Rapid Assessment Report

Draft (19th November 2014)

Drought Assessment Report

Districts Tharparkar and Umerkot
26th October -- 1st November 2014

Consortium Management Unit

PEFSA V
Table of Contents

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 4

2 THE CONTEXT ................................................................................................................ 6

2.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Methodology........................................................................................................................... 6
2.2.1 Objective ....................................................................................................................................... 7
2.2.2 Approach to Assessment .............................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Demographics ......................................................................................................................... 8
2.4 Taluka wise Affected Union Councils of District Tharparkar .................................................. 9

3 MAIN FINDINGS ........................................................................................................... 11

3.1 Affected population and Migration ...................................................................................... 11
3.2 Drought Intensity and Condition .......................................................................................... 11
3.3 Relief and Assistance received .............................................................................................. 12
3.4 Coping Strategies .................................................................................................................. 12
3.5 Health and Nutrition ............................................................................................................. 12
3.6 Hygiene, Water & Sanitation ................................................................................................ 13
3.7 Livelihoods and income generation ...................................................................................... 14
3.7.1 Food & Agriculture ..................................................................................................................... 14
3.7.2 Livestock ..................................................................................................................................... 14

4 ANNEXURE ................................................................................................................. 16
4.1 Annex Taluka wise Union Councils of District Tharparkar .................................................... 16
4.2 Annex - Preliminary Travel/Assessment Plan ....................................................................... 18
4.3 Annex – Details of FGDs and Assessment Locations............................................................. 19
4.4 Annex – List of KIIs conducted and Assessment Locations ................................................... 20
4.5 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for meeting and discussion ................................................. 21
4.6 Annex – Checklist for Meeting with Health Facility Staff (PPHI, HANDS others) .................. 21
4.7 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for discussion with LHWs / Marvi (Community Health
Worker) ............................................................................................................................................. 22
4.8 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for talking to a patient......................................................... 22
4.9 Annex – Checklist for Focus Group Discussion in communities ........................................... 23
4.10 Annex –Guidelines for Focus Group Discussion in communities .......................................... 23
4.11 Annex – Checklist for Market Assessment ............................................................................ 26
4.12 Annex – Checklist Key Informant Interview (KII) .................................................................. 26
Acronyms

Glossary
Draft
Drought Assessment Report for Districts Tharparkar and
Umerkot

1 Executive Summary
Thar region is mostly sand ridges and arid zone. Tharparkar has 1.2 million population,
where only 5% of people reside in urban areas and the rest live in rural setups. The
main sources of income in Thar region are arid agriculture, livestock rearing and
daily wage labour.

Droughts are a slow onset calamity; however, various signs do indicate to drought
like situation. Droughts reoccur in Tharparkar region due to low rainfall, lack of means
for irrigation, lack of resources for improving the existing arid agriculture, and
continued desertification. Other problems are lack of adequate health facilities and
its outreach to local communities, veterinary services for their livestock, protective
measures from poisonous reptiles and lack of alternate yearlong livelihood activities
for sustained living.

Poverty and vulnerability rise with low or minimal rainfall especially during the months
of July and August. Their livelihood sources shrink with negligible agricultural yield
and with declining fodder sources and grazing opportunities large numbers of
livestock either die or are struck with diseases. Consequently, the local population
either migrate to farmlands and towns in the adjacent districts in search of alternate
earning sources.

The respondents of assessment study prioritized their immediate and long term
needs. Their needs are grouped into short and long-term categories for ease and
understanding to develop program interventions.

The respondents pointed out the following immediate needs in the short-term;

i. To ensure equitable distribution of wheat among affectees,

ii. To include dry ration in the food distribution,

iii. To ensure adequate food stocks till next (2015) monsoon season,

iv. To provide seed grants for next sowing season i.e. July and August 2015;
 v. To provide fodder and vaccination for livestock;

vi. To operationalize health facilities and address diarrhoea, measles and other
sickness cases;

vii. To provide mobile health services for reaching remote settlements (mobile
outreach services), and

viii. To ensure equitable coverage for food (nutrition) supplements.

The respondents’ needs to mitigate droughts and its effects in the long-term are
grouped as;

ix. The respondents stressed for ensuring clean drinking water facilities
through filtration systems (Reverse Osmosis plants) and to install solar
powered water pumps on the existing wells,

x. To ensure agriculture extension services and support for arid agriculture in

Thar region,

xi. To provide means for irrigation,

xii. To support alternate livelihood income sources by promoting the traditional

vocational activities, and

xiii. To provide road network in desert areas and enable easy access to urban
markets and for reaching health facilities and water points.
2 The Context

2.1 Background

CMU and PEFSA V partner agencies received various calls and notifications
regarding droughts in parts of Sindh province. The government notifications and
reports from non-government organizations indicated that most of Tharparkar district
and parts of adjoining districts were facing drought situation due to inadequate
rainfall since last year.

Therefore, a team of CMU staff along with volunteers from partner organizations
planned a quick assessment of the drought affected areas of Tharparkar and
Umerkot. The seven member team conducted focus group discussions and key
informant interviews from 27th till 31st October 2014.

2.2 Methodology

It was assumed that an initial assessment will help organizations to decide and plan
a way forward and to investigate further information in order to plan and design
specific interventions. The ‘Thar Drought Assessment’ study was planned to acquire
firsthand information on droughts in Tharparkar region of Sindh Province. Available
secondary information was accessed, and perception of affectees in drought-prone
areas and other locals were acquired.

The study broadly aimed for the following;

1. To gather information on drought affected areas of districts Tharparkar and Umerkot,

2. To acquire the views of the affectees and narrate the local perception about droughts and
remedies,

3. To identify intervention for immediate relief to the drought affectees through short-term
approach,

4. To broadly identify the numbers and location/Union Councils with vulnerable population
who may be targeted through a long-term assistance approach.
2.2.1 Objective

To acquire first hand information of the current drought situation and to work out a
way forward for addressing the slow onset calamity.

2.2.2 Approach to Assessment

The approach to conduct quick/rapid need assessment is detailed below;

After receiving the information from various forums; government, media sources
(both electronic and print) and non-government organizations, an assessment of
District Tharparkar and some areas of District Umerkot was held during last week of
October 2014.

The team included seven members from CMU PEFSA along with members from
consortium partners: one from Save the Children and two from Oxfam GB along with
volunteers from local organizations: two from TRDP in Tharparkar & two from HANDS
in Umerkot.

The team visited PDMA and PNC, Health Dept. in Karachi. Administrative offices in
Mithi (DHQ Tharparkar) were also visited and discussions with the available officials
were held. Requisite data on the current drought situation, such as names/list of
affected villages, governments’ relief assistance and provisions, and maps could not
be obtained instantly from district offices as they were in the process of compiling
the same.

(Annex – Guidelines for meeting and discussion)

Field assessments were conducted in the affected Union Councils of Tharparkar:

Mithi, Nangarparkar, Tegusar, Chachoro, and in Umerkot: Kaplore. The team held
meetings with concerned govt. Offices, health facilities, conducted ‘Key Informant
Interviews’ (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with both male and female in
villages to gather requisite information and perceptions from the affected
communities.

(Annex – FGD and KII format)

The team conducted 12 key informants and 9 FGDs (4 mix, 3 with female and 2 with
male community members) and assessed the drought situation. A brief of offices
and communities visited is given below and details are annexed.

1. PNC at Directorate of Health Sindh,

2. PDMA office,

3. DHQ offices in Mithi (Tharparkar)

 4. THQ Hospital Mithi,

5. Community members from villages Sukhpur, Veerawah & Dansi, Karaitar (Taluqa
Nangarparkar),

6. Community members from villages Virawah and Nangarparkar (Taluqa Nangarparkar)

7. Village Onherio, UC Sati Dera (Taluqa Nangarparkar),

8. THQ Hospital Nangarparkar,

9. Village Taj Muhammad Shah, UC Tegusar (Taluqa Nangarparkar),

10. THQ Hospital Chachoro,

11. Village Khutkari (UC Chachoro),

12. Village Kaplore (UC Kaplore, Umerkot),

13. Village Bahdi (UC Kaplore, Umerkot),

14. Village Rathnore (UC Kaplore, Umerkot),

2.3 Demographics

Thar means desert and the region includes District Tharparkar along with parts of
Umerkot, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas. District Tharparkar has a population of 1.2 million
with a geographical area 1 of about 20,000 sq. kms. Only 5% population live in urban
settings and the rest live in rural settings. Thar region consists of six (6) Talukas (sub-
districts): Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Nangarparkar, Chachoro and Dahli and has 44 Union
Councils with more than 166 Dehs (large villages) with more than 2000 hamlets. Most
affected were Taluqas of Chachoro, Dahlee and Nangarparkar. Similarly, as per the
assessments carried out by other agencies in March 2014, the affected population
of droughts 2013 was 0.6 million.

1
Reference
http://www.thardeep.org/thardeep/Publication/PubFiles/df4mkfdjoe3wFinal%20Drought%20Repor
t%2012.pdf
2.4 Taluka wise Affected Union Councils of District Tharparkar

Union Council
S. Name of at Risk since Total Affected Population
No Taluka UC. No March 2014
Male Female Total
1 Chachoro 16,287 13,398 29,685
2 Saringiar 19,098 15,010 34,108
3 Tar Dos 20,533 15,290 35,823
1 Chachoro 4 Rajoro 18,812 15,867 34,679
5 Hirar 16,605 13,401 30,006
6
7 Mithrio Charan 17,671 12,598 30,269
8 Dahli 19,422 13,753 33,175
9 Khensar 20,190 15,590 35,780
10 Parno 21,528 15,345 36,873
11 Gadhro 17,771 12,838 30,609
2 Dahlee
12 Laplo 19,186 14,410 33,596
13 Piranojopar 17,397 12,289 29,686
14 Jesejopar 18,539 12,888 31,427
15 Tar Ahmad 14,574 11,642 26,216
16
17
18
19
3 Mithi
20
21
22
23 Vejhyar 16,497 13,912 30,409
24
25
26
27
4 Diplo
28
29
30
31
32
33
5 Islamkot 34
35 Seengaro 14,298 12,225 26,523
36
 37
38
39
40 Pilu 15,299 13,308 28,607
41 Harho 14,509 12,937 27,446
6 Nangarparkar 42 Tegusar 14,653 12,077 26,730
43 Sateedera 13,405 11,446 24,851
Virawah (half
44 area) 7,437 6,562 13,999
45
Totals 45 353,711 276,786 630,497
3 Main Findings
It is evident after the assessment exercise immediate efforts are required to deal with
droughts in Tharparkar and curtail similar drought conditions in the future. The team
spoke to the local communities and found out the following main issues;

3.1 Affected population and Migration

1) Most affected were the Hindu communities of Bheel, Kohli and Menghwar. Some of the Muslim
communities who had fewer resources to sustain the drought season are also affected. Most
families of Bheel and Kohli have migrated. The rest such as Thakurs and Menghwars, being
comparatively better-off, have stayed back with their families but sent their livestock to irrigated
farmlands of Sanghar and Mirpurkhas. (See annex on religions in the area)

2) Approximately 60-70% of the Kohli and Bheel communities have migrated to adjacent districts of
Sanghar, Badin, Umerkot and Mirpurkhas in search of work opportunities and where fodder is
available. They also describe this routine as their seasonal migration for on-farm daily labour
during the harvest season. (See annex on castes and communities in the area)

3) Some 20-30% of Menghwar communities have also migrated to the irrigated regions where they
find work opportunities both on-farm and off-farm. However, they informed that their livestock
herds were taken to barrage areas of upper Sindh and usually one or two men from the family
stay with their herds till the next monsoon season.

4) Few of the Muslim families migrated to relatives residing in settled areas. The informed that in
normal conditions they do not leave their houses like the nomadic Kohli’s. However; due to
drought severity, at least one male member per family had to leave in search of work. They
usually travel to urban centres of Hyderabad and Karachi and remit their earnings back home to
sustain the droughts.

3.2 Drought Intensity and Condition

5) Most around 70–80% reported to be under debt as they had borrowed for seeds, land preparation
and vaccination during 2013 and also for monsoon season of 2014.

6) They also borrowed for vaccinating livestock between the two monsoon seasons but few rains
and no agriculture yields they were unable to return their previous debts. Similarly, with dry
monsoons this year they were left with nothing to spend on treatment of their livestock as they
were too weak to survive or remain profitable.

7) Recent borrowings are for food purchases, transport and health services.

8) They reported to have lost a quarter of their livestock. The rest of the herd have been moved to
areas with better grazing options and some have been sold. They claimed that livestock is one of
 their productive assets and the loss in their numbers had been a grave loss for them. More so the
ones they had been able to sell were also sold off on less than quarter of the normal rates.

3.3 Relief and Assistance received

9) A general perception is that droughts in Thar region are a chronic issue. The respondents
informed that last rainfall was in 2011 and the assistance efforts are usually stop-gap
arrangements.

10) The Government authorities met also claimed to have distributed three tranches of 50 Kg Wheat
bag since August 2014. They stated that wheat is distributed to the affectees whenever droughts
hit the area. Though local respondents could confirmed either one tranche and in some places to
have received a second tranche at the end of September and in some didn’t get any of the
tranche.

11) Few respondents could confirm the distribution of nutritional supplements in their Union Councils
and had heard about biscuits and similar packs that were distributed to children and women in the
neighbouring villages.

3.4 Coping Strategies

12) Most of the respondents are unable to return their debts this year. Hence, they have migrate to
irrigated farmlands and urban centres for daily wage labour. They reported that families who have
remained in villages have sent their male members for daily wages in the urban settlements.

13) They informed that usually they survive similar situation by migrating to irrigated farmlands where
they find livelihood opportunities, food, shelter and fodder for livestock. Whereas, some of the
Menghwar, mostly men migrate in search of daily wages. At the same time they have moved
livestock herds to farmlands in Mithi, Badin and Mirpurkhas, where rice, cotton and sugarcane are
being harvested. Owners of larger herds have moved their livestock to upper Sindh’s barrage
areas and are being attended by one or two male members from each family.

14) Whereas, majority of Bheel and Kohli have migrated with their whole families. They find on-farm
work that is paid in-kind such as rice grain and are allowed to graze their livestock on the same
farmland. It was reported that some of these families may stay on these farmlands till they have
enough food stock to sustain the time between now and next monsoon season.

15) The families who were still residing in the villages informed that in distress they would sell one of
the livestock in order to pay for food ration or paying off expenses incurred on health.

3.5 Health and Nutrition

16) The PNC, Dept. Of Health report the GAM rate for Tharparkar region at 21%. The data obtained
from THQ Mithi, Nangarparkar and Chachoro also reveal both SAM and MAM to be very high.
17) Organizations; HANDS and TRDP, working in the region also reported food insecurity, water and
hygiene issues.

18) A Stabilization Centre (SC) at DHQ Hospital in Mithi supports the nutrition program run by
Provincial Nutrition Cell (PNC) and donors. The Sindh Health Department is providing services at
DHQ and THQ hospitals and PPHI is managing primary healthcare services at BHUs. However,
discussions with healthcare staff and locals revealed that the health facilities remain under-
resourced and understaffed.

19) Exact coverage capacity for whole of Tharparkar is yet to be ascertained through a detailed
assessment. The information obtained through quick assessment present that PNC, PPHI, WFP,
and UNICEF are providing services through local partners: HANDS, TRDP and Shifa
International, and treatment for malnourished children and PLWs.

20) The informants in villages assessed that the BHUs remained non-functional or under-staffed for a
long time till very recently the services have been resumed. Overall it appeared to be negligence
of resource allocation, outreach concept such as providing timely supplements to under-nourished
ones.

21) Most of the affected families were also un-aware about the provision or distribution of biscuits and
other supplement packs for women and children.

22) Many of the respondents were of the opinion that the health facilities are too far-away and they
remain inaccessible for the sick and weak patients, especially elderly and lactating women and for
children. At the same time they also pointed out that many affectees cannot reach health facilities
in cities as the transportation cost was very high and unaffordable in hard times such as droughts.

3.6 Hygiene, Water & Sanitation

23) Under surface water is ‘brackish’ and local well remains the main source of drinking water. There
is little concept of portable water and wells are dug by villagers with some essential structures
such as pulley and rope are used to fetch water in rubber buckets. The ‘less brackish’ water for
locals is sweet water. Few villages have community mobilization efforts by local organizations
where they have transformed the water availability options. Such as TRDP has provided solar
powered submersible water pumps and Thar Coal and Govt. Of Sindh have established Reverse
Osmosis Water treatment plants.

24) The water table is at a depth of 60 ft in some areas where locals are able to dig wells for their
daily use, but in some areas the water table is 350-400 ft deep and it takes a lot of effort for
fetching water with pullies and buckets that are pulled only by camels or donkeys. The situation
further worsens during droughts as the water table lowers down and the animals are too weak to
pull the water buckets from increased depths.

25) They also reported that the water had a toll on them by causing most of their health problems
such as stomach pains and skin issues. The locals don’t have another option but to drink and use
it for domestic purposes. They explained that their belongings such as clothing decompose much
quickly due to hard water washing.
26) The government is applying efforts to explore durable solutions in shape of Reverse Osmosis
(RO) water treatment plants. The RO plants are installed at points to cover larger and settled
villages with more number of users in the coverage area. The RO plants also have a recurring
expenditure of diesel fuel and require regular maintenance. The administrative offices informed
that govt. is exploring for further options such as solar powered RO plants.

3.7 Livelihoods and income generation

27) Means of livelihood in Tharparkar region are a combination of livestock rearing and agriculture i.e.
around 60-70% are mainly dependent upon these two livelihood sources. They further elaborated
that their dependence was 30-40% on livestock and 30-40% on agriculture. The rest 20-30%
were involved in daily wages and were daily wagers in urban centres, the remaining were in
services, doing local trade and running local transport, a shop in local markets or in the nearest
urban centres of Umerkot, Mithi.

28) The arid zone is dependent on rainfall and people are dependent on only one crop during summer
monsoon (Kharif) season.

3.7.1 Food & Agriculture

29) Tharparkar is an arid zone and most of it is desert area and has negligible irrigated agriculture.
The agricultural practice is limited to only monsoon season and sowing season in Thar region is
only for two months of July and August.

30) The informants explained that the portion of income from agricultural yield is too less and is highly
dependent on adequate rainfall. They reported that there was no rainfall for the last three (3)
years and there was no agricultural yield.

31) Similarly, this year there were no rains during July and August; hence the routine of migration and
displacement was visible. They said that when rains are not sufficient the people know it definitely
that hard times are ahead. Hence, rainfall is a significant factor and an indicator to forecast the set
pattern of vulnerability in Thar region.

3.7.2 Livestock
32) Many reported that they had lost 1/3rd of cattle including cows and camels. They explained that
cows were means for essential dairy products in their homes and were also a cash asset.
Similarly, camels had great role for commuting in desert areas and for fetching water from far-off
sites but due to droughts they have lost their grazing grounds and are now too weak to be useful.

33) Locals also reported that they lost more than 2/3rd of their small ruminants; sheep and goats, due
to disease and droughts. One of the major diseases was sheep pox, which was really damaging
for the people. They felt helpless as no vaccine and support was available to timely cure and fight
the disease.
34) The livestock sale is also their main source of income whereas they informed a drastic drop in the
sale rate for Thar’s livestock. They explained that significantly lower rates of 1/4th of the original
price were due to diseased and weaker animals.
4 Annexure

4.1 Annex Taluka wise Union Councils of District Tharparkar

Tharparkar District Numbers

No. of Taluka / Sub 6

Districts

No. of TMAs 6

No. of Union Councils 44

No. of Circles 18

No. of Tapas 45

No. of Deh 166

Male Population Female Population Total (1998)

Tharparkar District 499,859 414,432 914,291

S.No Name of Taluka S.No Union Council

1 Chachoro
1 Chachoro
2 Saranghyar
3 Tardos
4 Rajoro
5 Heerar
6 Kantio
7 Mithrio Charan
2 Dahlee
1 Dahlee
2 Khensar
3 Parno
4 Gadhro
5 Laplo
6 Peerano Jo Par
7 Jese Jo Par
 8 Tar Ahmed
3 Mithi
1 Mithi
2 Muhrano
3 Juruo
4 Chelhar
5 Malanhor Veena
6 Bhakuo
7 Mithrio Bhatti
8 Vejhyar
4 Diplo
1 Diplo
2 Jhirmirio
3 Kaloi
4 Bhitaro
5 Khetlari
6 Bolhari
7 Dabhro
8 Sobhyar
5 Islamkot
1 Islamkot
2 Sonal Boh
3 Kehri
4 Seengaro
5 Khario Ghulam Shah
6 Manjthee
7 Jeando Daras
6 Nangarparkar
1 1 Nangarparkar
2 2 Peeloo
3 3 Harho
4 4 Tugusar
5 5 Sateedera
6 6 Veerawah
7 7 Peethpur
4.2 Annex - Preliminary Travel/Assessment Plan

Travelling Staff Day/Date Travel/ Destination Night Stay Travel Plan

Time

PEFSA CMU- Sunday, 1600 KHI KHI PEFSA CMU will travel to Karachi on
Islamabad October 26th, Sunday, October 26th, 2014 and stay the
2014 night in Karachi

PEFSA CMU- Monday, 1200 Mithi Mithi PEFSA staff will meet at 1000 with the
Islamabad October 27th, PDMA and PNC in Karachi and later travel to
2014 Mithi and stay the night in Mithi - Travel
time 6 hrs.

Stay the night at TRDP guesthouse.

PEFSA CMU- Tuesday, 0900 Nangarparkar Nangarparkar PEFSA will meet local administration and
Islamabad October 28th, conduct assessments in Nangarparkar
2014
Stay the night in Nangarparkar.

TRDP guesthouse

PEFSA CMU- Wednesday, 0800 Umerkot Umerkot PEFSA teams will travel to Umerkot from
Islamabad October 29th, Nangarparkar through Chachoro...
2014
After the assessment, the teams will travel
to Umerkot (adjacent to Chachoro) where
they will spend the night.

Ghosia Guesthouse (UNDSS cleared)

PEFSA CMU- Thursday, 0900 Umerkot Umerkot PEFSA teams will conduct assessment in
Islamabad October 30th, district Umerkot.
2014
Teams stay the night in Umerkot

PEFSA CMU- Friday, 0800 KHI KHI PEFSA team will travel to Karachi after
Islamabad October 31st, completing the assessment, and compile
2014 the data and meet officials Pakistan
Nutrition Cell

PEFSA CMU- Saturday, Nov Morning ISB - After the week of assessment, the team will
Islamabad 1, 2014 flight return back to Islamabad.
 4.3 Annex – Details of FGDs and Assessment Locations

Mix FGD / District / Taluqa /

Sr # Date Focus Group
Location Facilitator Separate Union Council

October Nangarpark 8 women (3 Mir Aman Female Tharparkar /

1 28th, ar TRDP children were and Saad Nangarparkar /
2014 Office sitting) Bilal Nangarparkar

October Nangarpark Jamal, Mix Tharparkar /

4 women and 3
2 28th, ar TRDP Jibran, Imran Nangarparkar /
men
2014 Office Nangarparkar

October 5 women Imran, Female Tharparkar /

Onherio
3 28th, (around 20 were Huzan, Basit Nangarparkar / Sati
village
2014 sitting) Dhera

October Imran, Male Tharparkar /

Onherio 8 men (around
4 28th, Huzan, Basit Nangarparkar / Sati
village 15 were sitting)
2014 Dhera

October Basit, Tharparkar /

Mix (8 male and
5 29th, Khutkari Rajesh, Chachoro / Chachoro
5 female)
2014 village Nighat Mix

October Taj Tharparkar / Tegusar

Mix (8 male and
6 29th, Muhammad Jibran, Jamal / Tegusar
4 female)
2014 Shah village and Waqar Mix

October Rathnore Basit, Sawai, Mix Umerkot / Kaplore /

Mix (7 male and
7 30th, village Nighat Kaplore
6 female)
2014

October 6 female (20

8 30th, women were Umerkot / Kaplore /
2014 Badhi village sitting) Waqar, Saad Female Kaplore

Jamal,
October
8 male (12 were Jibran,
9 30th,
sitting) Bhagwan Umerkot / Kaplore /
2014
Badhi village Das Male Kaplore
 4.4 Annex – List of KIIs conducted and Assessment Locations

Role in
Sr # Date Interviewee Interviewer Location (District/Taluka/UC/Village)
Community
1 October Vari, Ladu, Mir Aman, Housewives Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Nangarparkar
28th, 2014 Bai, Dhani Saad Bilal - Pithapur/Sukhpur-Oan Jovandhio

2 October Dr. Shankar Imran, Medical Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Nangarparkar

29th, 2014 Lal Sawai, Saad Superintendent
3 October Ghulam Tehsildar Tharparkar/Mithi/ Mithi/Mithi
Saad, Jibran,
29th, 2014 Mustafa
Waqar
Khoso
4 October Kajo Waqar, VC member
29th, 2014 Jibran, Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Tegusar/Taj
Jamal Muhammad Shah
5 October Dhahi Waqas, Midwife
29th, 2014 Jibran, Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Tegusar/Taj
Jamal Muhammad Shah
6 October Ponam Chand Waqas, Teacher
29th, 2014 Jibran, Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Tegusar/Taj
Jamal Muhammad Shah
7 Abdul Basit,
Rajesh,
Huzan,
Nighat
8 October Karam Ali Abdul Basit, Elder/Influential
29th, 2014 Rajesh, Person
Huzan, Tharparkar/Nangarparkar/Sati
Nighat Dhera/Onherio
9 October Community Dispensary In
30th, 2014 members charge
(Nutrition) Umerkot/Umerkot/Kaplore/Rathnore
10 October Community Abdul Basit, Family planning
30th, 2014 members Rajesh and delivery
Nighat center Umerkot/Umerkot/Kaplore/Rathnore
11 October Community Saad and
30th, 2015 members Waqar Umerkot/Umerkot/Badhi
12 October Hoti Waqar, Family Elder
30th, 2014 Jamal,
Jibran, Saad Umerkot/Umerkot/Badhi
4.5 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for meeting and discussion

Introduction and Purpose of Visit – Quick Assessment of Thar Drought – October 2014

PDMA Sindh & PNC Health Department

o Current Drought Situation
o Relief and Assistance – Short-term plans
o Priority / Urgent Needs
o Long Term Plans and Requirements
o Secondary Data
o Health Department
o Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
o Agriculture & Livestock Department

4.6 Annex – Checklist for Meeting with Health Facility Staff (PPHI, HANDS others)

Are you receiving any affectees from drought affected area?

How far do they come from?
How many and what types?
What are the relief efforts at your health site?
Who is providing you the relief assistance and how much?
What else is required and where will you get it from?
Do you expect to receive some help soon?
What difficulties are you facing? Medicine, Personnel, Skill set, Language etc
What are the common causes of morbidity and mortality in under five children in this
community?
What is the prevalence of malnutrition in this area?
Is malnutrition common in this area? What are the actions taken for malnourished child?
What are the main problems you face in getting information about child nutrition care and
feeding practices?
What are the sources of information about nutrition status and child care and feeding
practices?
Who facilitates your activities with people in your community?
Have you taken training on nutrition like CMAM and IYCF practices?
Who are the government and non government institutions and organizations which are
involved in maternal nutrition and feeding practices? What are they doing? Who are they
working with?

4.7 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for discussion with LHWs / Marvi (Community
Health Worker)

Describe a typical meal for a family in your community?

What are the first foods typically given to young babies?
In your understanding and knowledge what are the major obstacles for women to comply
with your recommendations? (Probe: to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, to initiate
complementary feeding at 6 months of age, to continue breastfeeding to up to 2 years of
age, etc)
In general, what are some of the challenges facing all pregnant and breastfeeding women?
What do you think should be done by health workers, caretakers, fathers, grand caretakers
and NGOs to improve nutrition and child feeding practices?
In your opinion what measures should be taken to improve the nutrition status in the area

4.8 Annex – Checklist / Guidelines for talking to a patient

What is your name and where have you come from?

Are you drought affectee?
Where do you live currently?
What health issue brought you here?
Have you received any service yet?
What are you expecting to receive from this health service provider?
Is everyone in your family well or do they need any help/assistance/medical care
Where will you get the medicine?
Will this be helpful or you need expect more care
What else are your needs food, cattle, fodder vaccination
4.9 Annex – Checklist for Focus Group Discussion in communities

o Introduction and Rapport building

o Demographics / Affected population / Migration
o Drought Intensity / Condition
o Relief and Assistance received
o Coping Strategies
o Health and Hygiene, Water & Sanitation
o Livelihoods and income generation
o Food, Agriculture & Livestock
o Market situation / Prices, Availability and Accessibility
o Education, Protection and other services

4.10 Annex –Guidelines for Focus Group Discussion in communities

Introduction and Rapport building

Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your visit
Is this community affected by droughts?
Have you migrated from your villages? Reasons
What is majority’s livelihood source?

Demographics / Affected Populations

Ask about demographics of community
Population, No. of Households, Affected households, Area of Origin, Details of Migration,
Livelihood sources, Caste details, Are there any mortalities / deaths due to drought? Details

Drought Intensity / Condition

Ask for details about this years’ drought intensity
Phenomena and locals perception on how does drought occur in Thar
Does it occur every year – which months are most severe droughts?
Ask for a Timeline
Are there any established camp sites or locations for drought affected people?
Do you always migrate to the same locations?
Relief and Assistance received
Do you know about any assistance being provided to drought affectees?
Have you received any aid and assistance? Explain
Usefulness and utilization of relief
Did you receive any aid and assistance during the previous droughts? And was that useful
What can be the most useful aid and relief work? Suggest/recommend for?
What are your needs – priority/emergency relief needs and long term needs
Food, Water and Shelter, Health, Livelihoods, Agriculture, Livestock and Fodder and grazing
areas, Market related

Coping Strategies
How do you cope with the drought situation?
How are you coping with the current droughts?
Take a timeline of previous droughts, intensity and coping strategy
What did you lose during previous droughts and during current drought?
Will you be able to recover from this situation and how?
What will you do if, God forbid, droughts occur again?
Is there another way of coping with drought situation – explore options/ solutions to livelihoods,
crops, water, livestock, fodder etc

Health and Hygiene, Water & Sanitation

Are you feeling healthy and fresh and able to work effectively?
What are the health related issues? Where do you receive health services – are these services
adequate?
How many of you think they need medical care and how many have availed some sort of health
services?
Which health facility is available and accessible?
Which services can be availed at the health centre?
What is needed for Reproductive Health services?
What are the sources of Drinking water?
What is the situation of drinking water – its availability and access and storage?
Is it safe to drink? Is it in enough quantity for your household use and for livestock?
Where do you defecate? Latrines, Open fields – What are the issues
How can sanitation be improved?
Are the medicines available in local market?
Can you avail required medication and attention?
What are your local herbs and indigenous means to healthcare?
Livelihoods and income generation
What are your main sources of livelihood and income?
Agriculture, Livestock, Labour, Others
Do you have any debts? Bad debts?
What was the use of loan for?

Food, Agriculture & Livestock

What did you eat the last night?
Do you have enough food stock? Which items are available and which ones have depleted?
What are your major crops and their yields?
What amount of it do you use for your household consumption?
Do you have some surplus – when was the last time that you had a surplus stock of crop yield
Draw a timeline
What are the numbers of your livestock herds owned by a household or clan or village?
Has you size of herd decreased or increased over the years?
What prices do you receive for your livestock – now and during better situations?
What are the issues with your livestock?
Livestock sale and prices, Fodder, Vaccination, Dairy production, others
Are there adequate sources of fodder available in your region?
Which crops can you grow to sustain your living?
What are the means to fulfil the fodder requirements?

Education, Protection and other services

What are your other needs and requirements?
4.11 Annex – Checklist for Market Assessment

Checklist - Market Assessment

Market situation, Shops and types, distances from affectees, Availability and Access issues, Costs and
Pricing, Purchasing power, Needs, Supplies, Local produce (Food, Meat and dairy, Sugar), Yearlong
trends, Transport and communication,

4.12 Annex – Checklist Key Informant Interview (KII)

Checklist - Key Informant Interview (KII)

1) Identification Information
2) Demographic
3) Migration and Displacement
4) Health
5) Food Security
6) Livelihoods
7) Water and Sanitation
8) Nutrition (IYCF)
9) Risk Assessment and Availability of DRR Measures
10) Previous Assistance
11) Shelter and essential non-food items (NFIs)
12) General Observations