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

Most people in the village are not in the position to access proper health treatment, with
many villagers suffering from hepatitis B and C. A vaccination campaign would be needed
rather urgently for preventing others to
catch the illness. Incidences of Malaria
22
have increased too due to the large areas
61
27
of standing water, and the mosquito nets
5 that have been distributed seem not to
protect people sufficiently. Problems
with respect to reproductive health have
No schooling Governmental School Male Pupil Female Pupil
Source: data recorded by ZELF team, Freie Universität
Berlin, February – March 2011, n=88
been reported too (cf. Box 20). The problem
is exacerbated by lack of fresh-water
supply - only five hand pumps remained
Fig. 5.51: Adults older than 18 years who had functional after the flood, and some of
visited schools
these apparently only supply brackish
water.
In terms of food security the situation remains precarious too – most households can only
afford one proper meal per day, and the distribution of food items by aid agencies could
only partly alleviate the situation (cf. Box 21).
There is a governmental primary school in the village, but attendance is very low, especially
for girls (cf. Figures 5.52 & 5.53). The same is the case for higher education which is
accessible in the small market place Sita close to Zafarabad, because most households require
children’s labour force in agriculture as the major occupational sector in the village.
In terms of land use and agricultural production patterns, Zafarabad presents a picture
similar to Mehrab Qambrani. However, here nobody owns any land and issues of establishing
land rights for the poor remains a matter
to be addressed (cf. Oxfam 2011). Most
villagers work as sharecroppers bound to
the land they cultivate for others by large
18
and increasing debt levels. Flood induced 20
32
losses in agriculture were passed down to
poor farmers that have to carry the burden
14
of the destruction. It also appears that No schooling Governmental School Male Pupil Female Pupil
currently agriculture is not an option for
many as inputs for cultivation are lacking
Source: data recorded by ZELF team, Freie Universität
Berlin, February – March 2011, n=52
and can not be afforded. Those who cultivate
will have to deliver about 80% or
more of their harvest to landowners for
partial repayment of credits.
Fig. 5.52: Pupils in schooling age
82