A failure or success?: A qualitative analysis of post-disaster relocation among survivors of 2010 floods in Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, the enormous 2010 floods inflicted unprecedented destruction to 0.5 million houses in South Punjab. This study was conducted in Muzaffargarh, a district of the Punjab province of Pakistan, one of the worst affected areas during the 2010 floods. As an adaptation and disaster risk reduction measure, an International NGO in collaboration with the Government of the Punjab province constructed 1274 houses for flood-affected communities. The houses were allocated through a lottery method. Initially, the allottees moved to the new settlements for the sake of possession. However, over time, it was observed that many flood-affected individuals sold out or rented their houses and returned to their villages/settlements. This qualitative study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the flood survivors’ decision to return to their original villages/settlements after a certain time. The specific objective of the study was to identify the factors that pushed and pulled the flood survivors into their original settlements. The current study interviewed 20 respondents through the snowball sampling technique by using an interview guide. The findings highlighted the loss of social capital, place attachment, unavailability of grazing places, non-transfer of house, and increase in the cost of living were the major factors that pushed the flood survivors to return to their native villages. The current study highlighted social and psychological costs (such as nostalgia, homesickness, loss of social networks, etc.) for the relocation of disaster survivors. This study contains important policy implications regarding relocation decisions taken by the government and policymakers. Findings indicate relocation decisions as the failure to address the local needs, priorities, and contexts.