| Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief |
| 1. Introduction |
| An estimated 20 million people are already affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan. As the water recedes it leaves behind a trail of destruction and shattered lives across the country. More than two million houses are damaged or destroyed; infrastructure is in shambles as bridges and roads are swept away; and livelihoods have been severely disrupted. The scale of devastation is colossal, setting the nation back by decades. It is imperative that we respond urgently, with determination, unity and resilience. |
| On 2nd August 2010 Omar Asghar Khan Foundation initiated its Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief. It draws on the Foundation’s extensive experience of organizing affected people, following the 2005 earthquake and the 2009 Malakand conflict, and working with them to extend relief and rehabilitation support. The design of Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief is based on first-hand needs assessments, review of secondary data, and on the Foundation’s knowledge of the area and its links with local people. |
| 2. Objectives |
|
To extend relief assistance to people affected by the 2010 floods in Pakistan by providing: |
- 15-day package of food and essential non-food items
- Clean drinking water or water purification tablets
- Shelter - tents or corrugated iron sheets
- Access -- installing chairlifts and suspension bridges; making pedestrian pathways;, and, clearing roads
- Psycho-social support and facilitation to access healthcare
- Liaising with government and other organizations to ensure effectiveness
|
| 3. Outreach, Guiding Principles & Distribution Mechanism |
| 16 of the 24 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are affected by the floods. Of these, nine are severely affected. Many in need of urgent aid are difficult to access as areas are isolated due to road/bridge destruction/damage; and blockages due to landslides. The Foundation is initially focusing on the following districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: |
- Nowshera
- Charsadda
- Shangla
- Kohistan
- Battagram
- Mansehra
|
| The Foundation’s Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief will be extended to other affected areas as its work continues. Through collaboration with other partners, the Foundation is also extending relief assistance to affected areas in the Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and also plans to support efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan. |
| The Foundation’s guiding principles that shape its distribution mechanism are: |
- Respect the dignity of recipients of assistance
- Involve recipients as active partners
- Ensure non-discrimination in relief distribution
- Give priority attention to the more marginalized including women, children, the elderly, the disabled and the poor
|
| The Foundation’s distribution mechanism includes the following key steps: |
- an initial assessment is made of the numbers of households affected and their immediate needs
- a broad-based meeting is held with local affected communities in which they elect women and men from local households to form a committee that supports relief distribution
- the committee is also tasked with the responsibility of supporting data collection including the number of affected persons, name/NIC number (where available) of the head of each household, number of people in each household including details of children (girls and boys)
- based on the data, the Foundation provides relief and shares the responsibility for distribution with local affected people
|
| This process of relief assessment and distribution is designed to involve affected people as partners. As those affected take charge of relief, they also begin to regain control over their lives. The emphasis of the process on organization and collective action also helps to make relief distribution more open, transparent, and effective. |
| 5. Assistance Packages |
| 5.1 Food and Essential Non-Food Items |
| Food Items |
Specifications |
Quantity |
Unit |
Estimated Cost |
| (Rs.) |
| Flour |
Super Atta or equivalent |
20 |
Kg |
595 |
| Rice |
Ari 9 or equivalent |
8 |
Kg |
320 |
| Lentils |
Channa – Unpacked |
1 |
Kg |
70 |
| |
Moong – Unpacked |
1 |
Kg |
110 |
| Spices & other essentials |
Salt –National or equivalent |
1 |
Kg |
15 |
| |
Red Chillie Powder-National or equivalent |
100 |
Gram |
40 |
| |
Haldi – National or equivalent |
50 |
Gram |
25 |
| |
Garam Masala-National or equivalent |
50 |
Gram |
40 |
| Cooking oil/Ghee |
Soya Supreme or equivalent |
2.5 |
Kg |
375 |
| Tea |
Lipton or equivalent |
0.5 |
Kg |
260 |
| Milk |
Everyday or equivalent |
1 |
Kg |
390 |
| Sugar |
Unpacked |
5 |
Kg |
360 |
| Dates (Khajoor) |
Unpacked |
1.5 |
Kg |
140 |
| Toffees |
Mitchells or equivalent |
2 |
Packet |
72 |
| Other Consumables |
|
|
|
| Matchbox |
Hockey or equivalent |
2 |
Packet |
20 |
| Washing soap |
Sufi (250 gms) or equivalent |
4 |
Bar |
100 |
| Dish washing soap |
Max bar or equivalent |
2 |
Bar |
24 |
| Health & Personal Hygiene |
|
|
|
| ORS |
Wilson or equivalent |
1 |
Box |
150 |
| Water purification tablets |
Aquafresh |
1 |
Box |
65 |
| Bath soap |
Lifebuoy (115 gms) or equivalent |
4 |
Bar |
88 |
| Miswaak |
Unpacked |
10 |
Piece |
50 |
| Cotton wool and cloth |
|
1 |
Roll |
100 |
| Sub-total |
3,409 |
| Packing and transportation |
591 |
| Total |
4,000 |
|
| 5.2 Shelter |
| Shelter is an urgent need as more than two million homes are damaged or destroyed. The Foundation is providing tents or corrugated iron sheets to families that are displaced or are living near their destroyed houses. |
| Items |
Specifications |
Quantity |
Unit Cost |
Total Cost (Rs.) |
Shelter A
Tent |
Size 13' X 10' (single ply) with accessories |
1 |
7,432 |
7,432 |
| |
Distribution cost |
1 |
700 |
700 |
| |
|
|
Total |
8,132 |
Shelter B
CGI sheets |
Size 12' X 3' (24 gauge) with accessories |
10 |
1,940 |
19,400 |
| |
Distribution cost |
10 |
50 |
500 |
| |
|
|
Total |
19,900 |
|
| 5.3 Access |
| Many areas are isolated as bridges, roads, and even jeep tracks are washed away. People are forced to cover long distances on foot often over very difficult terrain to access food. The Foundation is working in collaboration with local communities to restore access. |
| Installation of chairlifts |
| Chairlifts are being installed to connect areas that are isolated due to destruction of bridges or blockages due to landslides. They help people access food, healthcare and other basic needs. Selection of sites for chairlifts is under process. The following two ongoing projects serve as illustrative examples of costs, extent of support, etc. |
- Chairlift: Shangla-Battagram: The Kund Bridge over the River Indus connecting people of District Battagram with Shangla was washed away by the floods. A manual structure was put in place by local people to restore some access, even though it is extremely hazardous. Under the Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief, a mechanized chairlift is being installed to reconnect access, which is also more safe and reliable. More than 60,000 people of four union councils of District Battagram will benefit from this intervention. Its estimated cost is Rs.484,000 and installation time is about 15 days.
- Chairlift: Dubair, District Kohistan: The town of Dubair, the gateway to Kohistan along the Karakorum Highway, was almost entirely swept away by the floods, destroying its bazaar, homes, and the main bridge that connected the area to the main Karakorum highway.Desperate for access, people walk for hours along extremely difficult terrain to reach bazaars in Bisham or other places to access food and other essentials. Under the Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief, a mechanized chairlift will provide stronger and safer access, spanning 400 ft, to the local people. The estimated cost of this mechanized chairlift is Rs.550,000.
|
| Construction of suspension bridges |
| A series of suspension bridges are to be built across ravines and gorges to reconnect people living in far flung areas who are isolated due to destroyed bridges and road networks. These bridges will be located to provide access to secondary routes that link up to main roads so that people are able to access food, healthcare and other basic necessities. These bridges have longer term value as they will continue to be a means of access for local communities. The cost of bridges varies according to their length. At present, the two that have been surveyed will cost Rs.400,000 each, in which local communities will provide support upto Rs.50,000. |
| Making pedestrian pathways |
| The erosion of top soil and landsliding has left mountainsides and rock ridges exposed. This has made walking down mountain tracks extremely difficult. The Foundation’s cash-for-work programme will provide livelihood support to local people who will be employed to make pathways that will link villages with each other, and with the main communication networks. In combination with the suspension bridges these will improve accessibility for the very vulnerable and isolated communities. The tracks linking the three union councils to the Karakorum Highway near Dubair in District Kohistan will cost around Rs.500,000 per union council. |
| Road clearance |
| Landsliding has blocked main and link roads. While clearance of main roads is generally swift, there is little attention given to link roads making it very difficult for communities to access food, healthcare and other facilities. It is imperative that link roads are also rehabilitated on a priority basis. The Foundation is working with its community partners to rehabilitate these roads. This involves the provision of bulldozers (@ Rs.2,200 per hour) and other equipment. Local communities take charge of supporting and monitoring the road clearance, with assistance from the Foundation’s team including its engineers. Districts have been identified where road clearance is a priority need, and initial assessments are underway. The cost of road clearance in each union council will vary but it is estimated that the Foundation will provide bulldozers on an average of 120 hours per union council. |
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