Bahadar Nawab

A cultural-spatial analysis of excreting, recirculation of human excreta and health--the case of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.

The sanitation issue is entering the development discussion and the UN proclaimed 2008 the year of sanitation. The study aims to understand the cultural-spatial dimension among Muslim communities of excreting and recirculating human excreta in North West Frontier Province in Pakistan. Information on local perceptions and cultural understanding was collected through interviews, group discussions and observations in four selected villages. The study identifies a diversity of excreting practices among age groups and sexes, and varied adherence to expressed cultural norms. Interviewees express less resentment towards urine compared to faeces, however, their negative attitude subsides when faecal matter is mixed with water since this changes appearance, odour-and cultural meaning. Religious dictums about excreta and sewage accommodate contradicting routine behaviours to cater for needs of residents and farmers. For example, when mothers pray wearing soiled clothing, and in the use of wastewater as fertiliser for food production. The excreta-related practices are compatible with good hygienic behaviour as outlined by WHO Guidelines, except for children who are allowed to defecate anywhere.

Climate Change and Disasters: Institutional Complexities and Actors’ Priorities for Mitigation, Adaptation and Response

Over the last decade, Pakistan has faced several major disasters, involving both natural hazards and conflict. These crises prompted tremendous national and international response, and triggered the Government of Pakistan to establish new institutions, policies, strategies and action plans. Donors, humanitarian and development organisations,however, tend to follow their own policies, plans and interests, which may be quite different from the government entities dealing with humanitarian efforts, climate change and disaster.To what extent do these different perspectives affect the ability of the government to respond effectively and coordinate with humanitarian and development organisations during different phases of a crisis? This article examines the existing institutions, policies and perspectives that guide how government, humanitarian and development organisations, and community members understand risk and vulnerability, and respond to climate changes. It suggests how knowledge sharing and coordination might be improved to better face the challenges of risk and vulnerability reduction in the future.

Social vulnerability and local adaptation in humanitarian response: The case of Pakistan

This article looks at the experiences of two areas hit hard by the 2010 mega-floods in Pakistan, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one in Sindh. It examines how different humanitarian actors understand climatic changes, risk and vulnerability, how this influences their choices of disaster risk reduction activities, and whether these activities promote changes which are merely cosmetic, or transformational. The findings point to the need to expand institutional understandings of risk and vulnerability to include social vulnerability in disaster risk reduction measures, and the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration between humanitarian and development organisations, government and local communities, particularly at the district levels, to be able to address long-term risk reduction and adaptation.

Impact of pit latrines on drinking water contaminations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

ABSTRACT Pit latrines are projected as a safe method of excreta disposal without considering its potential impact on groundwater contamination. To understand the possible link between pit latrines and groundwater quality, two villages using pit latrines and groundwater were purposely selected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the targeted villages, the numbers of pit latrines and groundwater wells, their depth, subsoil strata, distance between them, year of establishment, and design were determined. Drinking water samples from the two villages (Kot and Takht-e-nasrati) were collected and analyzed for coliform, nitrates, and nitrites. Groundwater contamination in both villages was confirmed possibly due to pit latrines, particularly in the permeable soil profile. Also, it was observed that local communities are often ready to take remedial measures once they understand the potential link between pit latrines and groundwater contamination and the associated health risks.