The international agency, Oxfam, claims that an overwhelming 70 percent of those affected by floods in Pakistan want reconstruction, which will create jobs and make availability of food on affordable prices for wage earners. Oxfam released its survey on Wednesday in a crowded press conference. Oxfam's Country Director in Pakistan, Neva Khan, was co-assisted by Fatima Khan and Manager FEFAN.
Neva said that the poll of 2,040 people, carried out between January 15 and 24, 2011 in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh, provides a compelling insight into the needs and desires of those who survived Pakistan's worst disaster in living memory. She emphasised that people's immediate concern is food and jobs. They want to work their way out of poverty and rebuild a life better than before. They are calling for food which they can afford, healthcare when they are sick, and someplace to live - the most basic of basics. She stressed that Pakistan, in collaboration with foreign donors, must act on urgent basis in providing food to them.
Fatima highlighted some of the findings of survey conducted in those remote areas which are neglected by the government. She said that in such areas not only availability but affordability of food items is the biggest challenge for government and donors. She claimed that these areas are badly hit by the flood of last year. Difficult terrain is making supply of food difficult for the merchants, she added.
The survey, conducted by Pakistani NGO, 'Free and Fair Election Network' (FAFEN) for Oxfam, found that not only jobs but availability of affordable food (34 percent), homes (23 percent) and healthcare (22 percent) also needs to be prioritised as reconstruction begins. The poll shows that over a third (36 percent) of flood affected people see corruption in relief and reconstruction efforts as one of the more serious problems facing the country.
Food prices in Pakistan are rising, making staples unaffordable for many of the poorest in a country where the World Bank estimates nearly a quarter of the population live below the poverty line. The survey also showed that those affected by the flood had mixed experiences when it came to relief providers. Sixty-six percent of respondents said they were "satisfied" or "extremely satisfied" with aid from international agencies such as Oxfam. Forty-two percent said the same for relief provided by the government of Pakistan.
The government of Pakistan has yet to publish its reconstruction strategy. The delay has meant that urgent rebuilding and recovery work has barely started eight months on from the disaster. Pakistan's authorities need to urgently set out a clear plan for reconstruction which would put the needs of the most vulnerable at its heart and embraces transparency and accountability. Donors should encourage the government to develop a reconstruction strategy focused on people's needs and help ensure that it is implemented, the survey report said.
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