Establishment of Women Friendly Spaces in Flood Affected Districts Sindh

Progress Report as of November 23 to December 17, 2011

PODA is implementing this project in collaboration with UNFPA, Pakistan by setting up 15 ‘Women Friendly Spaces’ in District Tando Allahyar, District Tando Muhammad Khan and District Hyderabad, Pakistan. The 15 WFS will assist 7500 flood affected women and girls during November-December 2011.

Highlights of Sessions Conducted at Women Friendly Spaces

A.  Outreach Activities:

PODA staff and Social mobilizers are regularly visiting the local community and engaged in door to door campaigns.  The ides is to identify maximum numbers of women beneficiaries and link them with the services offered regarding reproductive health rights information, Gender based violence protection awareness raising sessions as will as basic counselling. 

Session on Gender Based Violence and Women’s Protection

Five main topics have been selected for awareness raising sessions on GBV and women’s protection.

1.      Sexual Violence (Sexual Violence is top most violence in emergency settings, it includes rape, trafficking, forced marriages and sexual harassment).

2.      Awareness raising on the concept of Gender based Violence.

3.      Gender Based Violence in eyes of Islam.

4.      Introduction to referral pathways for adult and girl child survivors of GBV.

5.      Awareness regarding to new legislation in Pakistan (Acid Crime and Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Legislation).

The number of women enrolled in Women Friendly Spaces has been increasing day by day. PODA’s  social mobilizers are engaged in door to door and (in flood affected villages) and tent to tent (in camp city) mobilization and are also conducting group meetings with the influential person, community leadership as well as male members from within the target communities. PODA trainers delivered 4 GBV sessions in one week by using different techniques for clarity and better understanding of participants on gender based violence and its various categories. They used participatory approach and asked the participants about their views on violence, abuse and other such practices in the society. They used pictorial charts and also gave colour makers and papers to women to portrait their views about violence on papers. These women beneficiaries/ patricians were found these sessions were interesting About 100 women in each women friendly space attended these sessions.

Ms. Rehana Channa delivered two sessions on GBV in Tando Muhammad Khan and Ms. Mubeena Khanum delivered two  sessions on GBV and Women’s Protection in Tando Allahyar. Same topics were selected for the above sessions so to have uniformity of approach through in all the locations.  During these sessions reasons for violence against women were also discussed in detail at all the 15 facilities followed by general discussions on critical needs and issues within the context of GBV as well as women’s protection. Key issues identified are:

1.   Husband and wife relationship tensions and conflicts and issues of domestic violence

2.   Psychological pressure of being a girl and women in Pakistani society

3.   Traditional Customs of killing women in the name of honor such as Vani and Karo Kari

4.   Forced marriages, Low self esteem and lack of self awareness in girls

5.   Suspicions, doubts and superstitions culture about women’s reproductive issues

During the sessions, women shared the various practices within their communities. The group of women from Hindu community shared that they have never been to school. They are treated as salves and sold as “give and take” in exchange for money due to extreme poverty conditions in their villages in Sindh. One Hindu woman said that “the person who has bought me as a wife salve with money has the right to beat me because he is my owner”. Most women were cotton pickers and their ancestors have been engaged in this work. They pick cotton all day in the fields and earn only 10 to 30 rupees per day.

Session on Reproductive Health Rights:

Five main topics were selected for the sessions on Reproductive Health Rights.

1-   Harmful Effect of early marriages on girl’s Reproductive Health.

2-   Antenatal Care

3-   Post natal  Care

4-   Urinary Tract Infection and Personal Health and Hygiene

5-   Breast Cancer

In all three project districts, PODA facilitators and trainers delivered sessions on “Child Marriage and its effect on girl’s reproductive health”. The facilitators asked the participants about their marital status. Majority of the women raised their hands in confirmation that they were married.  Even some girls aged 15 and 16 were also married. Facilitators asked them about the reasons for their early marriages. Some women said that it is their family’s decision and women’s lack of decision making power and submissive attitude in the community. Some participants said that it is our traditional practice. Some women said that the main reason for child marriage is poverty. One participant said that one reason of child marriage amongst girls is the fear of sexual harassment and sexual abuse on behalf of the family members especially elders. They were asked of the consequences if a girl less than 18 years of age  gets married and if there is any harmful effect on her health or not?  To this different participants responded differently. Some said there is no harmful effect on girl’s health and others said there are dangers because young girls often suffer problems relating to pregnancy and delivery, problem in feeding the baby as well as problems with their own health.

Participants during these sessions on reproductive health were informed that age consideration is very important before a marriage is arranged. Girls under 18 years of age should not marry as they are mentally and physically not prepared for marriage and if she become pregnant then it is usually quite dangerous for her. Moreover family planning is another aspect that needs to be considered as without that and with repeated pregnancies one after the other, a girl may suffer from physical weakness. It may increase the risk of iron deficiency or anemia.  Girls who marry early also experience complications during  child delivery and may have attitudinal changes due to hormonal disbalance/changes. Some may even suffer from depression, anxiety and sadness.

Facilitators during these sessions held at various locations guided the participants regarding the appropriate age for marriage of girls, which is above 18 years. Moreover availability of a comfortable and violence free environment, standard and sufficient food intake is also important for women and girls before and after child birth. It was also emphasized that early marriages are harmful for both mother and children. WFS facilitators also discussed regarding the negative aspect of social implications for girls who are married off early, as it reeuces their early childhood/youth development process.  Participants also expressed that it is very difficult for a child girl to be involved in the process of Childhood care. In the second week, sessions were delivered on the topics of antenatal and postnatal care towards women. These sessions were highly appreciated by the women.   

Sessions on Psychosocial Support:

PODA trainers conducted counseling sessions in all 15 WFSs of District Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar and Tando Muhammad Khan from 5^th December to 16 December 2011. She delivered sessions on Grief Counseling and Crisis Counseling. She is using the material of Pakistan Association of Mental Health as reference. This material is also available in Sindhi language. She organized individual as well as group counseling for participants as per their requirement. During her sessions, she organized different activities and used various techniques such as storytelling and painting to relate to the participants. Flood affected displaced women from within the local communities in the three target areas found these sessions very useful. About   30 women participated in each of the 15 group counseling sessions organized in 15 locations.

Registration of flood affected Women in Women Friendly Spaces in three Districts:

As of December 20^th, the following number of women beneficiaries have visited the 15 Women Friendly Spaces and attended different sessions in facilities established by PODA with UNFPA support. PODA is thankful to UNFPA Pakistan for their partnership for this project.

Pictures of some of the activities carried out during the last two weeks are presented below:

Click on pictures to enlarge

• Humanitarian partners and Government of Pakistan authorities are working to finalise the Revised Response Plan to provide humanitarian assistance in Sindh and Balochistan provinces following the monsoon rains and subsequent floods that occurred in August and September. A recently completed joint UN-Government Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) revealed that more than 5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the two provinces.

• Provision of shelter and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and livelihoods of people returning to their homes in areas where floodwaters have receded are key priorities for humanitarian partners.

http://pakresponse.info/MonsoonUpdates2011.aspx

• According to the recently completed joint UN-Government Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA), nearly 5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, while more than 740,000 people are still displaced following the monsoon rains and floods of August 2011.

• The Revised Response Plan for 2011 Floods will be launched at the end of November and further clusters will be activated by the humanitarian community to respond to significant food, shelter, water, health and education needs revealed by the MSNA.

http://pakresponse.info/MonsoonUpdates2011.aspx

Update: Wednesday 14 September 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan called on the world Tuesday to speed up relief efforts after torrential rains exacerbated major floods, killing 270 people and making another 200,000 homeless in Sindh.

Local officials say devastation in parts of the country’s main breadbasket is worse than last year, when a fifth of the country was left under water by the country’s worst ever floods that affected a total of 21 million people.

The government is trying to fend off criticism of an inadequate response to the floods for a second year running, by urging the international community to step up help to already aid-dependent Pakistan.

For months, aid groups had warned the government to invest in adequate prevention measurers to mitigate

against seasonal rains, avoid a repeat of last year's $10 billion losses, and protect those left vulnerable two

A flood affected family saving its pots and pans (Karachi) September 14 picture courtesy DAWN.

years running.

“At least 270 people have died so far because of falling roofs, drowning in flooding waters and subsequent diseases among the affected families,” said Sajjad Haider Shah, a disaster management official in the province.

Government officials say at least 5.3 million people and 1.2 million homes have been affected, with 1.7 million acres of arable land inundated.

But a spokesman for Pakistani charity Pattan, working in the affected areas, feared that up to 10 million people could be at risk.

“Estimates show that 1.2 million houses are affected and people are really in a bad condition, so that’s why I’m saying this figure must be close to double,” Sarwar Bari, Pattan’s national coordinator and spokesman, told AFP.

Pakistan’s meteorological department says average rainfall across Sindh is three times normal, with the worst-affected districts of Badin, Mirpurkhas and Thar seeing eight times the usual levels.

Chief meteorologist Mohammad Riaz told AFP the figures were a 51-year record, and the rains would continue for the rest of the week.

The UN’s World Food Programme agency is working to provide emergency supplies to half a million people.

The United States, whose relations with Pakistan nosedived after American troops killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad in May, says it is sending food aid for nearly 350,000 Pakistanis and medical assistance for about 500,000.

Yousuf Talpur, an MP for the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party, said his home district of Umerkot was almost entirely inundated and that little effort was being made to provide relief.

“My party is in government, yet I won’t hesitate to say it is yet to go in full throttle to provide relief to our people,” he said.

In Sanghar, most of the 125,000 residents have left home because of flooding, said local official Anwer Narejo.

Flood affected people going through a flooded area in BADIN- Sindh (Sept 14) Picture by PPI

Monday 22^nd August, 2011.

Report from Badin: Monsoon rains during the last two weeks are playing havoc in areas already struggling to recover from previous year’s devastating floodwaters.

As of today, more than 700 villages have been reported flooded in six districts of lower Sindh in Pakistan resulting in over 1,000,000 children, women and men being displaced and awaiting rescue services.

The worst hit villages include Widhri Chak, Mithi-III, Mubarak Arain and Akhtar Lund. The majority of the Union Councils of Ahmed Rajo, Tarai, Khorwah, including rural areas of Golarchi, UC Serani, Bhugra Memon, Mithi-III, Kadi Kazia, Abdullah Shah and part of Kadhan and Mohammad Khan Bhurgari of Badin Taluka, UC Chabralo, Dai Jarkas, Khoski and Khairpur Gamboh of Tando Bago were inundated.

Thunderous rain storms  have  badly affected Serani and Mithi area in district Badin. Over  90 per cent of the area is under water in Badin. Despite hardships many people are still fasting to observe the month of Ramazan. In Mithi, more than 500 homes collapsed in Muslim Colony and Lohar Colony. Badin also has a large population of minority Hindus and Christian populations that are also severely affected.

A two member team of PODA staff including Sindh Regional Manager Ms. Nadia Larik and Field Coordinator Ms. Sajida Channa visited some of the worst affected flood hit areas today and met with flood survivors. The women and children were the most affected and many areas in urgent need of food, shelter, water, clothes and medicines. A large number of women need psychosocial counseling and children are in need of trauma counseling. PODA is setting up a Women Friendly Space and Child Friendly Space in Badin that will provide three hours of specialized services to women and children.   

Today PODA team has reported that fresh breaches developing in waterways and drains have caused widespread damage to property and crops of local population. According to local officials, an estimated 1.5 million acres of standing crops, including tomatoes, cotton, sugarcane and chilies were destroyed by the rainwater. Many animals are also affected. This is likely to cause serious food shortage.

Villagers in the affected areas have rushed to government buildings and schools and set up camps. More camps are needed to provide basic services and meet urgent needs. 

The current situation is even more critical because many of the areas hardest hit this year were the same homes and villages destroyed last year by the floods in Sindh.

One year after devastating monsoon floods hit Pakistan in summer 2010, flooding one fifth of the country, many of the more than 18 million affected people – almost half of them children – are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives against a backdrop of dwindling funding and fear of new monsoon floods.

Rural women are the driving force behind the Agrarian Economy in Pakistan. Young people make up over half of Pakistan’s population. The physical, emotional and psychological trauma experienced by these women and children two years in a row is taking a massive toll. Pakistan, and ultimately the international community, could take decades to recover.

According to a recent report issued by UNICEF, the impact of the floods will be felt for years to come, especially by children who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of the disaster. When displaced children and their families returned to the areas of origin, they found homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure – including health facilities and almost 10,000 schools – damaged or destroyed. The aid organization Oxfam estimates that more than 800,000 remain without permanent shelter to this day (“Pakistan floods, one year later”).

The floods exposed an existing tragedy of chronic malnutrition, low primary school enrolment (especially for girls) and child protection issues. The report warns that new and continued assistance is required to ensure that flood-affected children and families to do enter a downward spiral of increasing vulnerability. If children remain untreated for malnutrition they are more susceptible to disease as well as life-long stunting and cognitive impairment  (“Pakistan flood survivors struggle amid new fears”).

Sources: Pakistan flood survivors struggle to restore their lives amid new disaster fear and humanitarian funds shortage. UNICEF. 29 July 2011. Web. 19 Aug. 2011. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_59425.html

Pakistan floods, one year later. The Atlantic. 5 August 2011. Web. 19 Aug 2011.http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/pakistan-floods-one-year-later/100121/