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.