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beardedmrbean · 2 years

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Gul Makai from Swat district in the northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was forced from her home after floodwaters inundated her village.

Although the waters have receded, the flooding has left behind unsanitary conditions in which dangerous pathogens can easily spread. Medicine and clean water are scarce in this remote area of Pakistan.

Makai is staying in a flood shelter 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from her home and tries to cool her crying infant son with a handheld fan.

The 11-month-old fidgets on a plastic floor mat constantly scratching his skin, which has been infected with scabies. Two of her other children are also infected. The ailment is spread by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin.

"Look at the rashes and scabs on his body. He scrapes them with fingers and cries, while the humid heat adds to his misery in this tent," Makai told DW. The temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with 60% humidity.

Flood destruction displaces communities

Much of Swat district is situated in a river valley surrounded by mountains and it was one of the worst hit areas in northern Pakistan by last month's record flooding, which washed away infrastructure and houses.

Local authorities set up tent camps for displaced people on the grounds of a school. Makai said she received medicated cream for scabies after arriving at the camp, but was not given any further medical assistance.

Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery are also spreading in the displacement camps due to lack of clean water.

Nauman Khan from the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), a medical NGO, told DW at a camp in Swat's capital, Saidu Sharif, that stagnant rainwater used for drinking and washing was spreading disease.

Cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever have also been reported. Khan said mosquito nets and repellent are needed.

He added that women are also unable to maintain menstrual hygiene, as pads and tampons are not available.

"I detected eight cases of yeast infection in just one day and found the repeated use of a piece of cloth [by menstruating women] caused it," he said. Women are also unable to access pain relievers.

A 23-year-old woman told DW anonymously that the tablets and herbal tea normally used to treat menstrual pain are not available.

"We have to drink warm water or walk around for relief, but those home remedies fail to save us from the embarrassment of men knowing about a matter very private for us," she said.

Medicine in short supply

Aid organizations say more medicine is urgently needed to stop the spread of waterborne diseases after the flooding. Pharmacies are out of painkillers, antibiotics, and medicines for skin and gynecological issues, diabetes and eye infections.

Asadullah Khan, an aid worker from the Pakistani social welfare charity Edhi Foundation, told DW that many of his acquaintances in Swat have contacted relatives in other parts of Pakistan hoping to acquire insulin and other medicine, only to find pharmacies are out of stock.

Khan, who is based in the Swat valley's northern Kalam region, added a World Health Organization (WHO) team visited a local hospital and promised provision of essential medicines and other goods.

Pharmaceutical companies have blamed the government for drug shortages, as a price cap has raised the cost of production and led to suspended manufacturing.

"When a finished product costs us [companies] more than the allowed price, how we will continue manufacturing it? It's the simple principle of doing business," Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association chairman Hamid Raza told DW.

He added the issue would be resolved if the government hiked prices in proportion to inflation.

Swat District health officer Mohammad Saleem Khan told DW that a health crisis could spread out of control if medical supplies are not provided soon.

"We [health department] are trying our best to ensure the availability of medicines but things are fast worsening. We need more medicine," he said.

#nunyas news

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agirlspower · 10 months

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Lyari Girl's Cafe | NGO in Lyari, Karachi | Documentary EP 05 | Runway Pakistan

youtube

Marred by gunshots and ammunition, Lyari hasn’t seen much joy after being caught in the line of fire between the never-ending gang wars. However, in the darkest of times, there came a ray of light and hope for the women of Lyari. Lyari Girls Café, (Lyari-based NGO) provides a safe space for women to grow and empower themselves. From stitching to football or linguistics to IT, the café aims at building a strong female community that is no longer traumatized by the gang war.

#pakistan #lyari #lyari girls cafe #cycling #technology #art #lyarigirlscafe #Youtube

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arthropooda · 7 months

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The cryosphere, which refers to the frozen parts of the planet, currently comprises almost 10% of the Earth’s surface. But as rising temperatures from human-caused emissions melt ice caps, glaciers and sea ice, it has become a percentage in decline.

“In the last two years we have lost a gigantic part of the Antarctic Sea Ice,” said Antje Boetius the director of German polar research hub, and co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the summit.

“All parts of the cryosphere, in the last three years, have exceeded the predicted range of change last forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),” she said.

It’s a loss that has potential impacts for billions of people around the world in myriad ways.

Currently at least 1.9 billion people are estimated to depend on fresh water from snow and glacier melt that is carried downstream for drinking and agricultural irrigation. As glaciers melt due to warmer temperatures, they initially release more water, but eventually supplies dwindle.

Changes in the cryosphere can alter atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to extreme snow and rainfall, which in turn can cause flash floods and glacial lake outbursts. In Pakistan, unprecedented flooding as a result of extreme monsoon rains and melting glaciers killed more than 1,700 people last summer.

More than 2 million people lost their homes and the total damage was estimated at over $15 billion (€14 billion) according to the World Bank.

Equally, as ice melts, sea levels in certain regions rise.

According to a study published in the scientific journal, Nature, the homes of up to 410 million people living in coastal areas and on low-lying islands could be affected by an increasing frequency of flooding resulting from rising seas by 2100.

Hopes for the Polar Summit in Paris

The first ever summit devoted to melting ice sheets aims to bring together researchers and scientists from over 40 glacial and polar nations to share their findings with other experts and political leaders from countries “present in the Arctic, Antarctic and glacial worlds.”

Boetius hopes the Paris meeting, which comes just before the 28th UN climate conference (COP28), will serve as a platform to convince politicians to speed up their efforts to reach climate neutrality and “absolutely engage with biodiversity goals.” She says the loss of Antarctic sea ice has already prevented breeding in some penguin colonies.

Other species are also at risk of habitat loss due to melting ice.

The extinction of the world’s mountain glaciers

“The best outcome of the summit would be for the heads of state present to make a clear statement and communicate the urgency of absolutely committing to the Paris climate goals,” Boetius said.

The central aim of the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change signed by 195 parties, is to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius, and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Boetius is also calling for agreement on greater scientific research “to beat the pace of crysopheric change,” thereby allowing countries and communities to be better prepared in the face of glacier collapse and unpredictable snowfall.

“Even well-adapted countries like Norway have lost people time and again,” she said. “There is no scaled-up risk monitoring, risk assessment and risk warning for people.”

Citing international cooperation on tsunami early-warning systems in Indonesia, Boetius said a similar approach could be used to predict extreme precipitation, that could save lives and protect against property damage.

Pressure to reduce emissions

Ahead of the summit, NGOs published a six-page letter urging leaders of participating countries to accelerate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement biodiversity frameworks and strengthen protection and conservation in polar regions and high mountains.

The letter emphasized the need for transparent monitoring efforts and the involvement of the international community to raise awareness of glacier conservation.

“There’s a lot of excitement about opening up the Arctic to shipping, to resource extraction, to all kinds of development,” said Jan Dusik, senior lead of the Arctic Governance Program with conservation organization WWF.

“This summit will hopefully help to create more protected areas and make sure we don’t get into adventures like deep-sea mining,” he said.

He said the establishment of a network of marine and terrestrial protected areas in both the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as in high mountains, must be based on the best available science and knowledge from Indigenous communities.

#Melting #The angry army #Cryosphere #Planet #Climate change

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warningsine · 2 years

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A third of Pakistan is under water as a result of flooding caused by record monsoon rains, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said Monday, calling it a "crisis of unimaginable proportions".

Officials say at least 33 million people -- one in every seven Pakistanis -- have been affected by the floods, which have killed 1,136 people since the monsoon began in June.

Vast parts of farmland in southern Sindh and western Balochistan provinces are now just landscapes of water, while in the north, roads and bridges have been washed away by raging mountain rivers.

"To see the devastation on the ground is really mind-boggling," Rehman told AFP in an interview.

"When we send in water pumps, they say 'Where do we pump the water?' It's all one big ocean, there's no dry land to pump the water out."

Rehman said "literally a third" of Pakistan was under water, describing it as akin to a dystopian movie.

Appeal for help

She also expected the death toll to rise as many areas in the north of the country, where dozens of rivers are still in full flood, remain cut off.

Rehman renewed the government's appeal for international assistance, while also blaming major industrialised countries for their role in global warming.

Pakistan is responsible for less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but is eighth on a list compiled by the NGO Germanwatch of countries deemed most vulnerable to extreme weather caused by climate change.#photo1

"It's time for the big emitters to review their policies. We have crossed what is clearly a threshold," she said.

"The multilateral forum pledges or ambitions voiced by other countries -- the rich countries, that have gotten rich on the back of fossil fuels -- they don't really come through."

Rehman said Pakistan's economy, already in crisis, would be badly hit by the flooding.

"Sindh is half of Pakistan's breadbasket and will not be able to grow anything at all next season," she predicted.

"Not only will our exports be impacted, but our food security will take a hit."

Rehman said a proper assessment of the damage caused by the flooding would take time.

"Right now, after everyone is actually rescued, we will be feeding and providing cooked meals and shelter," she said.

"We need to also look for the spread of medical camps, because disease is always the next predator in such an environment."

The International Monetary Fund board was meeting later Monday to decide whether to green-light the resumption of a $6 billion loan programme, but it is already clear it will take much more to repair and rebuild after this monsoon.

"We are in touch with our big donors... let's hope they can come up with something that can really assist one of the most climate-impacted countries of the world in its time of need," Rehman said.

#pakistan #news #Sherry Rehman #flood

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hopeupliftfoundation-blog · 4 years

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“Happiness consists in giving, and in serving others.” - Henry Drummond Since the past 20 years, our organization by the reflection of its name gives Hope to the underprivileged and then Uplift them by offering many windows to help.Hope Uplift Foundation installed Water Hand Pump at a local remote area of Pakistan. For donations, kindly contact us at 0300 8449319 www.hopeupliftfoundation.org #Hope #Uplift #Foundation #NGO #Lahore #Pakistan #PublicAssistance #SocialWelfare #Charity #WaterPumps

#Hope Uplift Foundation NGO Lahore Pakistan PublicAssistance SocialWelfare Charity WaterPumps

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molkolsdal · 2 years

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Escaping Afghanistan: Refugee Filmmaker Nelofer Pazira Pens a Letter of Hope to the Endangered Afghan Women

As told to Hafsa Lodi

As a teenager, Nelofer Pazira fled Afghanistan. But while she may have left a nation in turmoil, her attachment to her roots and homeland has been unwavering. A journalist and filmmaker, Pazira co-produced, co-directed, and starred in the 2003 documentary Return to Kandahar, which tracks her journey trying to return to Afghanistan to save her childhood friend. In 2006, she released her award-winning memoir, A Bed of Red Flowers: In Search of My Afghanistan. She also founded a charity to help educate Afghan women in rural areas. Amid the Taliban takeover, Pazira reflects on the strength and resilience of Afghan women, who are gravely anxious to see what the future holds for them under this repressive regime.

(Nelofer Pazira filming Return to Kandahar.)

"I grew up in Kabul during the Soviet war and Russian occupation of Afghanistan. The wars were starting in the countryside, and we would hear about them from BBC Persian services, which my father would listen to at 8pm every night. The signal was very bad, sometimes it would disappear, but that was the only source of real information we had.

I was in high school, and at that time how we wanted to dress and whether we chose to study was left up to women and their families – there was no government interference in any of those matters. I joined an Islamic youth group to resist the occupation of the Russians, because as Afghans we don’t like any occupying forces. Within the group there was no religious dictate or suggestion of any kind of dress code – there were more young women involved than men.

By 1989, the situation had become so difficult that my parents didn’t want to stay in the country anymore. We wore the full burkas to conceal our identities, and left early morning with a smuggler, by foot. We had a small bag with us that had some dried fruit, blankets, and candles. I was 16. I took a pen I used to write with a lot, and my books – at that age small things can be precious to you – but we left everything else behind. We walked for 10 days across the countryside, passed through the government checkpoints and got to Pakistan, and lived there for a year. My father got accepted to go to Canada as a refugee because he was a medical doctor, and we ended up living in that country.

(Pazira [in red vest] with her parents [Jamila and Habibullah Pazira], her younger brother [Hassibullah], younger sister [Mejgan] and a cousin in Kabul, 1980s)

I had a close friend in Kabul and when I arrived in Canada, we started writing letters back and forth – they would take three to four months to arrive; it was never quick. It’s almost difficult to understand that concept now in the age of technology where we just message instantly. My friend lived through the civil war, and I have letters from her that describe the gunmen in the streets fighting against each other, with civilians caught in the middle. Then in 1996 the Taliban came to power, and everything changed – for the worse. She couldn’t leave her home, became depressed, and only after the Taliban had gone, I discovered she had killed herself. Unfortunately, a lot of Afghan women took their own lives during that period, because there was just nothing left.

As women we have the strength to endure and tolerate a lot, but that doesn’t mean we have to. You could have all the strength to fight, but when you take away hope and close that door completely, that strength runs out.

I started a charity, Dyana Afghan Women’s Fund, in memory of my friend. I wanted to help with educating women, but in a sustainable way. I’ve traveled across Afghanistan and everybody I talked to would complain that NGOs just come, give them one class, and then disappear. We worked in remote parts of Afghanistan through local teachers – we would start with one woman, pay her rent for the use of her house as a classroom, and the women in her surrounding would come for two to three hours a day. We also established a small daycare center there so the women wouldn’t be criticised by their families for not looking after their children. We taught them literacy, numeracy, female hygiene, and reproduction – some also wanted to learn how to use computers if they had hopes of getting jobs. But since the return of the Taliban, the teacher has closed her home and our supervisor was just evacuated from Kabul.

My hope is that once we have a bit of certainty about this political situation, we’ll be able to continue the work, because you can evacuate a few thousand, but the country is still there with millions of people. Days and weeks go by, and a girl who was six when the Taliban entered, soon enough is going to be seven, and what happens to her future?

From the moment the Taliban entered Kabul, the impact on women was clear. My aunt in Kabul is a schoolteacher: she says that if they reopen schools to female teachers and students, she will go back – she loves her job. But what about the burka? She’s a modestly dressed woman, and she wears a scarf over her head, but she doesn’t like wearing the burka, she finds it difficult for breathing.

(Pazira in Kabul, winter of 1989)

There’s a real fear right now for women’s safety, security, and freedom. It’s fear of what the Taliban did before – if someone has done something so brutally wrong to you, how can you trust that they will not do it again? Women, especially in Kabul, want assurances. But what kind of assurances can you give them, besides what you show in practice? Everyone’s waiting to see if the Taliban will be how they used to be, or if they will modify and give us some degree of opportunities as women – but even if they do, will their soldiers comply? How much power can they exert over this group of young soldiers who only know how to fight?

If there’s a civil war, what choices will women have? Either flee the country, or hide in their homes. It’s heart-breaking, and this is why I feel angry as a woman: we talk about women’s rights and equality in a kind of polemic, academic way but when it comes to the reality of it, there is not enough we do. That’s my plea to the outside world: instead of just talking about it, find genuine and meaningful ways to provide some degree of support for women. Afghan women are resilient – but they will not be able to survive without any kind of hope or practical support.

You could say that a lot of people didn’t know about it back then, but now, this time around, we have a sense of it, we know what happened in the past. Our hope is that it will never get to that.”

#her mom looks so much like my aunt #even the smug expression its killing me #Canadian #Afghanistan #film #refugees #nelofer pazira #taliban #hafsa lodi #return to Kandahar #women #Kabul #1980s #dyana Afghan women's fund #long post

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postcardnews13 · 4 years

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postcard news

Pakistan is another endeavor to rise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir to the world has asked UNHRC(united countries ordinary opportunities chamber. On tenth September India introduced persuading and new answer for the phony record introduced by Pakistan.postcard news

Reacting to the remarks by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, first secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vimarsh Aryan, said the ceaseless contrast in Article 370 was 'inside India's sovereign right and far and away an inside issue'.

India likewise pardoned Pakistan's Demand for UNHRC Probe on Kashmir and that Islamabad Has No 'Locus Standi'(the decision to show up in court).

Practicing its benefit to react to Pakistan's presentations at the 42nd get-together of the United Nations Human Rights Council, India made a firm point imparting that Article 370 was a short game-plan of the Indian Constitution.

India besides attempted to hit out at Pakistan and said-

"We are not confounded at Pakistan's insane explanations with counterfeit records expected to politicize and captivate this discussion (UNHRC). Pakistan appreciates that our choice wipes out ground from under its feet by making deterrents in its strategy with sponsorship of cross-edge mental abuse". Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been giving provocative enemies of India verbalizations since the time the Abolishment of Article 370. Several Pakistani pioneers have even gone relatively as calling for jihad to animate savagery in Jammu and Kashmir and third nations to make an image of butcher, which even they know is a long way from this current reality.

The Indian specialist from Jammu and Kashmir said the individuals of Kashmir are joined to save the significant feelings of vote based system and Islamabad has "no locus standi to chat on Kashmir".

Pakistan has purported to talk as the voice of the general association on ordinary opportunities. Notwithstanding, the world can't be misdirected. Pakistan's record addresses itself with no issue. The technique for talking from Pakistan won't include in general idea from abuse and end of extreme and ethnic minorities in Pakistan – be it the Christians, Sikhs, Shias, Ahmadiyas and Hindus. Vimarsh Aryan communicated, abuse of minorities in Pakistan is a great deal of recorded.

When these insistences are against the story Pakistan has introduced, what may we have the choice to anticipate from UNHRC and why UNHRC should make the essential strides not to course anything on Kashmir issue to India?

UNHRC director Michelle Bachelet conferred worries over the ''correspondence end'' and ''restriction'' of political association in J&K.

Also, Pakistan and its supporters in India who stroll under the fake name of 'central open doors activists' are depending upon these remarks that were made regarding her basic declaration at the 42nd get-together of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

These activists and Pakistanis are announcing appropriates passed on by inside in Jammu and Kashmir is destructive.

Michelle Bachelet uncovered that the assessments were made on the reports got by her office. These reports are chronicled by some key opportunities NGOs and segments of the Indian and new media. By a long shot the greater part of these reports are not reality based and made with a sole plan of upbraiding Modi government. A few Kashmiris have besides absolved these reports as introduction.

All through progressing years the UNHRC's activities have been tended to for being not prepared to satisfy its request especially when a touch of the world's most shocking fundamental open doors violators have guaranteed about their spot and rebuking of others.

In UNHRC there is a vote to guarantee about a billet on the Council. 47-seats are available for anyone. The hopefuls are relied on to deliberately submit vows to show their promise to advance and assurance normal opportunities.

The difficulty is that single a generally few do. Regardless of whether countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Venezuela promise to ensure about major opportunities truly striking. It takes after wolf guarding chicken coop.

Ordinarily, the Council is regularly charged for disregarding the most notable refusals of basic opportunities presented all finished.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNHDR), has been pardoned by the Organization of Islamic Countries(OIC) in propensity for a Shari'at. Similarly, we all in all aptitude that works.

The disconnection doesn't end here. Pakistan – the nation that is ordinarily satisfied by UNHRC administrator Bachelet's assertion and which is squeezing for a goal to name and disgrace India – has not concurred absolutely with two immense plans of UNHRC which, notwithstanding UNHDR, structure the "General Bill of Human Rights."

Pakistan has issues with:

Article 3 (corresponding right of people),

Article 6 (right to intrinsic life and capital punishment cancelation),

Article 7 (the death penalty and torment),

Article 12 (possibility of progress and no power dispatch),

Article 18 (possibility of decision of religion and no weight),

Article 19 (possibility of clarification) and

Article 25 (corresponding rights to all tenants direct associations and tries and the choice to extend a democratic structure).

With such foulness, the uncontrolled load of demanding laws to control its ladies, with an establishment set apart by state maintained killings in Balochistan, and its military butchering sensible rights in ಫೋಕ್, it doesn't take a virtuoso to clarify why Pakistan has calculatedly pardoned these articles of sureness.

In any case, Pakistan was picked by 66% bigger part to the selection of the Council in 2017.

How Pakistan could do it and got a spot on the Council uncovers the huge organized blemish in the UNHRC's dispositions of partnership. Given Pakistan's loathsome assignment of the UN principal openings planning, UNHRC in truth ought to have denied Pakistan full-part status.

The UNHRC could have done what Common Wealth of Nations did. They suspended Pakistan twice for undermining the norms of Democracy.

The first of these suspensions were in 1999 after the military fomented with General Pervez Musharraf against the lawmaking assemblage of Nawaz Shariff.

clearly in 2007 when President Musharraf enunciated a crisis.

Additionally, India,

As a glaring differentiation, as a reliable individual from the general association, has understood the "Overall Bill of Human Rights.''

The situation being what it can't avoid being, it is altogether condemnable that the UNHRC is permitting Pakistan to utilize its foundation to run its principle objective against India.

China being its all environment companion, all the back hand keep up are being passed on beginning there. It is fundamental to raise, China regularly utilizes its weight to slice mystery blueprints to guarantee that goals against it are either excused or then adequately crushed.

Given the genuine elements that uncover the UNHRC's needs and the selectivity of its part states (shockingly China is one of them this year) India ought not offer appreciation to the remarks made by UNHRC.

Additionally, USA pulled of from UNHRC in July, 2018 saying fundamental opportunities get-togethers is the best dissatisfaction of United Nation.

Moreover, for the individuals who are watching Secretary Michelle's declaration, their duplicities have been busted ceaseless time and the supernatural occurrence will proceed in future as well.

Pakistan is another endeavor to rise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir to the world has asked UNHRC(united countries basic open doors chamber. On tenth September India introduced practical and new reaction for the phony record introduced by Pakistan.

Reacting to the remarks by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, first secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vimarsh Aryan, said the advancing change of Article 370 was 'inside India's sovereign right and totally an inside issue'.

India moreover pardoned Pakistan's Demand for UNHRC Probe on Kashmir and that Islamabad Has No 'Locus Standi'(the decision to show up in court).

Practicing its benefit to react to Pakistan's affirmations at the 42nd social affair of the United Nations Human Rights Council, India made a firm point conveying that Article 370 was a compact game-plan of the Indian Constitution.

India besides endeavored to hit out at Pakistan and said-

"We are not staggered at Pakistan's crazy explanations with trick records needed to politicize and enable this discussion (UNHRC). Pakistan grasps that our choice kills ground from under its feet by making blocks in its method with sponsorship of cross-outskirts unlawful threatening". Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been giving provocative enemies of India explanations since the time the Abolishment of Article 370. Two or three Pakistani pioneers have even gone similarly as calling for jihad to invigorate savagery in Jammu and Kashmir and third nations to make an image of butcher, which even they know is a long way from this current reality.

The Indian operator from Jammu and Kashmir said the individuals of Kashmir are joined to save the crucial feelings of lion's offer standards structure and Islamabad has "no locus standi to visit on Kashmir".

Pakistan has purported to talk as the voice of the general association on essential opportunities. Regardless, the world can't be deluded. Pakistan's record addresses itself with no issue. The technique for talking from pakisthan won't include generally thought from abuse and end of serious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan – be it the Christians, Sikhs, Shias, Ahmadiyas and Hindus. Vimarsh Aryan communicated, maltreatment of minorities in Pakistan is a great deal of recorded.

At the point when these affirmations are against the record Pakistan has introduced, what may we have the choice to

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rupsunar · 4 years

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Divided Region United by Caste Oppression

The South Asian region is looked at by the world with three intersecting interests. First, the region’s moderate development in infrastructure and welfarism. Second, the multitudes of diversity the region holds. And thirdly, the geopolitical tensions dominated mostly by India-Pakistan war. The troika of South Asia sits between development-culture-politics. However, other regional differences such as India-Nepal trade strife, India-Sri Lanka regional difficulties, Pakistan-Afghanistan do not account to sustaining disagreements. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh occupy overwhelming importance in the regional politics.

South Asian region is home to one fourth humanity of the world. Aside from human capital, there are flora, fauna and natural gifts that this region has as its treasure carefully handed down from over thousand years. Of the 8 countries that are part of South Asia there at least six known countries who retain experiences of age-old discriminations emanating from their native historical context. One of it is oldest surviving discriminatory tactic is caste. Human Rights Watch has identified caste like “corollaries” across South Asia in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Caste inspired discrimination is not unique to India, although it offers most fertile space for caste like virus to take birth, thrive and contaminate every person in sight. The history of the region as such has a complex historical political-economy. That is why it is always insightful for one to detangle those past baggages by looking at the political space through the lens of subaltern, the working class, women, and the oppressed.

Each state policy heavily relies on the extraction of labor and abstraction of its value. In a society that hangs on to historical values as sacrosanct, distribution of labor’s value does not feature in its scope. How to credit someone for their labour who are meant to performing the duty as part of ordained duty? Asking for a favor in terms of service from lower considered body is a sin and therefore that body needs to be condemned. Such has been the practice for the most part in the region when it came to invasions and colonization.

Every religions and sects have developed anti-Dalit, casteist tendencies towards the lower considered others even if their scriptures do not have caste-based distinction. Six major religions have assimilated Vedic practices of discriminating people who are lowered as outcaste for their advantage. Although their scriptural doctrine discourages any form of discrimination Jain, Sikh, Muslim, Zoroastrians, and Christians have largely benefitted by assimilating with the caste system.

The hatred and fear of the lower considered caste assigns designated lowest job positions that has no respect and standard wage. The job of cleaning the filth, human waste and animal carcasses are single-handedly done by Dalits in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Due to the draconian rule of Taliban in Afghanistan there are no studies that could explicate the exploitation of caste bodies in the hyper-Islamist violence.

It is because of this the South Asian region is plagued with enumerable hurdles that have limited its overall development. On economic front the GDP per capita approximation is USD $ 7,600 while the US alone has GDP per capita at $60,000. In the global ranking on inequality, poverty and corruption, South Asian region stands as a leader in negative performance indexes.

The primary and secondary educational enrollment is sobering. However, when it comes to the breakup of caste, religion and gender one would see the apparent losses. For India, the Dalit student enrollment slides down from 81% in primary education to less than 11% in graduate education. The pass out rate for Dalit graduates is only 2.24%. In Nepal the primary education enrollment of Dalits and indigenous groups was 34% compared to their population of 57%. While in higher education it was merely 3.8% with a high dropout rate. College level graduation for Dalit in Nepal is depressingly 0.4% Completion of studies is equally low where gender plays an important part of disadvantaging Dalit females further. Along with this the Hill and Terai region's differences recreates more gulf.

Due to border related conflicts, the South Asian region has seen brutal wars since the departure of colonial powers. Luxurious spending on military aggressions makes it difficult to redirect some of those bucks for the social welfare and development of human capital as opposed to exploiting it in senseless battles. War and cross-border conflicts have been cornerstones of some of the hegemonic states in the region. What rationalizes one to impose such draconian policies? I think it is the inherent, imperialistic wishes aided with mistrust of Others.

Buddhist South Asia

There is possibly only one commonality that connects this vast region. It is the rich heritage of indigenously grown Buddhist culture. The Buddhist values have vast expanse over any other colonized religious, spiritual doctrines. And perhaps this is an ideal path to reimagine our current problematics. Buddha’s doctrine not only spread in this region, but it also prospered to give this region an iconic reputation.

In the spread of Buddha’s doctrinaire, through Ashokā one cannot see the colonized brutal invasions unlike other spiritual experiences. And it was Buddha who formally challenged caste on a macro level. It is to his credit that many anti-caste, and acaste initiatives were propagated in an otherwise oppressive Vedic caste society.

Through Buddha we can complicate the history and as well as geography of South Asia. It offers us an opportunity to reclaim a regional past that will usher a sense of belonging through expressions of solidarity and unity. As it stands, South Asia is a deeply divided entity. Apart from government sponsored scholarships and few SAARC-like annual initiatives there are not much people to people interactions. Much of it is mediated with stereotypes of each others propagated by the cultural industry and hostile governments.

Regional blocks like Latin America, Africa, Europe have a sense of belonging to the region. While in the South Asian context, one would not even acknowledge their nationality with the region. A balkanized, sovereign supreme identity of one’s nationalism—of whatever worth is strongly rooted in the individuated South Asian identity. At a recently held 2020 SAARC summit held over video conference, Pakistan's representative, health minister Zafar Mirza lamented, "SAARC region remains the least integrated region in the world". Mirza hoped SAARC can be used for "pooling of resources, expertise, and even financing".

South Asia still remains in a shadow of colonial powers and that is why perhaps the foreign sponsored NGO industry and other capital investment has an unequal balance of power. Development related issues like poverty, atrocity, caste discrimination, religious fundamentalism among others inform the region’s politics. To overcome this dependability and to preserve self as a united, strong block with a vast human reserve and natural abilities the region has every reason to aim for a solid economy rooted on people’s welfare.

This doesn’t happen because caste and its attitudes will continue to control our logics of operation. Caste creates mistrust and lack of faith. Due to this, there is no free sharing of knowledge and mobility of human capital. Caste produced insecure groupings amongst its own citizens in a national framework. Each South Asian country takes itself back every time it employs the creative labor and hardworking individuals to the designated caste jobs. A Brahmin becoming priest, a Baniya holding business and a Dalit or Adivasi doing the inhumane jobs of polluting nature becomes an unnatural organization of productive economy.

This then legitimizes the authority and power brokers to certify their discrimination upon the huge mass of people who could have been trained, equipped and prepared for more innovative tasks. Caste system not only deprives one from exercising their fullest potential, but it creates more barriers for a society to grow as a collective. This then puts the pressure on select few who have taken the responsibility to run the economic affairs. By not including a huge mass of people in formal employment the economic and social elites continue to bear the burden of huge taxes. Caste system disadvantages their own purse, yet the powerholders of caste regime involve in the sadist action of imposing caste punishments upon its own citizens at the cost of their own social, economic worth.

One day this has to end, and it will end. And when the time of reconstructing the society will arise the people who are enjoying their unearned, aristocratic privilege will have to go back and check their vile acts that have imposed such harsher measures on fellow humans. It is upon everyone to eradicate caste; however, the onus is more on the privileged ones as they are most invested in it.

This article is written by Dr. Suraj Yengde, who is an author of bestseller ‘Caste Matters’ and a fellow and postdoc at the Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Naya Patrika Daily published its Nepali translation: https://jhannaya.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/911/2020-03-21

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hopengopakistan · 11 months

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HOPE ASSISTS THE STORM EFFECTED VICTIMS OF THATTA & SUJAWAL Recently due to the unpredictable weather and monsoon climate, certain areas of interior Sindh had been affected by heavy rain and cyclone. Which caused severe loss to the locals living in those areas. The shelters of their houses had collapsed due to which all their belongings and food items have been washed away. These poor people…

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#Health NGO #HOPE an Health NGO in Pakistan

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diaryofanangryasianguy · 5 years

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03/20/19

Making #MeToo Work in Pakistan

The case of #MeToo in Pakistan reveals the ways feminism can be compromised by class, status, and self-interest. But it also offers glimmers of hope that the fight for equal rights can gain purchase even in countries where the legal system, the political class, and the predominant culture are stacked overwhelmingly against reform.

The feminist landscape in Pakistan has grown and changed in the past decade. Social media has empowered new feminist voices, organizations, and modes of organizing, while independent feminist organizations have emerged to challenge the dominance of NGO-funded groups.

#feminism #international #news #pakistan #tw sensitive material

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theamericangirlscout · 5 years

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#goldengirls: Fight for Girls

For her Gold Award, Sakshi S. from Girl Scouts of Northern California, created Project GREET (Girl Rights: Engage, Empower, Train), which engages and educates audiences around the world on the root causes of human trafficking and child marriage, the staggering prevalence of the problem, and ways to stop it—all while promoting gender equality.

Her curriculum, “Guidelines to Rehabilitate Young Trafficked Girls,” provided tools, including a website, documentary film, YouTube playlist, and training materials, for crucial job training programs to financially empower both previously trafficked girls and those still at risk. These guidelines, along with her documentary film (for which Sakshi interviewed activists, lawyers, and social workers from around the world), website, and YouTube playlist were distributed to more than 59 partner organizations worldwide and many United Nations delegates from countries such as Thailand, Cuba, Cameroon, Pakistan, Bhutan, Jordan, and more.

Project GREET has already impacted, directly or indirectly, approximately three million people, and will continue to spread awareness and provide urgent solutions for girls at risk of child marriage and human trafficking around the world.

Q: Why did you choose this topic for your Gold Award project? A: Since freshman year, I have been involved with my local Amnesty International group and my High school’s Girls Learn International (GLI) club. Through my work with Amnesty International, GLI, and through facts I have heard about forced child marriages and girls being trafficked, I understood deeply how the two vile practices directly violate girls’ rights.

However, most individuals cannot relate to these issues. I strongly believe that almost every social injustice or global issue disproportionately hurts women and girls. Being an action oriented activist, I started an Amnesty International chapter at my high school and also led the GLI chapter at my school.

I undertook this Gold Award project to address these global vile practices one step at a time.

Q: What kind of impact has resulted from your project, and how will it be sustainable? A: My project focuses on root causes, trends and key identifiers of trafficking, child marriage and gender inequality. Hence, its educational tools will be useful even 15 years later, unless these vile practices are entirely eradicated by then.

My project is a framework for education and empowerment and not a one-time event. To sustain Project GREET’s impact after initial film screenings and distribution, I used an automated calendar service to send reminder emails on Women’s Equality Day (August 26), International Day of the Girl (October 11), and International Women’s Day (March 8) until 2033. Project GREET’s partner organizations will also be reminded to screen my film and share the website's educational resources on the aforementioned dates, though they are encouraged to use them more often. Additionally, an email will be automatically sent at the beginning of every month, detailing a women’s rights initiative that historically took place that month, and a supplementary reminder to use parts of my resources to engage and mobilize communities. Since these organizations already have detailed take action plans, this reminder will help them use my project to train different communities on trafficking, child marriage and gender inequality.

All partner organizations have expressed interest in using my curriculum to expand their

outreach. As of late 2017, Amnesty International Burkina Faso and Brazil chapters have decided to add a vocational training program for trafficked girls, and Girls Learn International is happy to add Project GREET resources to its chapters’ curriculum for U.S. high school students to use as an advocacy tool.

Additionally, the Catholic Network to End Human Trafficking will host a vocational training fair for potential trafficking victims in mid-2018. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considering creating a vocational training to protect against trafficking (for both boys and girls). They are using my curriculum to plan their program. All the United Nations delegates have agreed to further expand the outreach of my project and reuse it with an objective to stop these horrid practices.

My website and curriculum continue to be used to increase awareness, garner support from better-equipped communities, connect individuals to activist Non-governmental Organization or NGOs, and empower previously trafficked girls and girls at risk to leave the vicious cycle of dependency on their trafficker.

Q: What have you learned from completing your project, and how has your Gold Award prepared you for the future? A: I have gained more confidence to be a risk-taker, a trait that will help me in my future to form connections, thereby complementing my current skills.

When I interviewed experts from across the globe on the topics of child marriage, trafficking, gender equality, governance and film-making, I learned that a leader continually learns and reflects.

Previously, I had never delegated so many tasks, let alone to many adults. I had primarily communicated with peers in past leadership roles. So, through this project, I’ve significantly improved my leadership and team building skills.

During this project, I also built relationships with individuals from different religions, ethnicities, cultures and communities around the world. This has inspired me to choose a job in the future with an international aspect that will immerse me in different cultures.

I also learned new technical skills like website building, movie making, and video editing, improved research skills and became an expert on trafficking, child marriage and gender inequity. Through the extensive use of Excel and email archiving methods to stay organized, and PowerPoint presentations to pitch my project to team members, I was able to manage a large number of people, and thus vastly bettered my record-keeping and organization skills. These skills have given me a new outlook.

As a future leader, I hope to become more compassionate and gain greater perspective from others to tackle pressing global issues such as climate change, lacking representation of women and minorities, war and poverty, unscrupulous business practices, and social evils beyond trafficking and child marriage.

Q: What have you learned from being a Girl Scout? A: Girl Scouts has given me the confidence to learn, lead, and serve, and the courage to take physical and operational risks.

#girl scouts #gsusa #gold award #goldengirls #feminism #GREET #human trafficking #gender inequity #child marriage #United Nations #UN #Girls Learn International #International Women's Day #women's rights #rehabilitation #tw// trafficking #tw// child mariage #tw// violence against women #amnesty international

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pakjobscareer · 2 years

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Jobs for Coordinator & Transport Coordinator In Karachi Latest Jobs 2022

Jobs for Coordinator & Transport Coordinator In Karachi Latest Jobs 2022 Date Posted: 07 February, 2022 Category / Sector: Classifieds Newspaper: Dawn Jobs Education: Bachelor Vacancy Location: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Organization: Health Oriented Preventive Education HOPE NGO Job Industry: NGO Jobs Job Type: Temporary Expected Last Date: 28 February, 2022 or as per paper ad Health…

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hopengo-blog · 2 years

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HOPE ESTABLISHES AN MCH CENTER AT MUZAFFARABAD

Basic health care refers to the essential health care made accessible to individuals in a community at a cost which they can afford.

HOPE – A Health NGO in Pakistan has strongly emphasized on the concept of primary health care that focuses more on the importance of community participation by identifying some of the basic health needs required by the people living in the society based on economical factors. It includes the basic facilities required for meeting one’s everyday health care needs like conducting a regular checkup, maternity and child health care, basic OPD facilities.

The medical infrastructure and the healthcare facilities’ in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are insufficient as compared to the ratio of its population. Hence after the establishment of an MCH in Korangi, Karachi. HOPE – An NGO in Pakistan has set up a new MCH center in Muzaffarabad, through the blessings and funding’s of its donors.

HOPE MCH at Muzaffarabad is another maternal and child healthcare center where the primary motive is to provide medical services free of cost to the poor and needy. The area of Muzaffarabad is a mountainous area where there are barely any roads or real estates. People barely have access to hospitals and clinics nearby within their reach. Hence this MCH will serve as a blessing to all those areas near this clinic. Hence HOPE is the first to establish an MCH Center, which is highly needed by the people of this area.

This MCH is free of cost like every other MCH of HOPE. It is operated by a qualified Lady Health Visitor (LHV), a dispenser and a maid. Treatment for men, women and children are being provided free of cost. HOPE MCH at Muzaffarabad is a ray of light for such an underdeveloped area.

It has been just 3 weeks since the MCH at Muzaffarabad started and so far it has been doing quite well. Approximately 25-30 OPD and general patients visit this MCH on daily basis, and the number of patients per day is increasing with every passing day. The patients of that area spread their positive experience about our MCH among their relatives and friends circle, which increases awareness through which more patients can benefit.

The organization is spearheaded by the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A Child Specialist in Karachi who continuously strives to improve the health inequality of the needy communities in Pakistan.

#medicalcare #hospital #hopepakistan #hope #health #education #vocationalcenter #womenempoweringwomen #spreading happiness #donatenow #hopengo

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