Floods 2010 - Returning from ashes to glory



Shop of Ahmed Nawaz (in blue dress) with new stock to sell

Surrounded with lush green crops of wheat, onions, vegetables, and destroyed houses from flood 2010 water village Bahawal Jatak is about 30 kilo meters from district headquarter Qambar Shahdadkot in Sindh, Pakistan. Bahawal Jatak is small typical village with small thatched houses with a dusty pathway leading to village. Bahawal Jatak is one 56 major villages at UC Dost Ali that were badly hit by flood water during 2010. Majority of the population of village Bahawal Jatak depends on agriculture with exception to some small shops and labours. Livestock is also a factor of their livelihood earnings. Village Bahawal Jatak was completely destroyed with Flood water.

“It was definitely doomsday, six to eight feet water was everywhere around”, Ahmed Nawaz was telling AHD team. “We had no idea flood water will be in that much quantity. We had never seen it before, it was beyond our imagination”, It seemed Ahmed Nawaz Still do not believe in what he saw during flood. He told us no villager could evacuate their belongings, food item, valuables during village evacuation. “Only living objects could escape flood water”.

“I saw my shop collapsing in my front. That was all I had earned during my whole life for my family” Ahmed Nawaz’s shared the memories emotionally as if it had just happened “I had two choice getaway with family safely or die there, and I had to choose my family”. When Ahmed Nawaz came back to his home that time his home and earning resources totally destroyed. He was unable to earn at village and it was very difficult for him to survive in village. He decided to live and earn at nearby district town Larkana. He worked as labour at Larkana for about one year. “I had no other skills except to word as labour on construct of houses. Still if was on-off earning”.

 

During those crisis, AHD started PEFSA-II project for intervention in livelihood grant for 2172 HH to bring back families to their early status. Ahmed Nawaz was one of 250 families that were supported to restart their small businesses at village level. “I received 28000 rupees to purchase shop items and repair my shop” he shared with smile on his face. “Now my children take food as much as they need to feed them and I can also meet their medical needs as well”. Ahmed Nawaz repaired his broken shop and reopened his shop, his business also proved fruitful for other villagers because villagers were purchasing food and other commodities item from other villagers. They were too much away from this villages,  Ahmed Nawaz’s life is changed now he is very happy and planning to repair his house he says that  if  AHD (Action for Humanitarian Development) were not intervene might be ahmed Nawaz remain in difficult condition till to date.

 

Under the objectives of this project, AHD supported 2172 families at UC Dost Ali and UC Jamali of District Qambar Shahdadkot, Sindh (Pakistan). On this project Rs. 69,219,000 (equivalent to USD. 814,340.00) among target beneficiaries. Ahmed Nawaz is from one among most vulnerable families that were recovered from ashes.

 

For further details please visit www.ahdsindh.org or email: ahd@cyber.net.pk

 

Action for Humanitarian Development - Developing Alternatives
0336-9186646