The state of flood affectees in and required response

In the need of food, shelter and medicines as the floods hit and Heavy rains in various parts of Sindh and Balochistan have caused flood torrents and breaches in drains and canals inundating large areas downstream. The floods have brought a large scale displacement of people, destruction of houses and the standing crops, in the district of Chaghai (near the city of Noshki), Bolan (city of Bhag Nari and ), Shahdad Kot (towns of Qubo Saeed Khan and Shahdad Kot), Dadu (near the town of Johi) and Kech (city of and the surroundings).

In Sindh alone, 110 people have lost their lives while 50,000 rendered homeless and 24 missing so far. Electricity has been disrupted. About 3000 Kacha houses have been damaged. A massive loss has been faced in terms of crops, schools, poultry farms, and livestock and fishing boats. Similarly, in Balochistan, 8 districts have been badly affected. 132 deaths have been reported because of floods while 170 people are still missing. About 100,000 people have been displaced of their houses. The coastal highway has been damaged at Hangoo, Ormara and Zero point areas.

The disaster situation is continuing and the threats of diseases, hunger and miseries are being faced by a large population of poor / rural communities in these provinces of Pakistan. The situation demands a quick and timely response so as to fulfill the immediate needs of food, water, medicines and shelter. ActionAid and its partner organizations are undertaking assessment in the affected areas to locate the most affected and needy people and is also exploring opportunities for institutional funding.

Coordinating the relief efforts Representatives of various civil society organizations (OXFAM, EU, WWF, PFFF, ActionAid, CWS, Concern, Caritas, SPO and others) met at AAPk office to discuss a strategy to respond to the situation of floods in Pakistan by civil society. Three committees were constituted to visit those areas for loss assessment. One committee would visit Turbat, one Thatta, and the other Karachi. Later relevant assessments were shared widely. Accordingly CWS and SPO have already planned to distribute relief in Turbat area.

AAPk received the assessme nts /reports from its partner organizations (AAPk has a network of some 25 organizations, called “Development Areas”, mainly in the rural areas of Pakistan) from the affected areas. It has received such communications from our six DA partners (Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum {DA 14} Karachi, Badin Rural Development Society {DA 20} Badin; NGO’s Development Society {DA 24} Shahdad Kot, Noshki {Self-implemented DA 15}, PEACE Bolan {DA 26} and Village Shadabad Johi {DA 9}1. Most likely our response also will involve them. More specific assessments and proposals are being prepared.

1 Development Areas are recognized by numbers given to them. ActionAid has designated its Karachi office as hub of its present and future activities in this regard. Our partners have already started their efforts to address the situation in their respective areas with the available resources with them. The relief work has already started from AA's own funds in Noshki and Shahdadkot. So far, none of the major donors have made money available to NGOs, which is affecting our ability to expand our relief efforts to other affected areas.

Assessments of damage and plan of action in the affected areas Though the immediate needs are potable water, food and medicines but quickly people would be returning to their homes/villages due to two main reasons. First, that after the flood water has flown down, the people will be returning to their original abodes as they do not feel secure squatting at the roadside or at places, which are strange to them. Second, they have to take care of their property i.e. partially or fully destroyed houses. At this juncture the rehabilitation will also start and work on the shelter will pick up quickly.

Miseries of the people in the coastal areas of Karachi and Sindh A rapid assessment by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (AAPK’s partner organization based in Karachi and working in the coastal areas) revealed a drastic situation in the area. The worst sufferers of the Karachi population, in the backdrop of the rain, are the people of three Union councils: UC-8 Gabo Pat of Town, UC Ibrahim of and UC Rehri of Bin Qasim Town, but UC Gabo Pat is Worst Affected.

Being located at the coast of Arabian Sea, these villages are always at the risk of sea-water-intrusions. Due to rain-water pressure the small water storage reservoirs/dams have broken out and inundated the villages. It can safely be argued that if the rainfall continues the sea will intrude into the settlement areas. The recent rainfall, (which is still on), has severely disrupted the routine life of the people of theses villages.

The scale of destruction can be gauged from the fact that in Union Councils 8 Gabo Pat of Keamari town, Rehri of Bin Qasim Town, KT Bandar and Kharo Chhan, about 121 villages have been affected with a resulting affected population of about 43,800. About 600 houses have been destroyed while 1484 been damaged. Similarly, a large area under crop has also been affected and is under water.

Miseries of people in Badin (Sindh) and the plan of action Heavy rains and corresponding floods have led many people homeless in the area. The people are poor and mostly had kacha (mud) houses that have been destroyed by rains. They are facing lack of access to safe drinking water.

ActionAid’s local partner organization- Badin Rural Development Society (BRDS) undertook a rapid assessment. A plan of action has been designed for which ActionAid has provided support from its own funding. Following support will be provided to the local communities:

Description No of Units Vehicle for field 01 Medical Camp 02 ORS Sachets 3,000 Water Purification tablets/ sachets 2,000

Communities in Shahdadkot are still reeling Shahdadkot is one of the worst hit areas. The flood water of Bolan River and Mulla River has spread in the plains of Kachhi and Nari Areas. These are the major rivers of Balochistan that can damage and destroy a large number of Human Habitations, Agriculture and Live stock with Villages and Towns of various sizes.

7 other Hill Torrents like Kharghani, Buz, Alkah, Mardan, Narani, Durb and Khenji nais have brought a great destruction in Both Shahdadkot and Qubo Saeed Khan Talukas. The water is found around Jhal Magsi and Gandawah, Kot Magsi and Bagh Head. The people have migrated from their homes to secure places.

Nearly all roads have been damaged due to this great flood of Kachhi plains. Transport is lacking and the people here are in great despair. The Roads between and Shahdadkot and Jhal Magsi are cut off.

The Flood Protective Bund, which is on its decline, can not bear the force of Flood Water. Here the flood water table is more than 12 to 14 feet. There is no Food Supplies in the flood areas and the children and women are crying under open sky. A large number of Live Stock has drowned and washed away from many places. The only protective part of Saifullah Magsi Branch is about to breach and if this happens Shahdadkot would be flooded by this great Disaster.

People here are in dire need of potable water, medicines and shelter and seek for help.

People in the villages of Noshki (Balochistan) are looking for help Noshki and its vicinity villages have been badly hit by the floods. About 350 houses have been completely demolished and nearly 100 are partially damaged.

In this area, almost 450 families need shelter, clean drinking water and food immediately in four (04) villages of UC City 1 and UC Jamaldini, (UC Kishingi and Anambostan Daak have not been assessed yet as there is no way to travel to the villages and they are the most vulnera ble and affected UC of the district by rains and flood). These people are also in the need of support to build their houses and transportation is required to shift people back to their homes as they are provided shelter.

Following table portrays an overv iew of destruction in these areas:

s.# Name of Villages Households completely Households Partially destroyed (approximately) destroyed (approximately) 1 Killi Jamaldini 90 30 2 Killi Aasiaban 110 20 3 Killi Gharib abad 130 40 4 Killi Jamalabad 20 10 TOTAL 350 100