Disaster risk reduction plan helps Pakistan families

Source(s): Plan International headquarters

Heavy rain is continuing to fall along the River Indus, with Sindh province next in line as floodwaters head downstream.

Leading children's charity Plan International has involved the area's families in disaster risk reduction work over the last 12 months.

"We have very good partners in that area and have been able to organise people's forums involved with district governments'" says Plan's Rashid Javed.

"Those forums have really taken the lead in this disaster and are now being used as an example of how to operate."

Children and their parents were taught how best to cope with a disaster in their flood-prone villages and are now involved in the relief effort.

"It was about creating awareness of what to do in an emergency and now families are involved in evacuation plans as well as distributing food and water to those most in need," says Mr Javed.

"Part of the disaster risk reduction work is also about involving children in psychosocial and trauma counselling, which is something we expect to come into play later."

Families will be involved also in replacing goats and other livestock post-disaster in an area reliant on farming.

Plan has so far pledged US$200,000 for food, water and health and hygiene kits.

An outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera is now a real fear and Plan is in talks to set up mobile health clinics.

The charity is also looking to warehouse relief supplies in Sindh province to protect them from incoming floodwaters.

"The initial needs are being identified as shelter, health and food packages for children and their families," says Plan's Rashid Javed.

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Country and region Pakistan
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