Following this year’s unprecedented and deadly floods in Pakistan, UK humanitarian aid charity Human Appeal has launched plans to build flood-resistant homes in the country.

The project will begin with one- and two-room flood-resilient homes. The first will be built in the village settlements of Muhammad Hashim Chandio, and Kamber Shahdadkot district, in Sindh, one of the worst affected provinces.

The initial project is set to help 770 people whose homes were destroyed by the floodwaters. The new dwellings will provide families with permanent shelter with kitchen and toilet facilities – all elevated above ground level to protect from future flooding.

600,000 remain displaced by floods

As many as 600,000 people remain displaced by the floods, currently staying in emergency relief camps across Pakistan.

Beyond impacting nearly one in fifteen people in the country, the floodwaters also devastated farmlands, livestock and essential infrastructure. Over 1.1 million livestock were killed, and more than 13,000 km of roads and 436 bridges were damaged.

Human Appeal was among the first international aid organisations to offer assistance in Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. The charity has distributed flood relief, hot meals, hygiene kits, and other emergency supplies to the worst hit and most remote regions.

This first rebuilding effort is set to be followed by many others as Pakistan works to recover from its most devastating floods in years.

Accommodation key priority as winter approaches

Mehdi Benmrad, Programmes Director at Human Appeal, said, “With winter fast approaching, ensuring that as many people as possible can have access to permanent and weather resistant accommodation is a key priority.

“Being able to build these solid and resilient structures not only returns displaced families to their own land once more, their design and construction gives additional confidence to people from the threat of future flooding.

“This project marks the start of a much more widespread rebuilding effort in the region, focused on providing stability and security back into people’s lives.”

To learn more about Human Appeal’s emergency Pakistan Flood project and about its work worldwide, visit www.humanappeal.org.uk.

Image credit: Human Appeal