Boosted Humanitarian Efforts
(Sitrep prepared by Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan Communication Office)
Background:
According to recent news reports, more than two-thirds of internally displaced people have returned home. While this may be good news, it also means one-third remains displaced. These people still require assistance in terms of food, shelter and medical attention. As such, the crisis requires boosted efforts from humanitarian organizations to meet IDPs' needs.
Last week, CWS-PA assistant project officer Adnan Khan reported that one of the reasons many IDPs have not returned is because of the uncertainty of livelihood prospects. Additionally, many IDPs who are originally from Swat are still afraid to return due to the on-and-off military operation in Upper and Lower Dir.
It is, therefore, apparent that the transition from being displacement to returning home requires continued effort which will gradually take place over an extended period of time. If appropriate and timely assistance is not provided to the returnees, the potential exists for the population to be displaced again.
ACT members' activities:
CWS-P/A and Norwegian Church Aid are responding as members of the ACT forum in Pakistan. The two organizations continue with their coordination efforts.
Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan:
CWS-P/A continues to focus its efforts on the difficulties faced by IDPs. The CWS-P/A mobile health unit is still active and has treated 9463 IDPs. Of these, 3846 were men and 5590 were women. Free medicine is still being provided to the IDPs. At the same time, CWS-P/A focuses on mother and child health services through its mobile health unit. A total of 131 antenatal clients have received services. A total of 2037 children under the age of five have received treatment and medicine in Swabi, Mansehra and Abbottabad.
CWS-P/A's female doctor continues to successfully alleviate health risks related to pregnancy and has conducted health education sessions on safe motherhood, breastfeeding and frequency of hospital visits during pregnancy.
On October 8, 2009, the Humanitarian Accountability Project team members, accompanied by CWS-P/A staff, visited Swabi to analyze the impact of the distribution in the IDP areas. They interviewed communities, implementing partners and other stakeholders. Focus group discussions were also conducted for beneficiaries by the HAP team.
At the same time, CWS-P/A continues to attend cluster meetings but many of these meetings are being cancelled or postponed due to recent attacks on UN agencies. This week, in collaboration with implementing partner Sungi, CWS-P/A distributed 1656 food packages and 4444 non-food items to IDPs in Mardan. At the same time, in collaboration with implementing partner CHIP, CWS-P/A distributed 850 food packages in Swabi. Additionally, 100 food packages were handed over to SSEWA-PAK for IDPs in Tarkai camp.
Norwegian Church Aid:
Three NCA implementing partners (PVDP, Pak-CDP, and Taraqee Foundation) are regularly attending WASH cluster and coordination meetings at provincial levels, jointly organized by UNICEF and the local Government.
PVDP constructed 254 latrines, 30 bathing places, 85 hand-washing places and installed 32 hand-pumps. In addition, 30 dust bins were placed in different areas and 1400 hygiene kits were distributed to five union councils in Swabi. PVDP also conducted six hygiene sessions with IDPs in target areas.
Pak-CDP completed the installation of 64 hand-pumps in Mardan. Pak-CDP also completed the construction of 335 latrines in three union councils in Mardan. Pak-CDP conducted 55 hygiene sessions with community members on the importance of safe water and improved sanitation and also distributed 725 hygiene kits.
Taraqee Foundation completed the construction of 136 latrines and the installation of 14 hand-pumps in Haripur and Abbottabad. In addition, TF conducted six health and hygiene promotion trainings for IDPs and host communities focusing on water-borne diseases and preventive measures. TF also distributed 210 dustbins for domestic use for IDPs, and has completed five technical trainings on masonry skills, to build on the capacities of the IDPs.
Immediate Known Needs:
Transitional shelters
Food
Clothing
Medicine and first aid kits
Psychosocial support, particularly for children
Livelihood opportunities
Transportation
Special needs of vulnerable IDPs
Sanitary napkins for women and girls
Education for children
ACT International appeal:
The ACT International appeal for Pakistan, which has raised US $2,517,341 to date, is being revised to close at the end of this year. An additional appeal to support recovery and resettlement is currently under development.
ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Residents walk through rubble at the site of a car bomb attack in Peshawar, located in Pakistan's restive North West Frontier Province on October 15, 2009. A car bomb was set ...
