Assessing climate induced resettlement impacts on livelihood vulnerability in flood-prone areas of Punjab, Pakistan; an application of livelihood vulnerability index

Abstract

Population living in climate induced disaster vulnerable areas can mitigate risks by preventive resettlement strategies. However, prior to having resettlement risks and particular resettles livelihood impacts it is necessary to investigate those communities whose living have transformed through climate persuaded resettlement. Objective of this research work is to examine prior resettlement and after resettlement climate-based livelihood vulnerability variations of resettled two model villages flood prone community of Muzaffargarh. Livelihood vulnerability changes of resettled households were investigated by application of Livelihood vulnerability index that covers seven major components exposure, finance, water, health, social networks, livelihood strategy and sociodemographic profile. In this study data was collected by well-developed questionnaire from 241 households’ heads which resettled in two model villages from twelve flood prone union council areas. Data collected by direct interaction with respondents where questionnaire consists on some significant perspectives regarding resettlers subsidies receipts, physical conditions, job status, income aspect, socioeconomic perspective and damages of flood disasters prior and after resettlement. Livelihood vulnerability index each indicator values prior and after resettlement were calculated to determine in what way altered household’s livelihood after resettlement. Estimated outcomes of study indicated that vulnerability of health, water, livelihood strategy and exposure components were significantly declined when household moved to less flood prone areas owing to resettlement in well-construction model villages associated with government subsidies. On the other hand, some major components like finance and social networking becomes higher vulnerable owing to loss in economic activity and kinship which were deep rooted in original communities of households. In these resettled areas, proactive stance of concerned authorities or institutions and policy makers need to implement with compacted strategies to reduce financial risks and job vulnerabilities to develop sustainable livelihood of resettled households.