By Nazan Habib, Gender Specialist, IFRAP
In 2022, Pakistan witnessed one of the worst natural disasters in its recent history, as heavy monsoon rains triggered severe flooding across the country. Balochistan was among the most affected provinces. According to official figures, over 260 people lost their lives in the province, while more than 135,000 homes were damaged or completely destroyed. Critical infrastructure such as roads, schools, water supply systems and health centres also suffered extensive damage.
In the mountainous district of Mach, the floods washed away homes built with mud and stone, displacing families and forcing them to take shelter in tents, schools and public buildings. Recovery efforts in the region have been slow, particularly for low-income households. Many families lacked the financial means or documentation to access assistance.
Within this context, the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project (IFRAP), implemented under the supervision of the Housing Reconstruction Unit (HRU), has extended support to eligible households to reconstruct safer, disaster-resilient shelters. Among the many beneficiaries, two women, Zakira and Dur Bibi, have managed to rebuild their homes, overcoming significant personal and financial challenges in the process.
It was a night Zakira will never forget. Torrential rain pounded the village and darkness covered the sky. “It was as if the world had lost its light,” she recalled. When the evacuation alert came, her family fled immediately without food, warm clothes or belongings to the District Hospital in Mach. “For two days, we lived like refugees,” she said. “It was crowded, chaotic, but at least we were dry.”
When they returned, their home was unrecognisable. “Our belongings, crockery, clothes, were scattered on the road. Only one room remained, and it was filled with water.” For the next two years, Zakira and her young children lived in that damaged mud room, with no privacy or sanitation.
During this time, Zakira became pregnant but tragically lost the baby. “Women suffer differently,” she said quietly. “We are stuck with children and bodies that can’t run from disaster.”
Then came a turning point. A visiting NGO worker from IFRAP informed her about the opportunity to reconstruct her home. She stepped forward as the primary applicant, visited a bank for the first time, and handled the process with determination and care.
Today, Zakira lives in a new, engineer-designed room with proper ventilation and a stairway for safety. “This room gives me peace,” she said with a smile. “I’m planning to paint it light blue and buy a showcase. It finally feels like home.”
For 44-year-old Dur Bibi, a widow and mother of six, the flood brought unimaginable loss. “Both my rooms collapsed on the first night,” she said. After initially staying at a rest house and then at the District Hospital, she received devastating news. Five of her family members had died in the flood. “I couldn’t even attend their funerals,” she said. “We were left with only the clothes on our backs.”
For three years, she and her children lived in a tent, without bedding, on bare soil. To survive, she worked as a maid, earning just Rs 3,000 per month. She relied on leftover food from others, all while managing thyroid and kidney illnesses.
Later, she stayed briefly in a relative’s home but was eventually forced to leave. “I had nowhere else to go,” she said.
When IFRAP shortlisted her for assistance, she did not hesitate. Despite her health issues, she travelled to Dhadar to open a bank account and personally oversaw the construction of her new room. She coordinated with labourers, sourced materials and supervised the work. She even cooked meals for the workers. “Some days I had no money,” she said. “I washed carpets and cleaned blankets just to feed them and keep the work going.”
Her new room now stands completed. However, some needs remain unmet. “We still don’t have a washroom,” she said. “As a woman, it is very difficult, especially with daughters.” She added, “But sleeping in a strong structure, after years in a tent, is a blessing.”
These stories echo beyond individual homes. They reflect a social transformation in Mach, where women are stepping forward as decision-makers and leaders in rebuilding their communities. Through IFRAP and the Housing Reconstruction Unit’s inclusive approach, they have not only constructed safer homes but also reclaimed agency.
The HRU’s efforts, including technical oversight, community facilitation and gender-sensitive support, have helped ensure this is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about empowerment, ownership and long-term resilience. As each room went up, so did women’s voices and confidence.
In Mach today, resilience has a face, and it belongs to women like Zakira and Dur Bibi, whose stories affirm that rebuilding after disaster can, and must, begin with restoring dignity and choice
