Household’s livelihood trajectories in the context of man-made and natural disasters : a case study from Swat, Pakistan

Abstract: The purpose of this case study is to explore livelihood trajectories in the context of manmade and natural disasters in three villages of Swat district, Pakistan. These three villages were deeply affected by an armed conflict between the Taliban and Pakistan Army from 2006 to 2009 separately by floods in 2010. This research is based on indepth qualitative analysis of 24 households to trace out the changes in household welfare and livelihood security aftermath of armed conflict and floods.The case evidence shows that majority of the households were facing declining livelihood security. Out of 24, only 7 households were found to cope with the crises while the remaining 17 were declining. The factors which enable coping households to maintain their livelihood security are international remittances, wealth, more male worker, government jobs and political connections. The factors which lead to the decline of majority of case households includes low or lack of livelihood diversification,human losses and injuries/illness especially the male worker, loss or sale of livestock.The most prominent responses induced by both the crises were internal as well as external migration for work. The medium and poor households were further pushed intomore vulnerable conditions. The study households received relief assistances from government, NGO, and informalsources but at different extent. However, the large number of households with declining livelihoods security indicates the inadequacy or limitations of assistance. Informalsupport system was weakened by the crises due to the reduced capacity of the people to extend support to each other and the people were relying to get support from theirrelatives, friends and non relatives in other parts of the country.