Muslim Aid Head of International Programmes,
Imran Madden has said that his organisation is working to shift
flood-affected people towards sustainable housing solutions. He
was addressing a Press Conference here at National Press
Club Islamabad on Wednesday.
He said that initially we are constructing 330 houses in Mianwali,
Jampur and Charsadda. Muslim Aid houses are comprised of two rooms,
one kitchen, veranda and washroom. To construct 2000 permanent
shelters in Sindh, we have chalked out a plan and will start construction
work after getting funds.
While highlighting Muslim Aid’s approach to construct shelters
in different parts of the country, he said “To each situation,
there is different solutions provided in order to best respond
to the specific needs and context of the people, we always take
into account local traditions and locally accepted materials”.
Given the variety of Pakistan’s geography and weather systems,
different solutions have been chosen according to local environments
and customs, he added.
In addition to providing shelters, the flood-affected communities
are given the opportunity to earn through Cash for Work construction
schemes. Once beneficiaries have been identified, with the help
of community organisations, the shelters take on average 20-25
days to construct, with the help of skilled and unskilled labor
from the local community. These laborers are paid; which adds
the benefit of injecting cash into the local economy and supporting
the livelihoods of local vulnerable people.
This supports community involvement and ownership, something that
Muslim Aid is committed to enhancing throughout all its emergency
responses and longer term development efforts.
Madden has said that many flood-affected areas
of Pakistan still expose about the discontinued education for
the kids and we will build two schools (One school for girls and
one for boys) in our each Model Village.
While highlighting emergency flood response, Imran said besides
providing emergency relief to affectees, Muslim Aid carried out
early recovery programmes to support the returning population
by providing shelter kits, agricultural tools, healthcare and
construction of Skill Development Centers (SDCs). However, the
sheer scope of the devastation demands a large-scale response
from the international community.
“We consider our duty and responsibility
to join Pakistan’ Government for fund raisers and as UK
based charity we pledge our strong solidarity and support for
Pakistani brethrens.”
While talking to media persons, Muslim Aid Country Director Khobaib
A Vahedy urged nongovernmental organisations to have a close coordination
with government to provide Emergency Supplies, Food for the Hungry,
Shelter and Housing, Water and Sanitation in any horrendous situation.
For Agriculture, Food Security, Livelihood and Education, we need
to build multipronged strategies for long-term solutions.
He said that there is lot more needed to work on disaster risk
reduction and preparedness. He demanded efficient and effective
role of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Pakistan
Humanitarian Forum (PHF) to bridge the gaps.
