The ‘Civil Society Flood Situation Report’ shows that the distribution of cards by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been rather slow. This, coupled with alleged extortion, has led to concern over the National Disaster Management Authority’s work. The Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) Pakistan, a network of flood-affected communities, volunteers and humanitarian activists, conducted the survey and the report was released on Thursday.
People have to queue at card distribution centres for six to eight hours which is taking its toll on the people. The women and elderly in particular, are worse off for the long waits and there have been reports of ill people dying while they wait their turn in line.
Meanwhile, new distribution systems have evolved. They are operated by agents that require people to pay bribes of Rs500 to Rs1,500 for each card. More often than not, NADRA officials ask the flood survivors to contact these agents for the cards.
The NDMA’s mess
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also came under criticism in the report. The PACF claims that the authority violated international humanitarian laws with their decision that humanitarian aid would not be required when the floods first began. They banned cash support by humanitarian agencies and are now being blamed for increasing food insecurity among the flood-affected communities.
The report says that flood-affected communities are still suffering the setback this decision caused. International humanitarian organisations are not yet up to speed with their efforts while many of them have decided not to help at all after the NDMA first rebuked them.
The report slammed the NDMA’s ‘anti-people policy’ decision. “NDMA has issued a policy decision banning the distribution of cash grants amount among flood affected communities by national and international organisations,” it claimed. This move deprived the poorest of poor, the sick, widows, and households headed by women from basic funds and quick support that they could have spent on food and medicine, the report added.
Inadequate support
The report expresses dissatisfaction when it comes to the sanitation, food and shelter being provided. It estimates that tents and shelter have only been provided about 35 per cent of the flood-affected households.
Clean drinking water is another missing necessity in many areas. The report claims that there has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of people receiving water from protected sources in some districts.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2011.
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