Bibi, 53, who has lived in a tent since the floods last July.“Those who have returned to their homes are lucky, at least they are in the four walls of their damaged houses” says 53 year old widow Bibi Khatoon.
Her house is five minutes walk from the camp she has lived in since floods struck last July. She has four sons. All used to work as labourers but the recent disaster has left them jobless.
Residents of her village, Zareenabad, watched the floodwater from nearby hills for five days before it began to recede.
There are more than 500 tents in the “tent city” set up by CARE. Many of the families living there have started to repair their nearby houses, but most are nowhere near ready to return to.
Dilsahd, 33, now lives in a tent with her husband and two sons. She used to have a goat whose milk she would sell to pay the rent of her one room house.
“I lost the goat; the water was entering so rapidly. My husband took one son, I held the other and we ran to the hills”.
She has not felt able to claim money for her lost home, as she rented it. “All I could ask for now is a tent for winter. Who would listen to us poor people who have lost everything? I’m worried about these little boys as winters here are too harsh.”
There are many challenges during the recovery period. People have started to move to their homes but many are still living in the tents. Winter shelter, blankets, warm clothing, a form of income and health care are just a few.
To help families recover from the floods, CARE plans to provide permanent shelters together with provision of construction material, technical assistance, cash support and cash for work.
For livelihood CARE will provide cash for work including land levelling, provision of seeds and fertilizers and repair of irrigation channels, providing survivors with much-needed cash and jobs to help them buy essential items for their families, and help save for rebuilding their homes and lives.
During the emergency period immediately following the floods CARE provided safe water, hygiene education and hygiene materials such as soap and toiletries, to help prevent the spread of disease and ensure people have safe drinking water.
As communities start to rebuild their damaged homes and villages we will work with them to repair and provide water supply, latrines, waste management and extensive hygiene education.
Our activities are helping people on both relief and recovery level, people like Dilshad with small children and no source of income left welcome help from humanitarian organisations like CARE.
“I know my family is in good hands, everyone’s suffered a great deal, some lost their loved ones, some, the livelihood but seeing you people (CARE) around, I know people will stand on their feet again”.
