Minutes of the 51st WASH Cluster Meeting:
Date: 10 February 2010 – 12:00 Noon
Venue: LG & RDD, PESHAWAR, NWFP.
Agenda Item 1:
Opening remarks / Warm Welcome by Mr. Jamal Shah, WASH CLUSTER NWFP COORDINATOR & IASC WASH LEAD; he informed that after approx 3 and half months WASH cluster meeting is taking place in Peshawar. He expressed the hope that meetings in Peshawar will continue if the security situation permits.
Agenda Item 2: IDP’s Updates/ Issues:
The Wash Cluster Coordinator informed about the statistics of IDPs. Total population of the IDPs residing inside camps is 1, 15000 individuals;
1. Updates Kohat/Hangu: A new camp will be established after the closure of Muhammad Khwaja Camp (Hangu) so far 23, 835 IDP families have been registered in Kohat and Hangu (8000 families in Hangu/ 15000 families in Kohat) and 179 families are residing in Muhammad Khawaja camp in Hangu. Kohat/ Hangu camps are being looked after by UN agencies while ICRC is looking after Off-Camps IDP’s; ICRC is not working on WASH while ICRC/PRCS is ready to support other interested organizations. There is no camp in Kohat and UNICEF & OXFAM GB is looking after the IDPs.
Action Point:
• New camp is being established in Hangu by the district administration shortly;
• ICRC/PRCS offered to support any interested organizations for off-camps IDP’s WASH needs response in Kohat/Hangu.
2. Updates Tank/ D.I.Khan: it was informed that the number of registered and verified families in D.I.Khan and Tank still stand at 38,524 (Approx 280,000 individuals); these IDPs are being looked after in WASH sector by UNICEF, OXFAM-GB, WHO, IRC and IRD; these organizations were suggested to share there updates on the prescribed 3 W matrix. Wash Cluster Coordinator Mr. Jamal Shah informed that there are plans that these IDPs will return in the coming months of April/ May and therefore organizations were requested to plan their activities keeping in view the return plan. Focus should be on urgent and immediate needs response. ICRC representative informed that they are in the assessment phase in Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Paroa DIKhan and will share assessment report after completion. Mr. Muhammad Salim of Handicap International was of the view that IDPs can not return to areas of origin until June 2010; quoting from a meeting with Commissioner DIKhan in which 30 -50 % of IDPs return was predicted in June 2010; he also informed that being a water scarce area, provision of safe drinking water is a major issue in Tank and D.I.Khan; he was of the view that hand pumps are not feasible so the organizations should go for the tube well option though it will take time but by default it will benefit the hosting community.
Abdus Sami of PHED informed the meeting that water level in Tank / D.I.Khan is very low; in Tank 11 out of 15 tube wells are out of order and it will take another 6 months to rectify; PHED owns 86 rural WSS he added.
Action Point:
All Organizations were suggested to share their updates on the prescribed 3-W matrix for which Mr. Jamal shah will share the 3w Matrix soon.
3 Updates Peshawar Valley: Two camps Palosa and Jalozai are located here in Peshawar valley; the status of these camps is not ideal as both are now very old camps and are being looked after solely by UNICEF through IP’s; it was informed that due to recent rains the pits in some of the phases in the camps are filled. He also informed that due to mud excavation by the IDP’s for construction of “kaccha mud structures” number of ditches has formed in and around the tents, causing water ponds. The issue has also been raised in the camp coordination meeting.
WASH CLUSTER COORDINATOR to take up the matter in CCM meeting.
Action Point:
A Practice of mud-excavation at Jalozai camp by the IDP’s should be discouraged and the existing ditches should be filled immediately.
3. Updates Dir/ Swat/ Buner: Early recovery activities are being taking place in these areas; Mercy Corps and PHED is providing support for the WASH Field Coordination mechanism; it was informed that 5 camps namely Samarbagh, Sadbar kallay, Khugi shah, Wali kandaw and Munda were being established for the Bajour IDPs; UNICEF is looking after Wali Kandaw while ICRC is in Khugi Shah camp. Munda camp is closed now. Mr. Nek Alam of Mercy Corp and Co-Chair of Swat Field Coordination meeting informed the meeting that various organizations were working in 23 union councils of Swat; 20 tube wells in various localities will start functioning from next week in Swat; 40 hands pumps installed in various rural areas in Swat; while 20,000 latrines are planned with a subsidy of 100 USD; he further informed that so far 5 meetings of the WAH Field coordination have successfully conducted and 6th one is planned for 11-02-2010; in these meetings duplication issues, work plans and execution of work and its quality are discussed and the decisions are monitored by Technical Working Group of the forum.
WASH CLUSTER COORDINATOR in his observations said that most of the agencies are concentrating in the urban areas of Mingora or on the main road from Landaki to Qambar while upper Swat needs a lot of attention. Mr. Nek Alam explained that as the organization’s assessments and proposals were restricted to these areas at the time of their application for funding so its not possible right now to divert these funds to some where else; he also informed that a few offices have been established in Matta.
WASH CLUSTER COORDINATOR informed the meeting that district Lower Dir differs from Swat and Buner as it’s a hosting district for the IDPs and should be dealt separately. Only a few organizations are there and needs more humanitarian response.
Representative of the Action Aid informed that so far they have distributed 19450 hygiene kits, installed 71 out of 83 hand pumps, and have conducted 145 hygiene promotion sessions in district Buner.
Action Point:
As most of the WASH partners are concentrating in the urban areas of Mingora and adjacent areas, while upper Swat needs a lot of attention. Organizations were requested to extend their reach to the upper Swat and remote areas as those areas are clear now and people need humanitarian response.
CHRISTIAN CRICBOOM, Information Management Officer, and OCHA: Attended the meeting and shared the following views with WASH cluster in terms of some basic questions:
• What’s the situation in terms of WASH in the Upper Swat or else where?
• Did the Needs were assessed and analyzed?
• What were humanitarian response needs?
• Does the cluster have evidence in terms of diseases data?
• Does the cluster know the quality & quantity of water required?
• What are the priorities of WASH cluster?
• How the cluster categorize the WASH needs?
He further suggested that in addition to the 3-Ws matrix, additional information about the WASH needs should also be collected and shared to attract donors funding for their proposed projects/proposals.
W.H.O.
Mr. Kashif Jan of WHO informed the meeting that DEWS system is in place in Swat and WMMR data is regularly shared; WHO team regularly monitor the IDPs camps; In Jalozai camp phase IV, new IDPs from katcha Gharai were shifted. He further informed that water quality testing lab in Swat is completed and provision of equipment is the next step; permanent structure to be placed in Swat for water testing and this will be focal place for water quality. He also informed that no out breaks and alerts were reported in the last month except Palosa camp. He also informed that Norwegian funding reports would be shared. Mr. Naik Alam of Mercycorp inquired about the ownership and sustainability of the water quality-testing lab in swat. Mr. Kashif Jan replied that this was a long-standing project and was part of the earthquake initiative and now TMA Swat will be looking after that in consultation with PHED Swat. Taking part in the discussion Mr. Said Rehman coordinator WatSan cell, LG&RDD informed the meeting that whatever MOU or TORs are agreed between the Local Govt Department and the WHO during the establishment of the Labs in different parts of the province, these will be honored by the Government/TMA’s.
Action Point:
WHO to share their DEWS data report regularly.
SAUDI FUNDING:
Saudi funding is in process and further 10-15 days will be required for the money to be available.
PHRP 2010:
PHRP 2010 has been developed with all the stakeholders and was launched on 9th February 2010; the requirement for WASH is 36 million dollars. The document can be accessed through the web site http://pakistan.oneresponse.info/ .
AOB:
1. TMO swat pointed out the damages occurred due to recent rains in district swat, he also informed that 120 families have been displaced and roadside shops were damaged. He requested for provision of dewatering pumps from the cluster and NFIs distribution for the affectees.
2. Representative of the Kuram Welfare Home (KWH) informed that 2000 families have been displaced of which 500 families are living in Lower Kuram while the rest 1500 families are in Peshawar, Kohat and Hangu. So far no registration for these IDPs has been initiated. He requested the cluster coordinator to take up the matter with the concerned authorities.
3. The meeting was informed that MassCom of IOM relay messages on FM radio free of cost, cluster partners could send their messages to Mr. Jamal Shah (jshah@unicef.org) directly for broadcasting.
4. IM officer OCHA informed the meeting about oneresponce web site; link of the site is http://oneresponse.info/countries/pakistan/Pages/Pakistan.aspx. He requested the cluster partners to send their reports to the web site, as this is the web site from humanitarian community; this is a new tool and very useful site for guidelines documents and much more.
5. WASH cluster was consulted about the frequency of the meeting at Peshawar. Majority suggested fortnightly meeting. It was agreed in principle to hold next meeting on 24.2.2010 however formal date, time and venue will be intimated later.
Date, Time & Venue of the next meeting:
Next WASH Cluster meeting Peshawar will be announced later.
Participating Agencies:
LG & RDD, Islamic Relief, UNICEF, UNHABITAT, OXFAM-GB, Mercy Corps, NCA, IRD, , Pak CDP, ACTED, ICRC, WHO, TMA SWAT, PHED, ACTION AID, ABKT, HANDI CAP INTL, OCHA, WASFD, TRD, KWH, MUSLIM AID, UNIFEM,
