We have responded to all major disasters in Pakistan since 2009, while also focusing on long-term development projects that provide technical and vocational trainings and strengthen agricultural production.
“The solar water scheme is merciful like a cloud. It has made our living easy. I have started making some local embroidery because I have more time. Last month, I earned 2,300 rupees. If I pay 200 rupees for the water scheme, I still have 2,100 rupees’ profit.”
— Nirmala Bay, Sindh Province
In Pakistan, 70% of the population are acutely exposed to natural disasters, which contribute to a national hunger rate (approximately 60%). Food insecurity in Pakistan includes 44% of the country’s children (aged 5 and under), who suffer chronic malnutrition. Population displacement due to natural disasters (and insecurity) has also become a central humanitarian concern.
*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Pakistan. Find out more about our response here.
Ranking low on the UN’s Human Development Index, 29.5% of Pakistan’s population currently lives below the poverty line. Widespread income and gender inequalities are preventing those currently dealing with extreme poverty from accessing services and taking up opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty.
Pakistan also faces a multitude of natural and complex disasters, further increasing vulnerabilities. Climate change, food insecurity and malnutrition are all key challenges.
In 2019, our resilience building program reached almost 170,000 of the most vulnerable people in three districts. Activities included setting up 231 disaster management committees, training 350 masons to build disaster-resilient shelters, constructing 63 resilient hand pumps and 585 underground household water tanks, running 536 hygiene promotion sessions.
Over 200 Climate Smart Agriculture sessions were conducted in 2019. For those households that depend on livestock for their livelihoods, we also ran 129 training sessions on livestock management and trained 240 community livestock extension workers to ensure the provision of affordable livestock services.
Our RAPID program launched a drought response in the Sindh region in November 2018. Since then, we've reached approximately 71,700 people with this program.
We're working our partners in Pakistan to build resilience against natural disasters and respond more agilely to future emergencies, while also fighting malnutrition and building skills, livelihoods, and financial empowerment.
© 2023 Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc
© 2023 Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc
