Pakistan floods: better prepared for the future

Your support has ensured that villages hit by the 2010 floods will be well prepared if disaster strikes again.

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Because the floods that hit Pakistan in 2010 destroyed flood defences in many areas, some families who returned to their villages knew that they would be even more at risk from flooding in the future.

In the village of Zaraq Brohi, an “irrigation band” - or protective embankment - had been completely destroyed by the floods. Mohammad Ali Gania, who lives in the village, said:

“We all feel the risk to our lives and assets due to this destroyed band. As water flows over the band, it ruins our crops and our houses. We live in fear and cannot work in our fields.”

Our sister agency Catholic Relief Services (CRS) organised meetings in which the people of Zaraq Brohi and nearby villages discussed the risks from future disasters. Together, they decided that reconstructing and strengthening the irrigation band was crucial to protect their villages in the future. With our support, they have rebuilt the embankment and set up a committee to ensure that it’s well maintained.

“I am happy because now I feel that my family and other people in my village are safe from the risk of flooding,” said Hamzo Ali, another villager.

For months after the floods, villagers in Juman Shah used a thin wooden plank to cross the channel [CRS Pakistan]

In Juman Shah village, the villagers decided that rebuilding a bridge over an irrigation channel was the priority. The bridge had been the only route to the main road that led to safety. When the villagers returned after the floods, they discovered that the bridge had been washed away. For months, they used a thin wooden plank to cross the channel. It was a hazardous route – and it would have been disastrous if the whole village had been forced to evacuate.

Today, with support from CAFOD and CRS, the villagers have rebuilt the bridge. Fazlan Khatoon said: “We will always remember the kindness of CRS for construction of the bridge on the irrigation channel, which enables our children, elders and women to pass over the safe path, reducing the risks in future of unforeseen emergencies.”

With support from CAFOD and CRS, the villagers have rebuilt the bridge [CRS Pakistan]

CAFOD’s Monika Vrsanska said: “Communities affected by the Pakistan floods in 2010 may not be able to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe, but, with support, they can work together to reduce the risks in future.”

The original version of this article was by CRS Pakistan

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