Local partnerships with government officials, NGOs and donor agencies reinforced reform efforts. A group of local doctors voluntarily provided first aid for treating snake bites, skin diseases, diarrhea, viral infections, etc. Also the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) joined hands with the SEF to provide water hand pump for supply of clean water, food and mosquito nettings. The medical camp setup by volunteer doctors also received the services of a Turkish team who offered medical expertise to cure the patients under highly critical conditions. Pateinets were treated against skin and eye infections, diarrhea, vomiting, malaria, and other waterborne diseases. Furthermore, on the occasion of Eid, senior management of SEF spent a day with the residents of relief camps and distributed one month food ration, clothes and shoes among the displaced persons.

SEF employee along with group of volunteers worked tirelessly to organize the relief activities in the camps, donor collaborations for collecting cash and in-kind contributions, packaging and delivery of rations / clothes / medicines, and resource mobilization and deployment of relief efforts. Donations were raised in cash as well as in-kind which were used to provide food rations such as flour, oil, lentils and energy packs for children as well as non-food items including water filters, towels, soaps, sheets, mats, kitchen utensils, mosquito coils and nets, medicines including skin disease ointments and clothes to facilitate the relief process.   

Facilitation was also provided to the IDPs in settling back home as they traveled to their villages during October and November.

‘Emergency Education Program’ for Displaced Children & Adults:
Education plays a crucial role in aid responses following a natural disaster or complex emergency. Understanding its social responsibility during the recent floods across Pakistan, the SEF launched an Emergency Education Program (EEP) as part of FRI. The program was initiated across Sindh province in September 2010 with the aim of providing ‘friendly spaces’ for recreational activities as well as non-formal education for displaced children and adults across the province of Sindh.

In order to maximize the usage of the emergency education content, SEF initiated the process of information dissemination to facilitators/educators. Training sessions designed for teachers demonstrate various teaching methodologies such as activity based learning, discussions and role-plays, etc. to be used during the educational/recreational interventions in various IDP camps. So far trainings have been extended to over 700 teachers in Sindh province. Additionally, resource manuals were developed in Sindhi language for teachers of early years as well as adult educators; comprising educational content in areas of crises management, health and hygiene education, environmental awareness, life skills, human values and rights modules and structured recreation activities like art and drama for active learning. These manuals will serve as supplementary education materials in early emergency and can also be used for enriching the curriculum, training of trainers, teachers training or conducting lessons to meet some of the psychosocial and learning/recreational needs of emergency-affected children and adults.

Collaborative work with other Organizations
In collaboration with the Federation Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Prof. Rehana Mughni (Advisor-SEF & SVP-CSR, FPCCI’s Standing Committee for Adult Education) conducted a series of literacy and awareness workshop for adult learners thrice a week at the Razzakabad relief camp since Mid-August. The sessions aimed at imparting literacy, enhancing language proficiency, teaching and lesson planning techniques, and spreading awareness on areas such as self esteem, health and hygiene, rights, etc. The trainees will be working with flood affectees in various relief camps set-up across the province.

Special plays have also been developed by SEF specialists on themes that revolve around arousing confidence and hope to help stimulate the spirits of flood victims. The objective is also to educate and encourage the IDPs, particularly women, to become self-reliant in the rehabilitation process and take pro-active leadership and empowerment roles.

School Revival
Many SEF partner schools have been damaged as a consequence of the 2010 floods. Since schools play a critical role during and after disasters in various contexts and can act as havens for whole communities, SEF‘s work with the affected communities is enhanced even more. Presently, SEF is conducting field surveys to analyze the extent of damage that has occurred so that school revival may be facilitated.

Combined efforts of SEF’s employees, partners, friends and families have allowed aid to be mobilized for relief of the affected segments of society at this time of their need. SEF would like to thank everyone for their immense support and cooperation, and pledges to continue to extend these efforts beyond immediate relief to rehabilitation work in the affected areas.