Action Aid ERP engaged in routine activities of distribution of Cash grants in all field areas to help improve the quality of life of the quake ravaged people as well as for rehabilitation of their destroyed shops along with improving their temporary shelters. The "most immediate needs" of the community were addressed by distributing prefabricated shelters among the vulnerable families in Bagh and Battgram.
Keeping in view the high ratio of female in the quake hit zone, training and capacity building in livelihood sector has been continued especially for the women. The trainings are necessary in order to generate household income of the communities at grass root level.
Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Training was arranged for the locals to enhance their capacity to restore the fruits and vegetable in specific season and to use in other seasons. The training was fruitful especially for the people of cold areas who restore fruits and vegetables for their survival in the chilling cold season. Moreover, poultry was also distributed among 20 most vulnerable families to promote poultry farming tradition at household level.
ActionAid ERP representatives engaged in a meeting with the Chairman of ERRA to discuss issues regarding the flow of funds, data on compensation for people, and their Social Protection Strategy. Certain issues regarding accountability to the people were discussed and the Chairman was asked to facilitate a meeting with the people in the earthquake affected areas (or their nominated representatives) on the Housing Policy so that people would get an opportunity to express their demands directly to the concerned authorities.
To further improve the quality of work, the PRA Training was arranged for the community. Both males and females participated in the training from Bagh and Muzzafar Abad. The educated, especially the students, were provided an opportunity to take computer courses; therefore, the Computer Training was also arranged in the areas. Whereas the uneducated masons and carpenters have completed the first phase of training to build earth quake resistant structures in Bagh.
Emerging Issues:
Monsoon rains have added further miseries to the devastated people in the earth quake affected areas. The tenants faced many problems as their tents were flooded with water. Several deaths were reported in the newspapers in different quake hit areas during the month. Roads were blocked due to rampant land sliding in Muzzafar Abad but the filed staff managed to continue their scheduled activities .Moreover, the rain destroyed cultivated fields in different areas of Mansehra and Muzaffar Abad.
Propaganda and mobilization against the NGOs and their activities, particularly against women working in NGOs is at its peak in Bagh. Local religious leaders have warned the NGOs to leave the area by 3rd September 2006.They have started processions at local level to get the attention of the community and media. Though, the administration has ensured support and announced that no one would be allowed to disrupt relief activities in the area, yet, most of the international staff members of INGOs have left the area, while some have postponed their scheduled activities in the area which would definitely favor the so called campaign of religious leaders'.
