The year 2010-11 was very difficult year for communities of South Punjab, as they faced one of the history’s worst floods. During the reporting period, a total of 75 male and 62 female flood-affected Vaseb Development Committees (VDCs) re-established their offices and revived their functionality partially. These VDCs also recovered their organizational documentations. Most of the VDC members not only coup difficulties posed by the disaster relatively quickly but also rendered voluntary services to a range of national and international aid agencies in their relief and early recovery actions. A total of 60 male and 60 female VDCs developed their food security plans and identified their real time needs to be performed to secure their livelihoods and food needs in such disaster situations. In the rehabilitation process VDC community members voluntarily participated in the flood response activities with the government and other development agencies. VDCs built their close linkages with range of donor / aid agencies, worked closely with the government and private institutes and played key role in early recovery of their respective villages. Female VDCs played equally important role. Total 95 % of the VDCs actively participated in the distribution of food to 86936 flood affected families and WASH assistance to 5000 families of different targeted villages. Non-food items were provided to 3000 flood affected families of 12 target villages. Total 840 families were facilitated with cash for work opportunity and 1500 families got benefit from food for work. Total 600 effected families got cash grant of Rs: 25000 and 248 Community Physical Infrastructure schemes were completed in the flood affected areas in collaboration with VDCs. In the same realm 1100 shelters were provided to the homeless flood affected families of targeted villages. The communities were also provided with 225 hand pumps and 210 Latrine were constructed. Similarly, 22945 farmers got Agricultural inputs and 6494 animal food packs were distributed for livestock.
During the reporting period 76 % VDCs developed and revived their links with financial institutions and other NGOs for their independent outreach. VDCs organized 40 health camps in the target communities in collaboration with Health department. Total 3392 people got treatment from these health camps and vaccinated against seasonal diseases and hygiene kits were provided to 225 families of flood affected communities. VDCs also collaborated with agriculture extension department to vaccinate their livestock. Through organizing health camps for livestock, total 978 animals were vaccinated against various seasonal diseases. These camps were mainly organized in District Multan, D G Khan and Muzaffargarh. VDCs also played important role in sensitizing communities to take health and hygiene measures. 07 VDCs offered their own lands voluntarily and used their own savings to establish 16 AWAZ skill centres. Total 70 girls have been enrolled in these skill centres who are now attaining embroidery and handicraft skills to support their flood affected families. AWAZ believes in enabling all VDCs to have a mechanism of resource mobilization and sustenance. During the reporting period, 41 reactivated VDCs in District Multan, Muzaffargarh, D G Khan and Rajanpur, adopted the saving mechanism and the overall savings figure goes to PKR 109000. 7 VDCs started this practice for different small scale income generation and business activities. The technique also remained helpful for organizational strengthening and resource mobilization for initiating different self-help projects. 05 women started their small business which became a source of livelihood for them and source of inspiration for other women of flood affected areas.
