Call for designing relief programs to address vulnerabilities of women and girls during disasters

KARACHI: Pakistani mental health organization Rozan has called for designing relief support program in a way that could address the vulnerabilities of women and girls during disasters.

Also read: UN calls for more funds to meet needs of flood affectees in Pakistan

Fouzia Yasmin, Senior Manager at Rozan said “the destruction of infrastructure and the lack of global resources have made it extremely difficult […] to reach far-flung areas, and the floods have jeopardized medical care systems and community support, which [leaves] women and girls at increased risk of violence.”

It may be added here that catastrophic flooding in Pakistan that began in mid-2022 has killed over 1,500 people, displaced nearly 8 million,and left countless more in areas still submerged and lacking shelter, food, clean water and medicine. Amid the disaster, women and girls are facing additional risks to their safety.

Also read: UNDP, Islamic Relief sign MoU to support flood-affected communities in Sindh

Funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund), Rozan runs a project in the Hyderabad and Sukkur districts of Pakistan to improve institutional support for women survivors of domestic violence when they leave temporary safe shelters. The project focuses on building the capacity of service providers, enabling them to offer specialist support services including shelter; medical, legal, and psychological aid; and vocational training that can help women survivors find job opportunities and set up their own businesses post-shelter.

Also read: Pakistan needs over $16bn for post-flood reconstruction