Islamic relief is one of many organizations working in the flood affected areas of Balochistan to provide shelters to homeless flood-ravaged families.
Abdul Shakoor Khan
As the sole breadwinner of 12 kids and one wife, Dil Murad, 48, would earn Rs 200 to Rs 400 daily collecting rags from trash cans and public dumps as means of livelihood.
Life was hard and became worse for the resident of Kili Kamalo in Quetta’s outskirt when, all of a sudden the flood left his family homeless, forcing the family to a temporary shelter until the water receded and he could begin reconstructing his damaged house
“Last spell of continued downpours and flash floods demolished my home.
“This monsoon was a nightmare for me, my family and others like us who lived a hand to mouth existence,” Dil Murad said, sitting on the remains of his collapsed home.
“I had no idea where to take my family as it was raining,” Dil Murad said recalling his ordeal. “My already cracked mud-house could not endure the unabated rainfall and gushing floodwater.”
Dil Murad was lucky to have got shelter for his family in a nearby mosque. But he felt helpless seeing his home collapse in the heavy downpour from dark clouds in the sky above.
Life must move on
After suffering for some days, a ray of hope appeared as the donor group, Islamic Relief, with support from the government, initiated a “one-room shelter” program for the homeless flood-hit families.
“I have started re-building my demolished home after receiving basic construction materials and cash from the Islamic Relief,” he says. “Thanks to all who helped me construct one room shelter – I am happy to rebuild my home and start a new life.”
“It is hard for flood victims to forget nature’s furious battering and those sleepless nights. But life eventually has to return to normalcy despite all odds,” Dil Murad said, adding, “life must move on,” to conclude his tale of miseries, placing a brick on the upcoming wall of an under-construction room.
Islamic relief is one of many organizations working in the flood affected areas of Balochistan to provide shelters to homeless flood-ravaged families.
“We have devised a strategy with the support of the government and administration to execute relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood affected areas,” says Muhammad Esa, Area Program Manager Islamic Relief.
“In the first phase, we are providing construction material and cash to 4,610 families in Quetta, Qila Abdullah and Pishin districts for the reconstruction of their damaged houses,” he said.
Aid for farming
Outlining his organization’s plan for the second phase, he said, Islamic Relief will support the government in rehabilitation of water supply schemes in Sohbat Pur, Jaffarbad and Bolan districts.
The recent monsoon and floods that wreaked havoc in all districts of Balochistan claimed 336 lives and injured 187 people. Flood waters brought down 225,000 houses. The floods destroyed 2221.98 km of road, killed 500,000 livestock and damaged 900,000 acre of agricultural land.
“Calamity caused Rs 200 billion losses to the province. But, we are using all available resources for rehabilitation of flood-stricken people,” Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Qudus Bizenjo informed.
“The Balochistan government has also started implementing a Rs. 16 billion subsidy program for affected farmers,” he said. “After relief operation, we are all set to initiate rehabilitation work with support of the federal government and humanitarian organizations in the areas where flood water recedes.”
As agriculture is a mainstay for Balochistan’s people, the government’s compensation policy provides tractor and bulldozers services to farmers, he added.
Yet, some areas of the region have yet to be cleared of flood waters. “Water remains in Jaffarabad and its surroundings as thousands of families have been displaced, who need clean water, treatment of malnutrition, diarrhoea and other diseases,” said Scott Whoolery, UNICEF Field Operation Chief.
Whoolery said the UNICEF is providing supplies and services to treat malnutrition. “We have set up learning and support psychosocial well-being centres. We feel the situation may take quite some time to return to normalcy.”
