Reflections on impressive flood response work in Pakistan

“I will never forget the miles and miles of flooded fields we drove past, nor the faces of the older people who received emergency support, thanks to the generosity of Age International’s donors.”

By Alison Marshall, Age International CEO

Alison Marshall’s first visit as Age International’s CEO was to Pakistan, alongside Age UK’s Chair, to see how the organisation had supported older people after the terrible floods in 2022. Here, Alison runs us through some of the work she saw on her trip, and how impressed and moved she was to see the impact it was having on older people in the area.

The Chair of Age UK, Toby Strauss, and I recently visited Pakistan to see how Age International had supported older people after the terrible floods in August and September 2022. 

We flew to Sindh Province in the south of the country, where we visited different areas which had been damaged by the exceptional monsoon rains. We were taken to meet local communities by our colleagues from HelpAge Pakistan and local partner organisations. 

On the first day, we drove to a village where older people who’d been affected by the floods were receiving essential household items such as bedding, water containers and hygiene kits. There had been a rigorous process to identify those most in need.

In the village, there were banners explaining which organisations were providing support to the community. A desk had been created near the entrance of the village that was used as a gathering space for people who’d been affected by the floods. When people assembled at the desk, they were able to hear about the process, what items were able to be provided, and a psychologist was able to talk to them about mental health support too.

I asked one grandmother near the front how she was going to get all the bags, boxes and water containers home. She explained that she had family members waiting outside, and said how grateful she was for all the items. The bedding and blankets would mean a better night’s sleep. I was touched by the chain of connection, linking the generosity of Age International supporters in the UK to the two of us, here, in the bright sunshine.

We met with local government officials and talked to them about the specific needs of older people and the lessons they had learned from coordinating the flood response. In a town nearby, our partners were distributing money to older people so they could buy what they most needed,whether that was food, medicines, goats, seeds, or building materials. The registration process was meticulous, using a biometric thumbprint recognition system to match recipients with their identity cards.

On our last day, we met with members of an Older People’s Association. Several older people told us how our support had enabled them to make requests to local officials, gain attention for their needs and claim their rights. The treasurer of the women’s group showed us a kitchen garden they had established to grow mustard, garlic, and greens for a healthier diet. I was impressed by their strength in challenging circumstances and the direct way the older people set out their agenda.

I was pleased that a new fund, to assist countries that experience ‘loss and damage’ due to extreme weather events, was established at the 27th UN climate change conference (COP27), held in Egypt, in November 2022. But older people in Pakistan had not only suffered loss and damage to visible assets like their homes, crops, and livestock, but also invisible harm, such as loss of loved ones and damage to their sense of security. I believe that this funding should prioritise mental health support, alongside re-constructing infrastructure, even if it is likely to be too late for some of the older people we met.

I was very impressed with the work of our colleagues and partners in Pakistan. I will never forget the miles and miles of flooded fields we drove past, nor the faces of the older people who received emergency support, thanks to the generosity of Age International’s donors. I wish all our supporters could see, with their own eyes, the difference they make to older people in need.