Oct 6th, 2022
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the humanitarian situation in Pakistan has deteriorated further over the weeks as heavy rains continue to cause flooding and landslides resulting in displacement and damage across Pakistan. Sixty-six districts have been officially declared to be 'calamity hit' by the Government of Pakistan – 31 in Balochistan, 23 in Sindh, nine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and three in Punjab. The situation remains dynamic, and many more districts have been affected; the number of calamity-declared districts is expected to rise if rains continue to fall.
The Lay Camilian Family (LCF) and the Camillians in Pakistan, promptly responded to the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan by providing first emergency assistance to the people affected by the flood in the Dioceses of Hyderabad and Faisalabad.
During the following weeks, it became clear that emergency intervention would only partially alleviate human, material and psychological damage. Therefore, a more sustained and incisive intervention was needed, implemented through collaboration with the Tzu Chi Buddhist Charity Foundation, a CADIS partner in other projects as well (Covid-19 emergency response and Ukrainian emergency), which will fund the intervention.
Partners of the project, together with the Tzu Chi Foundation, are the Diocese of Hyderabad, the Camillians and the Lay Camillian Family. The partnership will achieve important results for the flood-affected population.
Local partners who will collaborate with in the execution of the project are the parish priest, catechists, St. Francis Youth Group (local people), daughters of the Holy Cross (religious nuns).
The intervention area will focus on St. Francis Parish, located in the District of Nawabshah, and will assist 33,000 individuals. The population of Nawabshah is 220,283 as of 2022. Flood is among the most catastrophic and common natural events. It not only endangers human lives, livelihoods, and possessions but also devastates the nation's economy. Increased flooding is an inevitable consequence of climate change. Pakistan received over 60% of its total average monsoon rainfall in just three weeks since the start of the monsoon season in July 2022.
As the people were living below the poverty line, with this flood, they lost everything - properties, cattles, etc. The flood waters were raging through their villages and devouring their properties.
Belonging to a faith other than the majority is another battle one has to face in Pakistan. The people who belonged to the different faith traditions were discriminated against. They are suffering not only from the loss of their material belongings, but they are also experiencing mental and spiritual agony in this cruel situation. In this scenario, they need material help, and special attention has to be given to the psychospiritual well-being of these victims.
The general objective of the project is to bring God's merciful love of Christ and alleviate the suffering caused by the floods 2022.
Specific objectives of the project are:
1. Provide food items good for a month.
2. Provide medicines and medication for ordinary sickness and wounds on an individual level.
3. In case of emergency, respond to severe sickness through hospitalization and treatment.
4. Provide mosquito nets and blankets
The project targets to distribute 4500 relief packs (food, non-food items such as quilts, hygiene kits for men, women and children). The pack is good for a one month family supply. An average family size in Pakistan is 5 to 6 persons; so will be helping approximately 27,000 individuals including children.
27000 (4500 families) will receive relief packages – food, hygiene supplies, winterization kits
2,000 persons will receive medical assistance
2,000 persons will receive blankets
2,000 persons will receive mosquito nets
The Lay Camillian Family already has a previous record of disaster response during the earthquake and floods in the past years. We have already started working on data collection to know the basic needs of the flood victims so that we can provide them necessities, hygiene kits, sanitary kits for females.
