LocationsUNDP and Islamic Relief partner to support the flood-affected communities in Sindh
November 18, 2022
Women and girls have been particuraly impacted by the Pakistan Floods. The Partnership will help communities in Sindh to recover, with an increased focus on the inclusion of women.
Islamabad, 18 November 2022 — In a signing ceremony today, UNDP and Islamic Relief announced a partnership to support the flood-affected communities in Sindh. The partnership will create income opportunities for households affected by the floods and support the construction of community infrastructures.
The devastating floods in Pakistan have affected 33 million people. Recently launched Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) highlights that millions have become homeless, livelihoods are heavily impacted, and critical infrastructure has been wiped out. Estimates of total damages and losses are around $30 billion.
Floods have particularly impacted the poorest and most vulnerable districts. Poverty rates for many flood-affected districts in Sindh and Balochistan, two of the most impacted provinces, were even higher. Before the floods, households in calamity-hit communities showed an average poverty rate of more than 31 percent, well above the national average of 21.9 percent.
Knut Ostby, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan with Asif Sherazi, Country Director, Islamic Relief Pakistan and Aliona Niculita, UNDP Pakistan Deputy Resident Representative at the signing ceremony of UNDP and Islamic Relief Partnership. Credits: Shuja Hakim, UNDP Pakistan
In response, UNDP and Islamic Relief will help communities with cash for work opportunities. An initial target of 10,000 cash-for-work hours will be set, with an increased focus on the inclusion of women. Simultaneously, rehabilitation schemes will also be identified in the selected districts that can be started immediately.
While speaking at the signing ceremony, UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Knut Ostby highlights, “Aligned with UNDP’s Flood Recovery Vision, through this partnership, we aim to revive livelihoods and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in impacted districts of Sindh.”
“The scale of devastation has been unprecedented for which no one was prepared. Islamic Relief strongly believes that collaborations and partnerships are vital in this hour of need to reach the most in need before another crisis emerges. Our strong community connections are helping us to reach the most in need,” states Mr. Asif Sherazi, Country Director Islamic Relief Pakistan.
This collaboration is an extension of UNDP and Islamic Relief's global and regional partnership in reaching and building resilience in conflict-affected areas.
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For additional information, please contact:
UNDP: Tabindah Anwar at tabindah.anwar@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5650
Islamic Relief: Mansoor Ali at mansoor.ali@irp.org.pk +92 300 8522942
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About UNDP:
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP
About Islamic Relief:
Islamic Relief, during the last three decades, has been delivering on the promise of bringing a lasting change in Pakistan. With ‘Reaching the most in Need’ and ‘First on Ground’ as our hallmarks, IR has been addressing the deep-rooted issues faced by the country like poverty, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and livelihoods, climate change, health, orphans and women empowerment including emergency responses and disaster risk reduction.
As we work to come up with solutions for the most pressing issues of our times, Islamic Relief is committed to working for a better and safer tomorrow.
