A ray of hope for flood-hit

ILO comes forward for rescue, launches ‘cash for work’

Floods have recently played havoc with the lives of people displacing millions, including the women and children.

As the world had been warning of the impending human disaster faced by thousands of children who were at the brink of starvation, food shortage and disease-harmed in the flood affected areas, the response this time had been strangely slow beyond comprehension.

With the exception of few organizations like International Labour Organization (ILO) who has launched “Cash for Work” Project for the flood-affected people in Districts of Badin and Mirpurkhas.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) signed the agreement to roll-out project interventions here on Thursday.

The Singing Ceremony was held at ILO Office for Pakistan, and Mr. Francesco d’Ovidio, ILO Country Director, and Mr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO, NRSP signed the agreement. The project will start immediately.

Mr. Francesco d’Ovidio, Country Director, ILO office for Pakistan while launching the “Cash for Work for Flood Affected People” project stated, “This project will generate more than 35,000 of person day of employment to the flood affected people”.

This employment will help in clearing the access to villages and healthcare facilities as well as cleaning/restoring the water supply reservoirs in these two worst affected districts.

These employment opportunities will be in line with international labour standards e.g. no child labour and no discrimination.

The ILO’s financial support and technical guidance will help NRSP to offer employment to revitalize flood-affected communities of Badin and Mirpurkhas.

Mr. d’Ovidio also stated that since 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, “ILO has positively responded to various crises that the country has encountered. The ILO has generated more than 150,000 person day of cash for work, helped restored 100 kilometres of roads, trained 18,000 disaster affected people in new skills, and rehabilitated more than 4000 disaster affected children from child labour”.

The ILO has also submitted a proposal in the UN Flash Appeal under Health Cluster for larger cash for work programme to restore healthcare facilities. At the same time, ILO is approaching other donors to mobilize additional resources to further improve its response to current floods in Sindh province.

Mr. Rashid Bajwa, CEO of NRSP shared that ILO’s technical and financial support will them provide direct benefit to the floods affect people in Sindh. This employment will help in draining the standing flood water, removing mud and rubble to clear the access pathways to the healthcare facilities.

The simple yet graceful launching ceremony was attended by UN officials, the representatives of NGO’s and media personnel in great numbers and is being seen as a ray of hope for the millions of women and children in flood affected areas of Sindh.