AREA PROFILE*

	Population in focused districts is approximately over five million
	Unemployment rate in the area is over 30 percent
	Area is extremely hot and arid and experiences three main seasons of summer, monsoon, and winter
	Average family consists of 7-8 members
	Life is tough due to lack of basic health, education, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and adequate nutrition
	Children have to share the burden of economic responsibilities with their parents
	A major portion of the populous suffers from various health problems, especially amongst women & children
	Less than 35% of total settlements are covered by functional health facilities (hospitals or rural health clinics)
	Six mono-technical institutes in the area out of which four have fallen victim to negligence and are non-functional
	Less than 20% of total settlements are covered by adequate water supply schemes.
	Those covered are largely inundated with saline water having bacterial content. People use hand pumps or canal water which is brackish in nature causing multiple health issues
	Environmental degradation is on the rise

*1998 Population Census/ Survey by Sindh Development Institute