Editorial:
Long queues of flood-affected people in general and women in particular around trucks carrying relief goods pain every sane person. Disturbing scenes of affectees trying to get relief goods have been witnessed in Balochistan’s Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts.
Floods wreaked havoc in 26 districts of Balochistan and especially the Naseerabad division was the worst hit area. Why do crowds suddenly gather around trucks and aid workers carrying relief goods? The answer is simple, the government and donors’ supply of relief goods doesn’t meet the growing demands in flood-hit areas.
Over half a million homeless in Naseerabad Division
For instance, floods left over half a million people homeless in Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Sohbat Pur, Jhal Magsi and Kachi. Nevertheless, the United Nations (UN) aid agencies, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and governments provide commodities for a few thousand people.
#Balochistan needs your attention… #UN agencies providing support to limited number of #FloodAffectees…Whereas crowds turn out when relief goods arrive… this is a scene #Naseerabad pic.twitter.com/1P6NzrxrBZ
— Syed Ali Shah (@alishahjourno) October 1, 2022
This has also compounded the problems of local implementing partners engaged in the distribution of relief foods provided by the UN agencies, governments and INGOs. Yes, there has to be a strong mechanism of transparency for the local implementing partners (IPs) when it comes to the distribution of relief items.
This daily continues to receive complaints from flood-hit people in the Naseerabad division about the lack of basic facilities in the makeshift camps. Floods destroyed the homes constructed in decades, schools, health units and swept away roads and affected the communication system.
Balochistan needs a long-term response
The reconstruction process would definitely take more time. The Balochistan government should take the lead in the reconstruction process and the rehabilitation of the affectees. However, the UN agencies and INGOs should also pump more resources since the aid should not be short-term but rather long-term till complete rehabilitation of the affectees.
This process of long queues and humiliation should be ended and the locals of the areas and local organizations should be taken into confidence while framing any reconstruction policy.
To be precise, the international community, UN agencies, and INGOs should not abandon the flood-hit people of Balochistan since they need long-term support.
