After the Flood in Pakistan 38 Berlin Geographical Papers - Freie ...

5.2.3 Summary of findings: loss of basic services threatens rural livelihoods
Reconstruction of shelter with local materials through the use of local labour force and
before onset of the monsoon has to be facilitated quickly in the survey villages of Thatta.
The non-availability of a secure and sheltered space has caused several incidences of snake
bites as in the present circumstances everyday life takes place in the open. The urgent
need to improve water access and water quality should be addressed by replacement of
existing defunct with locally available hand pumps. To address the food crisis in the longer
term, provision of seeds and fertilizer is important so that people are in the position to
commence agricultural activities. Also support in re-stocking of livestock would help to
facilitate food security and to open up additional income sources. There also should be
awareness programmes to reduce the betel nut consumption of small children.
In addition both village settings have provided ample evidence that disaster preparedness
could be introduced with comparatively little efforts. The display of boards with
explanations how early warning strategies could be implemented in the case of flood
events, where there are safe havens in case of inundation and where livestock could be
driven to in order to prevent the severe losses of the only valuable commodity could help
to avoid panic situations and could utilize fresh knowledge from last year’s flood event.
The cooperation of governmental and non-governmental institutions needs to be
guaranteed as these are “shared disasters” where it does not matter who is who. As the
government-led repair of the dyke that should protect these villages from the next flood
has only commenced recently the local trust in all kinds of institutions is limited.
Consequently, the fear of the next flood is prevalent, and even a smaller flood would
affect these villages as they are located in close vicinity to the yet un-mended breach in
the Indus dyke.
All activities need close monitoring in the field by trained and experienced community
facilitators, and subcontracting of procurement through middlemen should be avoided to
ensure efficient use of available funds. Any implementation of development packages
requires a transparent and consensual process in which is indicated and understood why
certain households will benefit and others will not.
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