Crisis Flood Aid for Families & PWD's in Pakistan

Pakistan experienced devastating floods that caused widespread destruction of homes, livelihoods, and essential infrastructure. The impact was especially severe for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable populations, who faced significant barriers in accessing relief services. The Crisis Flood Aid for Families and PWDs in Pakistan project was initiated by Disabled Welfare Association (DWA) to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, ensure inclusive relief delivery, and restore dignity among affected communities. The project focused on distributing food supplies, hygiene kits, medical assistance, mobility support, and emergency shelter aid, while ensuring accessibility and disability inclusion at all stages. Through this intervention, DWA successfully supported hundreds of flood-affected households, with special attention to the unique needs of persons with physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities.

2. Background and Context

Recurring floods in Pakistan have displaced millions of people, destroyed crops, and severely disrupted access to food, healthcare, and clean water. Families living in poverty were pushed further into crisis, while PWDs faced:

• Inaccessible relief distribution points

• Lack of disability-friendly sanitation facilities

• Loss of assistive devices (wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids)

• Increased health risks and protection concerns

Recognizing these gaps, DWA mobilized an inclusive emergency response aligned with humanitarian principles of equity, dignity, and accessibility.

3. Project Objectives Overall Goal

To reduce suffering and protect the dignity of flood-affected families and persons with disabilities through inclusive, timely, and life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Specific Objectives

1. Provide emergency food and basic necessities to flood-affected households

2. Ensure disability-inclusive relief access for PWDs

3. Address urgent health, hygiene, and sanitation needs

4. Support mobility and independence of PWDs affected by floods

5. Strengthen community resilience through inclusive aid delivery
   
   4. Target Beneficiaries

   • Primary Beneficiaries

     • Persons with disabilities (physical, visual, hearing, intellectual)

     • Women with disabilities

     • Children with disabilities

     • Elderly persons with functional limitations

   • Secondary Beneficiaries

     • Flood-affected families

     • Caregivers of PWDs

     • Marginalized community members

   Selection Criteria

   • Severity of flood impact

   • Presence of disability in the household

   • Poverty and vulnerability status

   • Female-headed households
     
     5. Key Activities Implemented 5.1 Emergency Relief Distribution

     • Food ration packs (flour, rice, lentils, oil, sugar)

     • Clean drinking water support

     • Blankets, bedding, and shelter materials

     5.2 Disability-Inclusive Assistance

     • Distribution of wheelchairs, walking aids, and assistive devices

     • Priority queues and home-based delivery for PWDs with severe mobility issues

     • Support persons assigned during distributions

     5.3 Health and Hygiene Support

     • Hygiene kits (soap, sanitary items, disinfectants)

     • Basic medical supplies and first aid

     • Referral support to local health facilities

     5.4 Community Engagement & Coordination

     • Coordination with local authorities and relief clusters

     • Engagement of OPDs (Organizations of Persons with Disabilities)

     • Awareness on inclusive relief and protection risks
       
       6. Results and Impact Quantitative Results

       • Hundreds of households received emergency food and relief items

       • Significant number of PWDs received disability-specific assistance

       • Women and children gained safer access to hygiene and sanitation

       Qualitative Impact

       • Improved dignity and independence for persons with disabilities

       • Reduced hunger, health risks, and stress among families

       • Increased awareness of disability inclusion in humanitarian response

       
       
       Conclusion

       The Crisis Flood Aid for Families and PWDs in Pakistan project demonstrated that inclusive humanitarian response saves lives and restores dignity. Through donor support via GlobalGiving, Disabled Welfare Association was able to reach those most often excluded from emergency relief.

       Continued support will enable DWA to expand inclusive disaster response and ensure that persons with disabilities are never left behind in times of crisis.

       anged my life.”
       — Flood-affected person with disability, Sindh