One Day Seminar on UN Guiding Principles1325 for IDPS

REPORT ON POST-FLOOD STATUS OF FLOOD AFFECTED SMALL FORMERS

Overview:

Country-wide torrential rains caused unprecedented and outrageous floods throughout Pakistan except in Sindh where minor damages are reported. The current spate of torrential rains and flash floods started on 21st July 2010. Initially it played havoc in eastern parts of Baluchistan which includes: Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibi, Jafferabad and Naseerabad districts. The relief operations in the affected areas of Baluchistan were not over yet, when floods struck district Rajanpur, Layya and Gujranwala in Punjab. Subsequently, the torrential rains

and tides of floods turned towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir and engulfed various small and large towns in these areas. The most affected areas in KPK are: Shangla, Swat, Minghora, Mansehra, Charsadda, Nowshera towns and some of the union councils in district Mardan, where routine life has come to a complete halt and affected communities in most parts of KPK are still waiting for rescue and relief. 

Initial reports reveals that more than 1.5 million people have been affected by worst floods in the country and more than 2000 people are reported to have died mainly due to either being washed away, collapsing of their houses or electrocution caused due to flooding of ground surface. The government authorities and armed forces, supported by the humanitarian organizations and NGOs, have started a major rescue effort to reach out to stranded communities that have been cut off by raging torrents of water.

The severity of the flooding has caused enormous damage to the country’s infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. Entire settlements of mud-brick houses are reported to have been swept away, major bridges have collapsed, and some major provincial cities have been totally cut off after road and rail links were severed. The widespread disruption to the country’s communications network meant that reaching the worst-hit areas of the country has become extremely difficult.

On 31^st December 2010 small formers of flood affected areas from whole of the country strike in front of Islamabad press club against government who neglecting these flood affected formers.

Total one thirty five 135 members from 06 union councils of district Mardan participated in this strike among these 24 were women small formers while the remaining were small male formers. Name of the union councils in district Mardan are Manga, Khazana Daire

Maho Daire, Chamtar, Muhabat Abad and Hotti union council.

Aim of peaceful strike in front of Islamabad press club was to bring the post-flood status of small formers in government notice that what type of problems facing by small formers after flood. Saiban Development Organization, Sagg, Pakistan Kisan Etehad and participant from all four provinces appeal to prime minster and president Pakistan to take step for

recovery of flood affected small formers. They share with media that affected formers facing the poverty and un availability of food in their areas they demand for more six month of food supply on their door step.

Small formers said that in this winter season their families are deprived from food and also facing health issues in their areas. They have no access to basic needs of their families. In flood affected areas the form lands are still covered by sand and unable for cultivation due to which the not only these families rather people of the areas facing food shortage in coming days while in current position flood affected small formers are facing food shortage due to this shortage they appeal the government to extend food program for next few months.

Small formers also facing the issue of debit returning to banks and those banks who given debit to those small formers recovering from these flood affected formers which depress all family members and small formers compelled to sell out their agricultural land for survival of families.

Affected small formers said that if government not given serious attention to the issue of small former economic recovery they will be face worse situation in coming days. 

Small formers demand for their early recovery and post flood agricultural sector recovery plan. The also demand for continuation of food item distribution tell to June 2011. They demand for cleanness of watercourse and provision of seeds and pesticides from

government. Small formers request to government that they are free the small formers from returning of debit to banks because they are not in the possession to return debit to banks.

Small former women also participate in this strike and they also demand for reforms and facilities in re continuation of their home bass form activities.

In front of Islamabad press club Aftab Alam, Nasir Aziz (Action aid Pakistan), speakers from Khali Sanj, Tariq Mehmood from Pakistan Kisan Etehad and some other organization representative speak and demand from government for reforms in coming days in agricultural sector. At the end of all the members of civil society walk with play cards and given intimidation to government if they not fulfill their requirements they will come on roads against goverment policies. 

Recommendations and Suggestions

The following recommendations are suggesting by Saiban Development Organization (SDO) to government stake holders and civil society organizations:

There are only two play grounds for hockey due to which the youngster not coming to play hockey. So we are suggesting for increase in hockey grounds.

We are suggesting to concern sports departments to fund NGOs to organize such type of tournaments.

We are suggesting to hockey federation to given chance to our players to play at national & international level teams.
    We are suggesting to arrange the sports tours among the provinces.

Saiban Development Organization arranged the hockey tournament in calibration with Anti Narcotics Force

Saiban Development Organization arranged the hockey tournament in calibration with Anti Narcotics Force to promote prosperity in society and utilize youngster energy in positive activities.

District Mardan: Mardan is the second largest city of KPK. The total area of Mardan is about

1,632 sq km.  It is clear from the map that Malakand Charsadda,

Nowshera, Swabi and Buner Districts surround the District Mardan.

Mardan district is hilly in the northeast, while the southwestern half is a fertile plain. Generally streams flow from north to the south.  Most of the streams drain into the Kabul River.  The summer season is extremely hot. During May and June dust storms are frequent during the night.  Most of the rainfall occurs in the months of July, August, December, and January.

In Mardan hockey is one of the popular play among the youngsters. For hockey promotion and to utilize the time of youngsters in healthy activities SDO arranged a hockey tournament in calibration with ANF Peshawar.

Saiban Development organization in calibration with Anti Narcotics Force organized a Inter district hockey tournament in district Mardan sports complex. Fifteen teams from all over the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province participated in this tournament. Name of the districts from where the teams participated are Mardan, Malakand, Nowshera, Buner, Swabi, Mansehra, Abttabad and Peshawar. In these districts from Mardan district three teams were participated while two teams were from Peshawar districts.

In final match of the tournament was held on Friday 05/11/2010. Both of the contester's team was from district Mardan. One was called Mardan Red & other was Mardan Blue.

Match was started at 3:00pm on this said day.

Chief guest of the final match was Mr. Hameed Ullah (Provincial Chief Executive National Bank) & Mr. Zafar Iqbal (Deputy Director Anti Narcotics Force Peshawar)

After final match the shields were distributed among the players. The shields were given to both winner and runner-up teams. Five shields were given to those  best players who play tremendously in the tournament.

Saiban Development Organization had given memorial shields to the chief gusts of the final match.

At the end of the distribution ceremony Mr. Zafar Iqbal (Manager National Bank Mardan) appreciate the role of SDO for organizing such a healthy activity for youngsters. He said that due to such activities we are properly utilize the free time of the youngsters and we safe them from unfair activities which are not only bad impact on them or their families

rather their unfair activities leads to the distraction of social institutions & society. He further said that due to these healthy activities we are easily stop our young generation from use of drugs.

Chief guest from ANF also speech at the end of the distribution ceremony and said that ANF want to start a series of tournaments in all spare of sports ,seminars ,Broshers and Posters to protect the young generation form use of drugs. And on the basis of these activities we easily control the use and spread of drugs among the people. He further added that use of drug is prohibited in islam and ANF working to control these prohibited act among the masses of society.

At the end president SDO said vote of thanks to Chief Gusts, Participant teams and all crowed. SDO president also thanks all those organizers who are day and night hard work make successful the tournament.

In the organizer team consist upon Mr. Hazrat Nawaz Khan (President DHA), Arshid Hotti (General Secretary Alfah Organization),     Mr. Gulzar Khan (Secretary SDO) and Mr. Suleiman Khan.

Group photo of the winning team with saiban President Muhammad Arif.