Resilience amidst adversity: Hazzura’s journey from despair to hope

December 7, 2023

Hazuura Khatoon, an elderly resident of Malook Maachhi village in Dadu, Sindh, faced the devastating floods of 2022, forcing her and her daughter to flee their home, leaving behind a lifetime's worth of belongings. Struggling to rebuild their lives, Hazuura, once a daily wage worker in the local fields, found her income disrupted by the calamity, leaving them in dire circumstances.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to UNDP and the Islamic Relief for their endless support. Words can hardly convey the depth of our appreciation. I hope their assistance continues to reach those in need, transforming lives as they have ours. With a home, electricity, and clean water, we now possess the essentials for a dignified life."

Hazuura Khatoon, Malook Maachhi village, Dadu-Sindh

Returning to their village post-flood, the scenes were heart-wrenching. All Hazuura’s lifelong investment was washed away by the merciless waves of floods. Surrounded by challenges, she and her family like many others found themselves struggling for their survival. Hazuura and her family found themselves living in makeshift shelters, barely shielding them from extreme weather. Nighttime brought its challenges, with darkness exposing them to insects and animals, echoing the vulnerability they felt during the floods.

Clean water scarcity compounded their hardships, forcing Hazuura's daughter to undertake long journeys in search of drinkable water. Responding to the challenge, UNDP and Islamic Relief Pakistan with support from Government of Japan, provided portable water filters to all residents of Hazuura's village including Hazuura's family, alleviating health concerns and providing access to safe drinking water.

The support also included the provision of solar lighting systems to flood affected households that did not have access to electricity, significantly improving the quality of life and safety & security of village residents, especially women and children.

Expressing her gratitude, Hazuura remarked, "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to UNDP and the Islamic Relief for their endless support. Words can hardly convey the depth of our appreciation. I hope their assistance continues to reach those in need, transforming lives as they have ours. With electricity, and clean water, we now possess the essentials for a dignified life."

Guided by their commitment to empower women like Hazuura, UNDP in partnership with the Islamic Relief, remains steadfast in their mission to positively impact and uplift communities in need.