WASH CLUSTER 3rd FLOOD EMERGENCY MEETING KP

WASH CLUSTER 3rd FLOOD EMERGENCY MEETING KP


Minutes of the 60th WASH Cluster Meeting:

Date: 05 August 2010 – 1130 Hrs

Venue: LG & RDD, PESHAWAR, KP.

The 60th meeting of WASH Cluster KP (3rd WASH cluster Flood Emergency) was held on 05-08-2010 at 11:30 AM in the LG &RDD, Peshawar. Mr. Jamal Shah, WASH Cluster Coordinator KP, chaired the Meeting. He excused for delay due to funeral prayers of the F.C Commandant in the near by police lines ground.

UPDATES:

WASH Cluster Coordinator reported that according to Government figures 1.5 million people are worst affected in floods & this figure might increase as still some areas are inaccessible such as Kohistan, Shangla & Dir; he explained that if we convert this figure of 1.5 million plus to house hold (Families) then its about 2, 50, 000 house holds and the planning response for such a huge number is quite challenging.

RESPONSE PLANNING FOR FUNDING:

WASH Cluster Coordinator sought views of the WASH cluster about the volume of financial assistance as “WASH Cluster appeal” for emergency response for the coming three months. This of course will be revised to up to Six months. He also said that in order to prioritize our WASH flood emergency response’ following order is proposed;

1. WATER TRUCKING: He said water trucking is required till the flood water recedes & some places will take more time; for water trucking at present we will consider 1.5 million people & which will be reduced as the water level recedes and some water schemes are restored.

2. NFIs: He said WASH NFIs (Bucket, Jerry can etc) & WASH Hygiene Kit ( as decided by WASH Cluster Working Group) are required for two lakhs & fifty thousand house holds; one hygiene kit average cost 15 USD he added.

3. TOILET CONSTRUCTION: He said flood affectees are living in public buildings and others under the open sky. Provision of toilets in these places is also required due to fact that it might take 3 to 6 months for minimum 1, 80,000 people to stay as their houses have completely vanished.

4. SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL: He said due to flash floods clearing of areas from dead animals, flood clay & debris would be required on priority basis. For this purpose TMA’s and other organizations would require tractors, trollies and in some cases even heavy machinery such as executers.

5. HYGIENE PROMOTION: It’s the soft component and will run simultaneously.

6. DRAINAGE: He said in case of standing floodwater in and around the human habitation, it will be drained out.

After explaining the WASH priority areas, WCC informed that UNICEF has worked out the estimated cost @ USD 25-30 per person for flood emergency response & converting the total figure of 1.5 million some 45 million USD are required for WASH Cluster activities. He sought suggestions from the WASH cluster over the average estimation of WASH needs and order of priorities for the sector.

Suggestions from the WASH cluster.

• Bucket & Lota may be added to WASH Hygiene kit: ( Its already in the list);

• For flood clay & debris removal, tools such as hand carts and shovel etc, may be included: (These will be provided in Hygiene kit for community);

• Chlorination of water tankers may be ensured through W.H.O & PCRWR (WRRC);

• In the remote areas of affected districts every effort will be made to respond at the earliest;

• Remote hilly areas normally have gravity based water supply schemes;

• Toilet standards were explained to the forum for house hold & in emergency according to Sphere standards;



After detail discussion WASH Cluster agreed to the cost figure of 30 USD per person for emergency response. WASH Cluster partners can propose projects in the above 6 components/package areas;

FUNDING OPPURTUNITIES:

It was informed that 4 types of funding opportunities are available to NGOs:-

1. Emergency Response Fund (ERF): It’s managed by OCHA, proposals are sent to Cluster for review & review panel has representation from those organization members who have not applied to the fund.

2. DFID: under this window US 7.5 million dollars are for WASH interventions through out Pakistan.

3. USAID/OFDA: proposals have been sought through Rapid fund of US-Aid.

4. Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): 2 million dollars are utilized through UN agencies as UNICEF, UNHABITAT & WHO. This fund will be available in next 24 hours. CERF proposals will be submitted to UNICEF.

UPDATES FROM PARTNERS:

It was informed that 9 districts Kohistan, Shangla, Swat, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Nowshera, Charsadda, Tank & D I Khan are badly affected by floods. Western and eastern parts of district Peshawar are also badly affected. However, WCC regretted that Information Sharing is a big issue & NGOs are working on their own due to which we are not able to visualize the current response plan; he also requested the partners to report him directly (jshah@unicef.org) in a brief bullet points about their interventions, areas types and volume.

Mr. Said Rehman, Coordinator WatSan Cell informed the forum that some tube wells are functional through heavy duty generators has also been started since yesterday in Swat. He also informed that TMAs of Nowshera, Charsadda & Peshawar were instructed for health & hygiene campaigns. He further informed that all TMAs of the affected areas have been decaled as focal points for the WASH partners interventions.

Other Updates:

1. one of the NGO informed that in a union council Yasin Zai (District Charsadda) more than 300 families are in need of water;

2. Yet another organization informed that in District Charsadda 30,000 houses were completely damaged & the residents of these are living on or near motor way;

3. About health alerts It was informed that in Districts Peshawar & Charsadda 26000 people were suffering from acute watery diarrhea;

4. One organization suggested that installation of low cost hand pumps in needy areas; WCC cautioned about the water quality effects of installation of shallow hand pumps;

5. Quoting from WHO updates, WCC informed that AWD in Peshawar has risen to 18% & is near to Alert situation; in one union council of Peshawar its 25%; as such all concerned must respond to this situation and TMA’s were requested to immediately dispose the dead animals and all organizations were requested to extend their support to the concerned TMA’s on war footing basis.

6. NGO’s were advised to seek support of heavy machinery contractors for the removal of dead animals; WatSan Cell may identify and circulate of such service providers to facilitate the NGO’s interested to work in this areas.

7. It was suggested that WASH Working Group may be activated in Nowshera & Charsadda; WCC said that its under consideration & up to Monday a decision will be made in this regard; watsan cell can be used as an alternative to coordinative point till functionalization of field meetings.

8. It was emphasized that Tank & D I Khan may also be considered as flood affected areas & partners should assess these areas too.



NEXT MEETING: Could be announced on very short notice and any time.

THE MEETING ENDED.