ActionAid helps flood hit families get their lives back

Over 1,900 people were killed and 18 million people were affected, out of which, 14 million were initially in need of immediate humanitarian assistance including 9.18 million women. An estimated 1.7 million homes and 2.4 million hectares of crops worth $2.8 billion were damaged or destroyed.

Layyah, a district in the south Punjab province was badly affected by the floods. Hundreds of households in several villages got washed away, rendering people shelter less and empty handed. 

Many families found refuge in the neighbouring desert area, living with host families and relatives, while others had to flee to relief camps established by government and NGOs in the safer areas.

Forty five years old Maqsood Mai and her visually challenged husband, fifty years old Muhammad Farid consider themselves lucky to have survived the devastating floods.

“I have eight children. My oldest daughter is married to an electrician and has a newborn baby, and my youngest daughter is only five years old.”

 Water came into our village all of a sudden. We were not prepared. We ran with the rest of the villagers to get hold of a wagon that took us to Thall (neighbouring desert area). We stayed with our relatives for several weeks” Tells Maqsood Mai.

Once back to Moza Qaim Wala (name of the village), they found there was nothing left. water had played havoc with their village, turning everything into rubble.

“It was still raining. I was all alone, looking after my husband and children, with no shelter or food. Some villagers had received food supplies and plastic sheets from government’s relief point. I also went there but was turned back empty handed. They asked me to bring my husband, as he is the head of the family. I told them about his eyesight problem and that he cannot travel so long, but they said, if I am to receive food for the family, I have to declare myself as a widow. I threw away the coupon that they had issued me and came home. My children were waiting for food, but I told them there is no food” Maqsood Mai said while wiping her tears.

Her husband, Ghulam Farid, was once a successful professional singer. He had recorded 50 audio cassettes and was treated like a star. But when he mysteriously lost his eyesight 6 years ago, he stopped getting invitations to music shows. This not only ended his music career but also a dependable source of income for the family.

Maqsood Mai had given up all hope of receiving any help from the authorities. However when ActionAid started its distribution in Layyah, our partner staff and volunteers reached her village and after initial survey issued her a token for receiving relief package.  Instead of asking her to come to the distribution point, Staff and volunteers of Participatory Welfare Services, ActionAid’s partner on ground, transported food kits, household and kitchen items and hygiene kits to her house. 

ActionAid helped 400 families of Bait Wasava Shumali (Layyah) with immediate relief and essential supplies with the financial support of Avaaz, an international campaigning organisation.

Gradually the community started to rebuild their homes and sheds for cattle. Maqsood Mai was also able to build a one room mud house well before winters. She continued to receive food support from ActionAid and Avaaz until her son-in-law found work and started to bring home some money and food. Maqsood Mai also grew vegetables in the backyard and the family was able to get their lives back after the massive calamity.

“I thank Avaaz and ActionAid for helping us at a time when we were totally helpless. They saved us from hunger. I pray for their well being”