Draft Minutes of 52nd WASH CLUSTER MEETING-PESHAWAR

Draft Minutes of the 52nd WASH Cluster Meeting:

Date: 24 February 2010 – 1100 Hrs
Venue: LG & RDD, PESHAWAR, NWFP.
The 52nd meeting of WASH Cluster NWFP was held on 24-02-2010 at 11:00 AM in the LG &RDD, Peshawar. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Rehmat Ghazi, Secretary LCB & was Co-Chaired by Mr. Jamal Shah, Wash Cluster Coordinator NWFP. The meeting was started with recitation from the Holy Quran by Mr. Rehman Ullah of UNICEF and was followed by a brief introduction of all the participants.

Agenda Item 2: Camps/Off-Camps Updates/ Issues:
The Wash Cluster Coordinator informed about the statistics of IDPs. Total population of the IDPs residing inside camps is 120,000 individuals; two weeks back the figures were 115,000 that show a rise of 5000 individuals. Wash Cluster Coordinator shared his views that one of the job of this forum is to predict the scenario or trend of the coming events; this scenario prediction involves feed back from the field, meeting with Government officials and line agencies and situation analysis and discussion with the displaced population. He was of the view that in March/ April IDPs from Tank/ D.I.Khan and those of Mohmand Agency will return to their areas of Origin and an Inter-Cluster Mission will be visiting Mohmand Agency next week. With these views he opened the forum for discussion; taking part in the discussion Mr. Asif Ali of FIDA (working in D.I.Khan) shared his views as: 2 jirgas of MEHSOOD tribe held on 19-02-2010 and 22-02-2010 in D.I.Khan and Tank respectively; the jirgas rejected to go back in Mar/Apr due to the reason that as their houses are destroyed and the weather conditions are hostile. It’s not possible to return in yet; jirgas decided that the displaced population needs financial assistance for the rebuilding of their houses and till these issues are settled they decided they will stay in the IDP Camps. Representative of the FIDA was of the view that only 10-20% of IDPS can return; he also informed that Government having stopped the food ration and monthly assistance of Rs: 5000/= to the displaced population, due to this strategy IDPS may opt for return. He informed that figures of IDPS population have changed due to the Bhittani tribe displacement and 1700 families are now residing in Tank and the rest in D.I.Khan; he further informed that 7000-8000 families of MEHSOOD tribe were not registered and we collected their data and provided that to NADRA of which 2200 families are verified till date and this information was shared with UNHCR for the provision of NFI’s distribution to these IDPs.
WASH Cluster Coordinator in his remarks concluded that cluster will support these IDP’s in Tank/ D.I.Khan; we will also support these IDP’s when ever they will return to their areas of origin.
KOHAT/ HANGU: WCC informed the forum that the latest figures shows 23000 of which 16000 are verified; he opened the forum for discussion about Kohat/ Hangu; Mr. Qasim Barech of OXFAM-GB informed the forum that soon we will start interventions in District Kohat for 4000-4500 families through our partners; CAP fund approval have been received yesterday ; we will go for complete WASH package and livelihood ; where ever there is need for cash for work we will extend that to IDP’s he explained; emergency pit latrines will also be installed where required he added. Wash Cluster Coordinator on this point highlighted to the cluster participants that, the verified figures leave with us a gap of 6000-8000 IDP’s families and the agencies working in Kohat and Hangu should duly fill the Union Councils matrix (3W Matrix) so that gaps can be identified and addressed. Mr. Rehman Ullah of UNICEF informed the meeting that in District Kohat UNICEF is providing assistance to 5000 IDP’s with complete WASH package.
Action point:
• 3 agencies namely UNICEF, OXFAM-GB and IRC are providing assistance to IDPS in Kohat and Hangu will share on 3W matrix about their WASH interventions and the names of U/Cs;
• OXFAM-GB will share its District Kohat assessment.
WASH Cluster Coordinator informed the meeting that from one union council in District Kohat namely JARMA we are receiving water supply shortage and supply complaints and we request the Chair to inform the concerned TMA that UNICEF is ready to support them for water tankering in JARMA U/C till the partners of UNICEF or OXFAM or IRC take over the activities; Mr. Atif Abdullah of WatSan Cell conveyed the request of DCO Kohat for the installation of community water storage tanks or boring of new tube well in the area; he also informed that Rs; 4000/ per trip are charged for water supply in Jarma.
The Chair addressed the issue and called TMO Kohat and latter he discussed with Mr. Rehman Ullah of UNICEF about the matter.
Action Point:
• UNICEF, OXFAM-GB and IRC to identify their UNION COUNCILS of interventions ASAP in District Kohat/ Hangu.
• Installation of Community water storage tanks will be considered on emergency basis through UNICEF funds in Jarma U/C.
• Buckets/ Jerry cans will be distributed on priority basis in IDPs.
About Hangu Wash Cluster Coordinator informed the meeting that initially ICRC was working in NFI’s distribution and in 51st WASH meeting they informed that if any actor required the support of ICRC, they could consider supporting in WASH activities in Hungu camp and off camps after necessary data provided to ICRC.
WCC said that through e-mail he informed the cluster partners that an International NGO CONCERN, having OFDA funds assistance is available for Kohat/ Hangu regions; interested agencies can send their proposals from $ 5000/- up to $ 300,000/- directly to CONCERN for this fund.
Peshawar valley:
About Peshawar valley WASH Cluster Coordinator informed that IDPs are residing in two camps one in Jalozai and other one Palosa camp. UNICEF is supporting both these camps through partners. OXFAM-GB is also involved in Jalozai camp through partners.
ACTED representative informed the meeting that ACTED was providing assistance to IDPs in host communities of Peshawar/ Mardan/ Nowsehra and Swabi. About School rehabilitation he informed that Seventy-Eight schools have been rehabilitated. In Mardan through UNICEF project funding Twenty-Five hand pumps have been installed and discussion is underway with UNICEF for further addition in hand pumps installation and including portion of open wells.
IRC representative informed the meeting that they were also working for host communities in Peshawar valley; Five Hundred flush latrines completed, twenty schools rehabilitated for white wash and electrification, Sixteen BHUs rehabilitated for WASH interventions, Incirinators and Eighty Six bore hand pumps installed. He further informed that in Jalozai camp phase 5, IRC is working on fuel efficiency and WASH; families were provided with stoves and kitchen sets he added.
Malakand Agency/ Swat/ Dir/ Buner/ Shangla:
Mr. Taj Malook of TMA Swat informed that regular Coordination meetings are being held in PHE and Mercy Corps office. About latest situation he informed that due to electric power failure TMA is utilizing generators for water supply.
Mr. Riaz of Mercy Corps informed that all the information is being shared through WASH CLUSTER NWFP. Duplication issues were resolved through working groups meetings. No major WASH problems were reported during recent rains and snow fall. He added Upper Swat areas like Kalam, Behrain, and Madyan are still blocked. He further informed that out of TMA’s 36 big motorized systems 10 systems are overhauled with new machinery. The rest of 26 are committed by Muslim Aid and work is going to start in next 2 to 3 days as tenders are processed. He further informed that most of the agencies working in Swat have project deadlines due in March 2010 but due to security reason and weather conditions now they will extend till the month of April.
Mr. Imran Zaman of ARC informed the meeting about security concnerns in Swat these days. They find little opportunity to work. Main Mingora bazaar was blocked and school vacations were extended due to meteorological conditions and due to snow fall accessibility problem has appeared he added. He further informed that upper zone of Mingora city from college colony and Gulkada are on heights and for ground water suction we have proposed a project to our donors for which funding is in pipe line; the project also includes a portion for Kalam/ Behrain and Madyan.
Action point: The Chair Mr. Rehmat Ghazi informed the meeting that TMA Swat had informed him that PAK ARMY have installed 8 new tube wells and handed them over to TMA. He welcomed the induction of these new tube wells in the water supply system of TMA and suggested to adjust temporary water staff of TMA Swat in these new schemes as TMA Swat already requested for that.
Mr. Qasim Barech of OXFAM-GB shared with the meeting that in last WASH field coordination meeting in Swat it was decided that if any minor damages in the TMA or PHE jurisdiction due to rains were reported by any individual or family will be given a NFI package by WHO. Mr. Amir Gul of WHO informed that all the NFI’s packages provided by UNICEF were distributed with the help of TMA staff in the most affected areas.
Mr. Ahmad Mamoon of CORDAID Islamabad informed the meeting that CORDAID is working in Shangla district supporting health facilities in WASH in BHU’s Koz Kana, Alpuri and Umnabi areas. Clean drinking water supply schemes assessments for BHU’s and DHQ’s have been done. He requested WASH Cluster Coordinator for financial support of the project from UNICEF. WASH cluster Coordinator assured him of sharing of Cord aid project with various agencies and interested agency in this project will contact them.
WASH CLUSTER COORDINATOR pointed out the critical issue of agencies working in and around the Mingora city and ignoring the rural and remote areas of upper Swat. Mr. Riaz of Mercy Corps clarifying this issue and said that in July/August 2009, most of the proposals were developed for the area and at that time only Mingora city and areas around Barikot were accessible. All partners targeted these accessible areas for WASH interventions and developed proposals; even till October 2009 Kabal, Matta, Khwazakhela and Charbagh were inaccessible. After the improvement in security situation agencies again contacted their respective donors but revision in proposals was not possible due to various reasons. Mercy corps, ACTED and few other agencies have WASH and livelihood interventions in Kabal, Matta, Khwazakhela and Charbagh in which NFI’s distribution, hand pumps installation, tube wells repairing and house hold latrines are being installed he added. He further informed that due to hostile weather it’s not possible to start interventions in upper Swat as Kalam etc but in Kabal, Matta and Shamozai WASH activities are in progress.
Mr. Ahmad Abbas of HOPE’87 informed the meeting that HOPE’87 is working in Charbagh; interventions include Hygiene kits distribution, rehabilitation of water supply schemes, and latrines installations. He said that new project proposal has been submitted to donors for Charbagh area focusing livelihood interventions. He also said that their interventions are on target and they did not face any problems in Charbagh.
Mr. Qasim Barech of OXFAM-GB informed the meeting about a decision taken in WASH Field Coordination meeting that all organizations will focus Upper Swat and NOC will be granted only for Upper swat; Mr. Riaz of Mercy Corps further elaborated this point as new partners will utilize 70 % of the project funds in Upper Swat and the rest 30 % in Lower Swat.
Action Points:
• Due to restructuring and reorganization MERCY CORPS to share information directly with WCC Mr. Jamal Shah (jshah@unicef.org).
• Delays caused due to weather and security should be accommodated accordingly by the humanitarian agencies.
• Mr. Riaz of Mercy Corps will share WASH 3W matrix for District Swat with Mr. Jamal Shah.
• IRC will share its assessments of Upper Swat with Mr. Jamal Shah.
• WASH Cluster Coordinator will share McRAM format with cluster.
World Health Organization:
Mr. Amir Gul of WHO informed the meeting that DEWS data was shared and according to that Acute Diarrhea in Jalozai phase 6 is 13 %, in Palosa 9.7 % and in Wali Kandaw 14%. About the reason he was of the opinion that hygiene promotion activities might be the cause. About the Water testing lab in Swat he informed that equipment have procured and supplied to Swat for installation. Mr. Rehman Ullah of UNICEF queried about the installation of 5 automatic chlorinators in Jalozai camp on tube wells. He further informed about the trainings of TMA staff on water quality in PCRWR Islamabad. IRC representative enquired from Mr. Amir Gul about the zero reading of residual chlorine.
Mr. Shahid Afridi of RAHA programme informed the meeting that they are establishing same lab in district Nowshehra for TMA and PHED, will train the staff.
FIDA representative Mr. Asif was of the view that in D.I.Khan no such facility for water testing is available and particularly for arsenic testing of water. IRC representative in response to this said, that IRC have established a water-testing lab and have instruments for this purpose.
Action point:
• WHO to install 5 automatic chlorinators in Jalozai camp.
• IRC to share their findings with WHO about water quality testing in Jalozai camp.
• IRC to inform about Arsenic testing services of water in their lab in D.I.Khan of all samples provided by partners or line agencies.
• IRC and WHO both to give input on establishing a water quality testing lab in Tank/ DI Khan in coordination with TMA & PHED.
About funding Wash cluster coordinator informed that Saudi funding is in pipeline and PHRP have been launched; WASH cluster review is planned and auditors from Global WASH cluster will be doing that, updates about review will be shared once confirmed.
Action Point:

• Concept notes of Project proposals for South Waziristan and Mohmand agency may be directly send to Mr. Jamal Shah (jshah @unicef.org).

AoB:
1. To a query from AKBT about mud excavation and ditches and issue in Jalozai camp, WCC assured that this matter will again be taken up with camp management authorities.
2. About a query from Mr. Ahmad Abbas of Hope’87 WCC said that PCNA studies will be available in 2 weeks time.
WASH CLUSTER NEXT MEETINGS:
• ISLAMABAD- 4th March 2010 (Thursday 1100 hours)
• Date Peshawar- will be conveyed latter.
Participating Agencies:
LCB, LGRDD, UNICEF, OXFAM GB, ARC, ACTED, RAHA (IRC), UN-HABITAT, TMA SWAT, ABKT, MERCY CORPS, FIDA, HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL, HDO, WHO, HOPE’87, CORDAID, PEACE, UNIFEM, IRSP, SALIK FOUNDATION, WASFD, CRSS/INTERNEWS.