Traditional coping systems have been stretched to breaking point following last year's massive earthquake and women are bearing the brunt. Gulab Jan lost her husband seven years ago, but her position was typical of many of the widows at Chelha Bandi camp for quake survivors, who were relying on the waning support of extended family, IRIN, the UN information unit reports.
"Since my husband died, my brother has supported us, but he lost a lot in the earthquake and cannot support me anymore. He also has eight children of his own," Gulab said from the camp, in Muzaffarabad.
In the aftermath of the quake, vulnerable groups such as women had been hardest hit according to the government.
Since the disaster their roles have changed drastically. Women were often the main breadwinners for the family where the male head of the household had either died or suffered from permanent physical disabilities.
The government's Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) had established a social protection strategy to focus on vulnerable groups in the earthquake-hit districts NWFP and Azad Kashmir.
According to the Erra, customary practices often denied women their right to inheritance and limited their access to property, income and livelihood options.
The government had recommended providing technical assistance to vulnerable groups, including widows, but it would primarily only be available to property owners.
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