irrigation system which is feed by the local canal and through tube wells. Livestock: It was observed during the exercise that the farming communities keep livestock at large. On the average a farmer keeps one large and two small animals and in addition 4-5 poultry. The large ruminants include Buffalo and cows which are the main source of milk production. Goats and sheep contribute to fulfill the meat needs of the local market. Bulls are kept as local transportation mode through bullock cart. Bulls are also used for ploughing purpose as well. During the survey it found that large ruminants remained safe, small ruminants affected at little however approximately 80% poultry of the affected area lost and died in flood. Availability of Basic needs and social Services It was observed through the FGDs that the water and sanitation services at village level were of worst condition. Because water is contaminated in affected area and the ground water is salty and people of the area used to take drinking water from different points through donkey carts. Drainage system has been collapsed due to heavy flood. Low literacy rate, poverty and lack of awareness put the community at low with respect to hygiene condition. The water and sanitation facilities were not good enough at the village level. Housing patterns Housing pattern in the areas is (kacha), kacha pakka and in some pakka. The housing construction is subjected to the wellbeing of the household. The majority of people living at the village level are poor earning their livelihoods through tenant farming, casual labor and on-farm labor. The housing pattern of the community was not flood resistant. Settlements in the villages in pre flood situation did not follow any specific construction method or settlement approach. While health and hygiene conditions are reported worse for migrants and affectees of these areas. Health

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