Accusing the federal and Sindh governments of diverting billions of rupees of flood relief funds towards development funds, civil society representatives of flood-affected communities in the province fear that the money allocated for the rehabilitation of villages damaged during floods may be used as a political tool.
The claims have been made in the ‘Civil Society Flood Situation Report’ issued on Thursday by the People’s Accountability Commission on Floods (PACF) – a network of volunteers and representatives of flood-hit communities in Sindh.
The research-based report titled ‘Critical Situation of Humanitarian Funding for Flood Affected Communities’ accused the governments of diverting flood-relief funds to MPAs funds as well as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
In the report, the PACF claimed that an amount of Rs 8 million for the rehabilitation of 200 flood-hit villages and 40,000 houses with facilities of health and education under the Annual Development Programme 2011-2012 was allocated to the MPAs for development works in their constituencies.
Similarly, a fund of Rs 12 billion in the Sindh Social Relief Fund [SSRF] with the Sindh Fund Management House of the provincial Finance Department was reserved for the purpose of responding to natural disasters and emergencies; however, the grant was not been utilised either in 2010 or in 2011.
It was stated in the report: “Currently, this amount has been transferred to a federal government programme for distribution among unemployed youths at a rate of Rs 300,000 to around 35,000 beneficiaries under the BISP.”
“It is a unique example that a province is handing over its disaster relief funds to the federal government of the same party for using it for other purposes,” it was said.
According to the report, the findings of the focus discussion groups and consultations by PACF in eight flood-hit districts of Sindh – Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Badin, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Benazirabad – reveal that 68 percent flood survivors were denied and discriminated in relief and recovery services.
“The flood-affected people complained of inadequate and less meaningful services due to corruption, nepotism and favouritism. The people were inclined to believe in the services of non-government organisations and found unaware about the eligibility criterion for getting wheat seeds packages and standard operating procedures of the Pakistan Card,” the report added.
It was stated that emergency relief services suffered 53 percent gap in humanitarian funding against the initial rapid response for 2011 floods launched in September 2011; whereas, the flood affected people still remain at risk and further funding is needed to help them restore their livelihoods.
Highlighting the current situation of stagnant water and persons displaced, the report stated that less than 90 percent of floodwater has reportedly receded from the affected areas but more than 55,953 people and 10,000 families still live in temporary settlements as land remains underwater in many areas, hindering the return of the families displaced.
Quoting the needs of the flood survivors, it was said that people displaced urgently need winterisation items as 42 percent of residents in temporary shelters have reported lack of clothing and support.
Critical needs in the education sector include the renovation of about 2,800 partially-damaged schools and provision of transitional schools structures in 1,450 schools that were totally damaged by floods.
Humanitarian funding by the government witnessed a 95 percent gap during the super floods of 2010 in emergency relief phase and early recovery period from August 2010 to 2011.
The report expressed grave concern over the ineffective coordination of the government with the humanitarian world for pooling resources and proper allocation from within the government for flood-affected people.
The report apprehended the lack of transparency and accountability process for utilising the flood relief funds by district administrations in context with the flood-affected people’s agitation against the polarisation and bureaucratisation of relief services.
“The government did not play an active role to minimise the vulnerability of flood survivors whereas humanitarian information sharing by the government finance authorities was not encouraging to ensure transparency in executing relief funds,” it was said.
The report recommended that the government should draft laws on compensation of civilian victims on natural disaster and put expenditures of relief and recovery services executed by district administrations with break-ups on its website.
The report suggested peoples’ participation and decentralisation of relief and recovery services devoid of political interests in planning and response to floods at district level. “The government should keep money for disaster preparedness and emergency so that any untoward disasters can be responded timely keeping in view the prediction of metrological department for upcoming heavy monsoon threats.”
It was also suggested that the government should try to minimise the trust deficit so that resource mobilisation can be made by pooling the international community in effective coordination.
