Lived Experiences of Flood-Affected Rural Communities in District Dadu, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

One of the most common and most destructive natural disasters is floods, which unequally impacts rural communities. This research examined the lived experiences of the flood-affected populations in District Dadu, Sindh, Pakistan, after the 2022 floods. Qualitative research design was adopted and in-depth interviews were carried out on 30 respondents to comprise of farmers, laborers, homemakers and small business proprietors. The Social Vulnerability Theory and the Resilience and Coping Framework were used to conduct the study to determine the connection between the socio-economic inequalities, the impacts of disasters, and the responses of the communities. A thematic analysis revealed eight key themes, namely, disruption of livelihoods, economic hardship and debt, health and sanitation issues, social support and community resilience, displacement and migration, access to aid and relief, emotional and psychological effects, and gendered experiences. The results indicated that poorer households were more susceptible to negative impacts of flooding. Nonetheless, robust social networks and coping mechanisms that were adaptive contributed greatly to the minimisation of these effects. The article emphasizes the significance of community-based solutions, gender-sensitive solutions, and equal allocation of aid in the context of post-disaster recovery. The above results can be useful to inform policymakers and development organizations to develop context-based disaster preparedness and sustainable recovery solutions in rural locations vulnerable to the flood.