Strategy Document to assist and facilitate the flood affected population in selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The recent floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have affected more than 2.25 million population. As per official figures, this is worst flood in history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 1929. The death toll is 1,100 as of August 2nd, 2010 and is still rising. Massive devastation and destruction have been reported. At least 37,000 houses have been swept away by the floods, while bridges, roads, water and sanitation supply schemes, irrigation channels, health and education facilities are also badly hit by these heavy floods. The food grain has also been lost and all major crops/vegetables/fruits have been washed away besides irreparable damages to livestock.

 

SRSP based on its experiences of Earthquake and IDPs operations has launched a relief and rehabilitation operation for flood affected population in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Shangla, Kohistan, Swat, Chitral and Upper Dir. SRSP in these eight districts has significant coverage and adequate infrastructure to support relief and rehabilitation activities.  Initial meetings were called upon by Chief Executive Officer to review the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An initial assessment of staff, equipment and resources was also conducted to be able to launch an initial response. The district teams in eight affected districts of KPK were also asked to send their field teams and gather all necessary information. The Head Office team led by the Chief Executive Officer also visited three districts (Charsadda, Nowshera and Chitral) to assess the damages incurred as a result of these floods. As per initial reports, a total of 133 union councils have been hit by these recent floods.

The details of affected union councils have been presented below:

S. No	Districts	Total Union Councils	Affected Union Councils	Affected Population
1	Peshawar	92	11	183,975
2	Nowshera	47	20	334,500
3	Charsadda	49	31	518,475
4	Shangla	24	11	185,000
5	Kohistan	38	20	334,500
6	Upper Dir	31	12	200,700
7	Chitral	24	9	150,525
8	Swat	65	19	317,775
Total		370	133	2,225,450*

* Figures based on initial surveys conducted by field teams SRSP
The figures of affected population as mentioned above and the figures presented by Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reflects that a concerted effort of all major donors, government line agencies and civil society organizations would be required to be able to respond to this massive disaster.  At this early stage, SRSP has devised a strategy for supporting and providing assistance to the affected population.

Some of the salient features of the strategy comprise of:

1. Utilizing experienced staff members

In terms of capacity to respond to this massive disaster on such a large scale, SRSP has mobilized and moved out its staff form some of the areas which have not been worst hit by recent floods. These staff members, having rich experience in disaster management, would be placed in some of the worst hit areas/districts ensuring an efficient and effective relief and rehabilitation operation. These staff members, once the situation is normalized, would slowly and gradually be shifted back to their respective regional/district offices.    

1. Utilizing Networks of Local Communities

SRSP in these eight districts have a strong network of community based organizations. The social capital developed over years of hard-work would be a useful resource in generating information besides reflecting on ground realities. It is worth mentioning that the members of these community based organization have played an instrumental role in collecting the baseline information (table above) with the support of Regional and District teams. SRSP would continue to utilize their services and capitalize on this resource for identifying the deserving households during this relief and rehabilitation effort.

1. Decentralised structure optimizing results

SRSP has already identified districts focal person to take a lead on relief and rehabilitation efforts. This step would enable SRSP to deal difficult and distant situations in all affected districts.  Though the technical and intellectual backstopping support would be provided by the head office teams, nevertheless the district teams would be given autonomy to respond to their respective district needs. SRSP head office would take all necessary steps to mobilize resources and provide need based support in all related technical aspects. The mobilized resources would be channelized to respective districts as per their needs. The field teams, as per earthquake and IDPs experiences, would be encouraged to deal operational and field level issues and respond to local dynamics and local diversities.

1. Partnerships with national, international and government line agencies

Preserving the core philosophy of the organization as per its vision and mission, SRSP would extend all possible support in developing effective and viable linkages with national, international, government line agencies and armed forces to avoid resources duplication. The cooperation and collaboration with all external agencies especially government and armed forces would be based on partnership basis to enable SRSP to preserve its autonomy and independence to address diversity.   

1. Immediate Provision of Food items in affected areas

In absence of bridges linking the union councils to main cities, dilapidated roads and inaccessibility due to flood water, the affected population would require immediate assistance in provision of food items. SRSP has conducted initial surveys in these areas and as per discussion with the affected population, it was observed that the communities have lost their crops, livestock and food reserves to feed their families. The stagnant and standing water is causing problems as people are unable to meet the food requirements of their family members especially women and children.

SRSP in light of the current situation would take proactive steps in provision of necessary food items to affected areas and population. The food items provision would be based on need assessment in target areas and would be channelized through district teams in established SRSP district offices and make shift distribution points.  The following food items have been identified by affected population and would be provided on urgent basis:

The average cost food items mentioned above for a family of 7 members/one week would cost 3,400 PKR.

1. Provision of Non Food Items and Shelters

As mentioned above at least 37,000 houses have been completely destroyed by flood water. Similarly there are large number of houses which have been partially damaged by recent disaster. The families are compelled to live in open or on roof tops of their so called houses in their respective areas in most miserable conditions. Apart from heavy damages to their housing structure and valuable assets, the affected population has lost all necessary utensils, kitchenware and lavatory items, which has further aggravated these miserable conditions. SRSP would provide Tent/Shelters to individual households. In addition, SRSP would also like to establish tent villages to facilitate displaced communities.

 As per initial surveys and discussion with affected communities, the following non food items, shelters and hygiene kits have been identified and would be provided by SRSP to affected community members/population:

The average cost of non food items mentioned above for a family of 7 members would cost 13,500 PKR.

The average cost of Hygiene Kits for a family of 7 members would cost 2,175 PKR.

1. Provision of Medical Assistance

In wake of possible diseases outbreak as a result of flood and hot summers, the affected population would require necessary cover against malaria, cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, snake bites, hepatitis, skin diseases etc. The women and children in affected areas are at high risk and in most vulnerable position. The death of small and large ruminants in flood water has been causing massive problems in terms of contaminating water and producing foul smell. This contaminated water can cause health hazards in affected areas especially where water has not receded. SRSP would establish medical camps in affected areas providing medical assistance by certified professionals and requisite medicines to respond to any unforeseen disease outbreak. The reports of snake bites in these areas are alarmingly high and would require availability of antidote to save precious lives.

1. Cash for work programmes

The small scale infrastructure at community level has also been destroyed by recent rains and floods. Some of the figures produced and shared by District teams of Chitral, Shangla, Kohistan, Swat and Upper Dir have explicitly mentioned hardware support to restore these small scale schemes to ensure availability of basic necessary amenities in these affected areas. Based on these needs and figures, SRSP would like to involve and encourage community members in cash for work programmes to restore their respective small scale infrastructure schemes and generating resources at local level to support and strengthen their livelihoods at this initial stage.