While commemorating one year flood anniversary of floods 2010, the participants of “People’s Forum: Rebuilding Lives post 2010 Floods” organised by Action Aid Pakistan on Tuesday raised demands to address unending woes of flood victims particularly women and small farmers by distributing land and watan cards. Flood victims asked the government for immediate announcement of a long term agricultural rehabilitation programme. They said it must ensure provision of livestock, poultry, seed and fertilizers to small farmers particularly women peasants. They also demanded initiation of cash for work and kitchen gardening projects to support rehabilitation of irrigation watercourses. They demanded women should be included in all decision making processes. ActionAid Pakistan Country Director Jemal Ahmed inaugurated the discussion forum. The speakers including policy makers, parliamentarians, civil society representatives and the flood affected community reflected upon the structural and procedural lacunas of flood response package announced by the government. “I gave birth to my child on the night we shifted to the camp. I was scared of fast approaching flood water. It took us more than a day to reach a camp set up by ActionAid Pakistan. I had to go through premature delivery process which was humiliating and shocking,” says 28-year-old Sonia from Shahdadkot. Women were seriously concerned about denial of their rights in post flood situation. Majority of women were not entitled to receive watan cards and they were not allowed to visit food distribution centers. Touqeer Fatima Bhutto, provincial minister for women affairs, Sindh appreciated women participation in the People’s Forum. “I realize that women were not prioritized in government flood response mechanism particularly in case of watan cards. However Sindh government pioneered a movement to distribute land among flood affected women peasants,” she said. Naveen Naqvi and Shafqat Munir, the media representatives reflected upon media response in post flood situation. They alleged that it seemed as if media had forgotten the poor flood victims.
