People in the earthquake affected areas are gearing up to a rough winter as snow has already started in the higher altitudes while majority of the affected population is still without adequate shelter and wherewithal to cope with the severity of the winter months because of inconsistent, vague and redundant ERRA's policies on housing and reconstruction. To cater to this situation ERP field offices have developed a contingency plan to implement in the winter months.
In terms of the immediate and strategic needs of the affected communities, ActionAid ERP is supporting the conversion of prefabricated shelters into permanent shelters. As a result in Mansehra; 52 prefabricated shelters were converted into permanent homes. Furthermore during this month, all the required materials have been purchased for the improvement of 90 existing shelters so that the communities could spend the winter in comparatively better shelters than last year. As house hold sanitation remains a huge problem in the earthquake affected area ERP is also assessing the need of the community and providing latrines. To this end material of 211 household latrines was purchased for Oghi and Kathai, Mansehra. In Bagh, a participatory assessment was carried out and 570 families would be provided materials for sanitation and latrines in the coming month.
In Battgram, the long awaited Chanjal Health Center was opened for the poor patients. The doctor paid a weekly visit while a medical technician is permanently based in the health center. The doctors also paid a weekly visit to Goryar health center but it is difficult to find doctors for Battamori, Malkal Gali and Hill centers in Battgram. The OPD account of Battamori health center was opened and Rs15000 of the OPD savings were also deposited in the new account. In Mansehra, all health centers are providing crucial health services to the communities. Nevertheless, the Sosal Gali health center would be shifted to a new location with the consultation of CBO as the agreement for the building would come to an end by November 2006. In Muzaffarabad, an exposure visit of staff from Pothi, Mervania, Khilla and Kutli health staff was arranged to Shalabagh health center. The main aim of the visit was to share their experience with each other. The health staff really appreciated the visit and got acquainted with the record keeping procedure of other health centers too.
The health centers are also functional in Bagh. One of the two ambulances was delivered to the communities in union council Bani Pasari in grand public gathering. The community decided to arrange a public gathering for receiving the second ambulance by inviting NGOs, Government and political Parties representatives on the occasion. For the long term sustainability of the health centers, the respective communities approached the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation to run these centers on regular basis in future. During the reporting month, over 5000 patients were treated in all health centers in all four areas. The percentage of children was 51%, men 35% and women over 60%.
The 2005 earth quake destroyed or diverted water supply. The communities especially women face numerous problems in fetching water from far away place in the mountains. ERP supported the communities to solve the water problems. In this regard, in Mansehra, Tatoli and Bankot water supply schemes were finally completed. The materials have been purchased for Dabi Mar water supply scheme where as the proposal has been submitted for Miskeen Abad water supply scheme in Mansehra. In addition to this, the men and women community organizations requested that 27 water hand pumps in Union Councils Oghi and Shamdhara, Mansehra be provided. In Muzaffarabad, the women requested many a times for water supply schemes as they bring water from far flung areas. To address to their need, the work started on new water supply schemes in Shalabagh, Hoterari/Doladri and Gharathe. In Battgram, the material was purchased for Pokal water supply scheme and MOU was signed with local Community Based Organization. Proposals for water supply scheme of Purani Hill and for installation of hand pumps in Battamori and Biari were also submitted to ERP Islamabad office.
ActionAid ERP makes efforts to facilitate the earth quake affected communities in restoring livelihoods and improving access to the alternative livelihood opportunities in the areas. In Muzzafarabad women who had learnt skills through ERP demanded a crafts and designing center. As such Khilla community center would be developed as a craft and designing center for the quake affected women. To support this initiative work is ongoing on this project. Further more, in Battgram, the materials for 231 live stock shelters were supplied to the communities. In Mansehra, the proposal for 300 energy saver stoves was approved. These would help in cooking and protecting the communities from cold with less fuel particularly as the communities have less access to electricity. In Bagh, thirty sewing machines were distributed to women headed and needy families. These women have started using these machines at home.
The Mansehra field office purchased three flour machines and construction has been started in three villages. The local CBO finally received the NOC from the Forest Department for the installation of Saw machine in Sari. The enthusiastic communities have started gathering the materials to construct the building. Moreover, in Mansehra, 29 trained community members were called for a meeting. The aim of the meeting was to link the trained labours with the communities so that they can use their technical expertise to the benefit of the communities.
To enhance the capacity of staff and local communities in the earth quake affected areas, a Social Mobilization workshop was arranged for all field staff in Islamabad. Further more, the Bagh team arranged a meeting with Earth quake Victims Rights Movements (EVRM) to further strengthen the forum. In Battgram, five health and hygiene trainings were arranged for women. Over hundred women participated in these trainings.
The community level staff is regularly interacting with the communities in order to strengthen the community organizations. In this connection, Two Community Skill Management Trainings (CMST) were held in Biari and Shamlai of District Battgram. 27 women participated in these trainings. In Muzaffarabad, meetings were arranged in Mahajir Camp. The main purpose of the meetings was to form men and women community organizations. The Community Organization was also formed in Manik Payan. 28 women have elected their representatives. The community showed their interest in these meetings. Mansehra field team organized a village organization for women in Shamdhara and village organization for men in Sosal Gali, Oghi union councils. Additionally in Bagh, meetings of Community Organizations were attended by the staff to guide and facilitate them.
As part of policy work, the field teams regularly attend meetings with communities to know their problems and share their ideas with each other. In Bagh, the team thoroughly studied the master plan for Bagh. They discussed it in detail and identified some gaps. They decided to arrange a dialogue on master plan as the sanitary workers are completely overlooked in the plan. In Mansehra, the formation of CCRR was completed in three union councils, Shamdhara, Kathai and Oghi.
International media team visited Muzafarabad to draw the attention of the donors and international community to the pathetic living conditions of the quake affected women one year on of the earth quake. A journalist from UK magazine visited the refugee camp and Gherate and interviewed the widows. Apart from the regular visit of project officer, SDPI team visited Muzaffarabad.
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