By Zubeda Birwani, Executive Director, Trust for Conservation of Coastal Resources (TCCR)
The recent floods in Sindh may appear to be a repetition of last year’s devastating water flows. However, in terms of damages caused in the areas concerned, the distress brought about by the floods remains severe, compounded by an inadequate response by the state and non-governmental sector to the crisis. Twenty three districts of the province have been flooded following heavy rains in early August 2011. Of the more than five million people swamped, 2.6 million are women. The UNFPA estimates that more than 100,000 of these women are pregnant with a large proportion in need of medical assistance.
As was the case in 2010, gaps in response will aggravate the sense of deprivation and marginalization already persistent in the province. A limited number of initiatives towards flood relief have been launched by the civil society, but there is need to maintain focus on advocacy for tighter state response to the disaster.
Pakistan floods in Sindh- Zubeda Birwani
