Date: Apr 24, 2023
In 2022, the district of Rajanpur, located in the southwestern part of Pakistan was severely impacted by the devastating floods that struck the country. The floods wreaked havoc in the district, as the waters swept away everything in its path, leaving behind a trail of destruction. More than 1.9 million people of Rajanpur were left in an exceedingly vulnerable state and the situation only got worse when the flood water receded. The already poor living conditions of the village deteriorated further as the floods destroyed their homes, crops, animals and their livelihoods. With the loss of their main source of income, many of the villagers were left without any means of subsistence. The situation in Rajanpur is still very precarious and relief efforts are ongoing. HDF had provided temporary shelters and aid, but without a permanent home and a sense of security, the people of Rajanpur were unable to rebuild their lives. Therefore, in an effort to mitigate the suffering of the people in the district, HDF and the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) have come together to reconstruct 13 houses through the ‘APPNA Basti’ initiative, with a special focus on benefitting widows whose homes were destroyed. On January 7th, 2023, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in the presence of community members and representatives from both organizations. This is an important step towards the empowerment of the women of Rajanpur and even though the reconstruction of houses is underway, the impact of this initiative on the community is far-reaching and profound. Not only will it provide 13 vulnerable families with a safe and dignified place to call home but will also provide them with an opportunity to rebuild their lives and that of their communities. The success stories from the initiative are a testament to its positive impact on the community of Rajanpur and an indication of the commitment and hard work of the people involved. The people of Rajanpur are hopeful that the situation will soon improve, and the village will be able to rebuild itself from the destruction caused by the floods in 2022
