This report is an effort by Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI) and Plan Pakistan to add value to the national and local level disaster risk reduction efforts by promoting and advocating child centered disaster risk reduction approaches and strategies. Taking River Indus as a vulnerability reference line in country's most populous zone-the Indus plains where 77% of country's population reside and are placed all the major towns and industrial units (5); 6 districts- 3 from south Punjab (Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur) and 3 from Sindh (Ghotki, Khairpur and Thatta) were sampled besides a district lying along river Satluj (Vehari), for an in-depth assessment.

 

The report proposes to reduce the risks of disasters by adopting a multi-pronged strategy. The components of this strategy include integrated development and disaster risk reduction planning, preparedness and improving environmental and human development conditions for people currently or expected to be living with risks in these districts. It strongly proposes to make especially children, youth and women part of the disaster risk reduction efforts by first acknowledging their capacities and role in and then enhancing the same for different stages of disaster management cycle including early warning, preparedness, relief, recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation. All the strategies advocated by this report can be operationalized within existing policy provisions, financial capacities of the governments at different tiers, and institutional arrangements.