Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities, Capacities and Solution for Women with Disabilities and their Families in the Face of Floods 2022- Pakistan


Kamran Ishfaq, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan; Zahid Zulfiqar, National College of Business Administration & Economics Multan Sub Campus

Flood has disastrous effects on the lives of all human beings and considered as a curse especially for women with disabilities because they face greater challenges for their survival. The objective of the study was to investigate the socio-economic vulnerabilities faced by the women with disability during flood in Muzzafargarh. Responses were collected through two focus group discussions. Acquired responses of FGDs were analyzed through thematic analysis. In the focus group discussion six themes were selected (i) Knowledge and faith about flood (ii) Social issues of disabled women and social isolation (iii) Economic Problems of disabled women (iv) Receiving help pre-flood (v) Receiving help post-Flood (vi) Suggestions to overcome the issues in future. The study reported that the majority of the respondents strongly believed that no one could control floods because it is natural and the will of God but some of the respondents stated that India, feudal lords, and negligence of management are responsible for flood in Pakistan. One respondent expressed that feudal always save their crops, homes and animals on priority and cannot care about their poor people. They used their political influence and use their authority and break the connection of water towards poor people living. The majority of the respondents were socially excluded, and victims of social isolation. The respondents were facing an underprivileged life due to economic dependency on their families and the flood made it more severe. It was also found that none of the respondents receive any aid pre-flood and post-flood from any government or non-government organization and they managed the things by mutual cooperation. It was also found that they faced the destruction of crops, animals, homes, and social setups in the studied area. One respondent said that if people disobedient to Allah then Allah give punishment in the shape of Floods, earth quick’s etc. One of the respondent said that disabled people faced mental dissatisfaction and the feeling of useless among them. It was found during focus group discussion that majority of the respondents were facing social isolation. Majority of the respondents faced health issues (influenza, Dengue, high fever) during flood. Grater part of the respondents reported that they did not receive any help from the medical camp. It was also found that all the respondents were totally economically dependent on their families. Respondents furthermore said that they were facing food insecurity due to the climate changes because flood destroyed their crops and livestock. The respondents reported that none of the government official informed them about the flood in 2022 but they were informed by the army officials in the flood of 2010. Respondents further shared that the politicians are not bothering the flood and flood affected people; they have their personal concern. They further said that government did not facilitate them in an appropriate way; even one respondent claimed that they only receive one time meal in the camps and the meal was so limited that did not finish their hunger. The study recommended that Government should have to do planning to control flood, they have to make new dams to save the water”. The state should have to fulfill the basic necessities of life of the flood-affected people. Government should establish special schools, scholarship and jobs for the disabled people.

Non-presenting authors: Asfa Ashraf, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan; Shazia Sarwar, Doaba Foundation, Pakistan

This paper will be presented at the following session: