OVERALL PROGRESS
Context
In 2023, Pakistan faced several significant challenges that had a direct impact on its humanitarian and development situation. The country grappled with severe economic decline, owing to high inflation rates, depreciating currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The economic instability has in turn led to increased poverty and reduced funding for social development projects. Political unrest and instability throughout the year, including protests, leadership changes and conflicts between political parties led to disruptions and diverted attention and resources, away from the pressing developmental issues.
Pakistan is among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. The unprecedented 2022 monsoon floods are the latest example of the climate crisis affecting the country, affecting more than 33 million people. Pakistan also faced other climate-related challenges, including heatwaves and water scarcity, affecting agriculture, food security and other health issues.
Further, the country is facing a higher prevalence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. The burden of disease most adversely impacts the poor. Communicable diseases, maternal health issues and undernutrition dominated half of the overall health concerns. The prevalence of diseases is compounded by the low quality of water. The majority of the population in the country is exposed to the hazards of drinking unsafe and polluted water from both surface and groundwater sources, resulting in 40 per cent of morbidities related to Gastroenteritis (GIT) and 50 per cent of mortalities linked to polluted water.
Humanitarian needs remained significant, particularly among internally displaced populations, refugees and marginalized communities. Pakistan is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world, providing refuge to 1.3 million registered refugees, a majority of whom are Afghans.
In addition, Pakistan is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced displacement and has witnessed largescale population movement due to the last few climatic events.
The economic, social, political and climatic events collectively have posed significant challenges to Pakistan’s development and have thus shaped the organization’s priorities, strategies and interventions to meet the evolving humanitarian and development needs of the country.
Key achievements
Climate and environment
The Pakistan Red Crescent initiated a Locally Led Adaptation project as part of the IFRC Global Climate Resilience Programme to enhance climate resilience and adaptive capacities. Phase-I focused on assessing community needs and creating actionable steps. The National Society’s key achievements included conducting a national climate risk assessment (CRA), which involved extensive reviews and consultations, highlighting vulnerabilities and impacts on marginalized groups, and finalizing the CRA report. Additionally, the National Society’s climate-smart screening phase evaluated 58 policies and programmes, identifying opportunities to integrate climate-smart practices, thus enhancing the organization’s capacity to address climate change. The submission and approval of a concept note for Phase-II of the project also took place during the reporting period.
Disasters and crises
The Pakistan Red Crescent continued to provide people affected by the 2022 floods with shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), cash and in-kind assistance. The National Society worked to enhance its cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming by working with two financial service providers to implement cash-based interventions nationwide. The National Society’s technical working groups, including disaster management, forecastbased financing, and cash, played crucial roles in the smooth implementation of interventions across the country. Following a feasibility study, the National Society also developed an IFRC-DREF early action protocol (EAP) for the Kabul River basin to address frequent flooding, targeting people in high-risk areas. Under Strategy 2030, the Global Crises Data Bank (GCDB) project was launched to enhance anticipatory action and response capacities. Additionally, comprehensive training for the National Disaster Response Team and participation in capacity-building initiatives strengthened the National Society’s disaster response capabilities.
Health and wellbeing
The Pakistan Red Crescent, as an auxiliary to the Government of Pakistan, continued to bolster its humanitarian capacities, focusing on public health emergencies and routine immunization. In 2023, it supported 23 primary health facilities, including basic health units in Bannu and South Waziristan, expanding its reach. The National Society fully vaccinated about 30,000 children and provided tetanus toxoid vaccinations to women of childbearing age. Through the routine immunization programme, the National Society targeted hard-to-reach and high-risk areas, including Killa Abdullah, Chaman, Bannu, and South Waziristan. In March 2023, it trained 100 vaccinators on vaccine-preventable diseases in Killa Abdullah and conducted interpersonal and risk communication training for staff in Peshawar in June 2023.
Migration and displacement
In 2023, the Pakistan Red Crescent launched multiple initiatives to support vulnerable refugee families across Pakistan. They distributed multipurpose cash grants and family hygiene kits to 4,350 Afghan refugee families, with specific distributions in Chaman, Quetta, Karachi, Chitral and Bannu. The National Society also deployed a health unit at a border crossing for Afghan returnees, providing health services, with hospital referrals and first aid, to Afghan refugees. Additionally, with the support of the ICRC, the National Society worked to provide Restoring Family Links services to 2,717 individuals. The National Society also provided livelihood support to Pakistani returnees from Turkey, offering assistance through rickshaws, loaders, livestock and cash grants.
Values, power, and inclusion
The Pakistan Red Crescent conducted orientation sessions on protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) for new staff, integrating these approaches across various sectors and establishing a comprehensive complaint and redressal system with a referral directory for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases. Accordingly, it conducted field monitoring to prioritize and diversify assistance for targeted populations. In Sindh and Balochistan, staff and volunteers were trained in PGI and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), with service providers for victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) mapped in five districts. The integration of the community engagement and accountability (CEA) approach was also strengthened during this reporting period. This included the involvement of community members in planning, assessment, implementation and evaluation of interventions. A hotline supplemented by feedback desks at distribution sites, enabled feedback, receiving 4,727 responses during the flood emergency operation. Provincial branches also maintained their own hotlines for receiving feedback.
Enabling local actors
In 2023, the Pakistan Red Crescent hosted 250 students through its Annual Summer Mentorship Programme – the students carried out diverse projects under mentorship, enhancing their project management skills. The IFRCICRC NSIA Bridge Fund project saw the installation of donation boxes in 25 locations and the registration of 1,500 associate members for fundraising. The National Society concluded a youth engagement project aimed at promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project established 167 Youth Clubs nationwide and focused on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, first aid and psychosocial support. In addition, the VIA Road Safety Education Project trained students in road safety and expanded its initiatives to 25 schools, culminating in a national road safety conference. The Pakistan Red Crescent enhanced its communications strategy, online presence and image through digital platforms and media engagements.
Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-2023-ifrc-network-annual-report-jan-dec-28-august-2024
