Disasters disproportionately affect older people.

Muhammad Salih, 75, from Shahpur Jahania village in Shaheed Benazirabad district, is now living with his family in the open air as they couldn’t get to the shelter provided in the community school quickly enough, and it was already full. The mud-plastered home he shared with his wife and four children was completely destroyed by the heavy rains and his livestock were killed. 

“I would have moved to the school building which was declared a safe public place during floods. However, the small building is already full and cannot accommodate any more community members including my family.”

Depending solely on his children who worked as daily laborers, he could barely make ends meet even before the devastating rains and flood in his village. Now, he is desperate.  

Access to basic shelter, food, and household items is a huge challenge.

HelpAge, through local partner HANDS, is supporting the district government to drain water from essential infrastructures such as hospitals and dispensaries. In addition, we distribute crucial shelter and household items to older people and their families.