EARTHQUAKE – PEOPLES EFFORT AND SUPPORT FOR
SHELTER
AND WATER SUPPLY
The 8th October 2005 earthquake in North West Frontier Province
(NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) devasted towns and villages. The
death toll has been about 87,000 with 1,50,000 injured. About 90% of the
houses were damaged, collapsed or severely cracked and unlivable. Most
livestock perished, agriculture suffered. OPP-RTI partners BES, AFDO and
MURC got involved in relief activities, having friends and relatives in the
villages of Bagh-AJK, Battagram and Kala Daca NWFP. OPP-RTI support was
requested. In the first visit it was observed that people were trying to
remove the rubble of their damaged houses, while arranging some shelter.
They requested support for rubble removal kits (RRK), so building components
and some goods could be salvaged and for provision of tin sheets, for a room
of size 12’x18’, so shelter could be made to safeguard against the incoming
cold (in cases snowy) winter. People said they would manage to build the
walls themselves, as some had already done so, of mud, old tin sheets and
wooden planks. A rubble removal kit costing Rs. 10,000 could be used for
about 15-20 houses. Tin sheets for a room of 12x18 cost Rs. 12,000.
OPP-RTI is grateful to Misereor, Cordaid
and Homeless International for providing grants immediately. This has helped
secure shelter, safeguarding families against the cold winter. Since
December 2005, tin sheets and rubble removal kits were provided to 3,610
house spread over 68 villages in NWFP, FATA and AJK. OPP-RTI partners
OPP-RDT, BES,ADO,MURC and the local CBO's Sungi Development Society (SDS)
and Baghwan were involved in providing the support. In each village peoples
committees were formed for survey, documentation and distribution. Detail
documentation and accounts have been maintained, and audited. 3
organisations SDC, BES- FATA and Baghwan have evolved thru the work. There
is now potential for other development works. Last quarter meeting was held
with the Nazim of Batagram as well as the village activists of Batagram and
Kala Daca. Need was felt for mapping/documentation of villages and expansion
of work. Members from Bagwan after training are mapping the villages. Visit
was made this period to guide the work.
Water Supply rehabilitation:-
Villages have requested support to
rehabilitate the damaged water supply system. The source of water in most
villages are the streams/springs. The main pipeline till the villages and
main storage tanks need to be repaired/reconstructed, distribution can be
managed by the people on self help. In 28 villages work is complete,
benefiting 10,592 families, in 14 more villages in NWFP and AJK (Plans are
being finalized). Visits were made. Partners ADO, Baghwan, BES, SDS and
village committees are managing the work, OPP-RTI guidance continues.
Revival of Livelihood: Support for
live stock i.e provision of goats to revive livelihood has also been
observed. Besides working as farm hands, rearing of goats is common in the
villages. Each year a female goat gives birth to about 6-8 lambs. The
mortality rate of these is about one third. The lambs are reared and then
sold, fetching about Rs. 5,000 each. Meanwali goats milk provides the much
need nutrition for the family. Due to the earthquake livestock also
perished. This perished. This period for two villages, and 150 families in
Shedek and Zeezary (Kala Daca) there was provision of 1-2 goats per family,
depending on whether these are poor, destitute or widows. Partners BES
together with the village committees has managed the purchase, distribution
and documentation.
Floods in Sindh/Balochistan: The
storm and rains this June (which continues) have caused massive flooding of
villages in several districts of Sindh and Balochistan. Visits and contacts
with partner NGOs/CBOs in Sindh is on going, to assess the need and possible
support.
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1-Initial relief work - provision of Tin sheets |
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2-Initial relif work - provision of Tin sheets |
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3- Provision of water supply to villages |
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4-Provision of water supply to villages |
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5-Provision of water supply to villages |
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6-Provision of water supply to villages |
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7-Livestock provision |
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8-Livestock provision |
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9-Livesotck provision |
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10-Houses and agricultural fields submerged in water, Meher, Faridabad |
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11-Meeting with partners in the affected area to organise relief work. |
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12-People line up looking for support. |
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