Quetta, 18 August 2022 (TDI): UN Women Pakistan delegation led by the Country Representative, Sharmeela Rassool visited the flood-afflicted areas of Hanna Urak, Quetta, and interacted with local women and girls.
According to UN Women Pakistan, their flood relief efforts are going to reach over 450 households in the districts of Lasbella, Loralai, and Quetta in Balochistan.
Climate change is a women’s issue!
Delegation led by our Country Representative @sha_rassool visited flood affected areas of Hanna Urak, Quetta and interacted with women & girls. Our flood relief efforts will reach over 450 households in districts of Lasbella, Loralai and Quetta. pic.twitter.com/pKMekbjPNn— UN Women Pakistan (@unwomen_pak) August 17, 2022
Also read: KS Relief provides aid for flood victims in Balochistan
Furthermore, the Country Representative visited the Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP) office. During the visit, Sharmeela Rassool stated that starting a dialogue with banks and financial service providers about streamlining their procedures is necessary.
Consequently, the initiative will make the processes for women inclusive and customer friendly. Moreover, she insisted on women’s empowerment in the region.
“A dialogue needs to be initiated with banks and financial service providers regarding simplifying their processes to make them more women inclusive and customer friendly” said @Sha_Rassool while talking about women empowerment during her visit to BRSP office. pic.twitter.com/KbggqxHZAf
— Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP) (@BRSP_Pakistan) August 17, 2022
Consideration of Women’s issues in the region
Ayesha Ayub-Wadood, Head of the Sub-Office of UN Women in Balochistan, stated that BRSP’s efforts in reaching out to the flood-affected communities are laudable.
Also, there are potential ways UN Women may collaborate to aid the Balochistan people that have been devastated by the floods.
In addition, the UN women as a part of the Gender Responsive infrastructure in the justice sector also held a meeting with the Bar Council in Quetta.
Moreover, in the meeting with the Vice President of Quetta Bar Association, Qasim Khan, gender equality was discussed along with the issues faced by the female litigants on court premises.
UN Women as part of Gender Responsive infrastructure in justice sector had a meeting with bar council in Quetta. @Sha_Rassool @ZainabQKhan https://t.co/HFbw8HAg7H
— Ayesha Ayub-Wadood (@AshAyub) August 7, 2022
Furthermore, UN Women emphasized that Climate Change is a women’s issue. Head of the Sub-Office UN Women Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard tweeted that climate change is an added stressor that aggravates women’s vulnerability.
Climate change is an added stressor that aggravate women’s vulnerability. @SumeraShams @Ayesha_KP @ayeshabanopti @PnDKPGovt @PDMABalochistan @RukhshandaNaz @RiffatSardar2 https://t.co/HAPlpta78x
— Zainab Qaiser Khan زینب قیصر خان (@ZainabQKhan) August 17, 2022
Women’s vulnerability to the floods
There was a compelling argument for supporting women’s livelihood in Balochistan before the floods. However, the damage and displacement as a result of havoc floods have made this support even more imperative.
Additionally, water and fuel collection are seen as women’s jobs in these areas. Though, the primary energy sources for the impoverished, firewood and cow dung are low due to the floods’ loss of trees and cattle.
Subsequently, this compels women and girls to go further in search of gasoline and water, in addition to the frequent contamination of water sources. These activities take away from the time that women and girls may have spent working and attending school.
