MINUTES WASH CLUSTER 8th FLOOD EMERGENCY MEETING KPk

WASH CLUSTER 8th FLOOD EMERGENCY MEETING KPk


(Minutes of the 65th WASH Cluster Meeting)

Date: 15 September 2010 – 11:30 Hrs

Venue: LG & RDD, KP, PESHAWAR

The 65th meeting of WASH Cluster KPk (8th WASH Cluster Flood Emergency meeting) was held on 15-09-2010 at 11:30 am in the LG &RDD, Peshawar. The LG & RDD (Mr. Said Rehman, CWC), PHED (Mr. Shaida Muhammad) and WASH CLUSTER COORDINATOR (Mr. Jamal Shah) jointly chaired the Cluster meeting. The meeting was started with recitation from Holy Quran by Mr. Said Rehman. WCC welcomed the participants and following agenda items were taken up. He excused for being late due to attendance in WASH W.G meeting in Nowshera.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF WASH RESPONSE:

WASH Cluster Coordinator opened the meeting with a brief overview about different interventions under the WASH response, emphasizing the importance of Government line agencies (TMAs & PHED) mandated for water supply/sanitation and told that 65% to 70% WSS are in public Sector; these WSS are operated & maintained either by TMA’s or PHED and the rest WSS are private/community owned he added.
 He maintained and said that due to flood; some of WSS were non-functional thus necessitating the need for water tankering during the peak of flood emergency in the relief phase. He also said that water tankering is still maintained in needy places of the province. He emphasized the Early Recovery efforts for the WSS as following:-

1. By supporting Government line agencies;

2. by concentrating on traditional water sources before floods as wells etc

He further explained that we as a Cluster should be focusing on the priority areas by supporting government line agencies to restore affected WSS due to the fact that it will solve 65% to 70% of the problems.

The joint chair Shaida Muhammad PHED supported this idea and said that 992 WSS of PHED are affected all over the KPk province.

The SPO representative pointed out that they are working in Nowshera in Muhib banda, Kurvi, Aman kot and Kabal river areas and found no WSS of the government line agencies in working order. It was agreed that Mr. Shaida Muhammad PHED will share the list of WSS.

WCC also said that the best possible option to support government line agencies is to provide them with technical designs and start working according to their criteria and after completion hand over WSS to the respective departments.

The SPO representative pointed out that this needs more discussion as how we will ascertain that these schemes are damaged by floods. He was replied that the scheme location and its status as new/ defunct/ old/ etc can easily be ascertained from the line departments.

OPEN WELL/ HAND PUMPS:

WCC said that both open wells and hand pumps need repair and functionalization; shallow hand pumps are giving negative impact and quality of water is important he added. He claimed that WASH Cluster has achieved to curtail the diarrhoea overall but still pockets are there for which we are struggling with chlorinated water tankering and will continue to do so.

• The SPO representative said that they need the scientific evidence of water table as they are going to install 50 hand pumps in Nawshehra and are planning 100 feet deep. He was of the opinion that this will provide clean drinking water. He asked that unless there are authentic data, hand pumps as one of the intervention options can not be discarded.

• The representative from PCSIR laboratories Peshawar informed the forum that they have recently visited the flood affected areas and collected samples as: 11 samples were collected in Charsadda & Nisatta & 15 in Nowshera, all samples were microbiologically contaminated with E.Coli, Vibrio, Salmonella, Shegilla & Streptococcus etc indicating that water is contaminated with septic tanks. He also shared that cases of chemical contamination were also observed. They were requested to share their findings/results through emails.





D.I.Khan/ Tank:

Annemarie of UNICEF informed that UNICEF has engaged Handicap International (HI) in Tank and signed agreement with them; HI will take care of 10,000 families in 16 union councils of Tank, she added. She also said that HI will liaise with partners on ground through weekly meetings. She also informed that UNICEF is working with PCRWR for water supply chlorination in 5 districts (Nowshera, Charsadda, D.I.Khan, Tank, & Swat). She requested partners to flag & map areas from where the AWD peaks are coming and mobilize teams for response. She informed that Buner is also on AWD list and requested to focus activities there. She also requested the partners to attend district WWG meetings.

KKT representative informed the forum that OCHA has approved their project; agreement yet to be signed.

ICRC representative informed that they are working in Tank, D.I.Khan & Paroa. They were requested to coordinate at the district level with other WASH partners.

ICRC was also requested to help in identifying the origin of AWD cases in the affected area for more targeted response.

WatSan Cell coordinator offered that partners requiring office support can contact TMAs staff in DIK and Tank.

SANITATION:

WCC said that another important aspect supposed to work on is sanitation; main partner in the sanitation sector are the TMA’s, as opening of drains, solid waste management, removal of carcasses, hiring of sanitary staff and hiring of tractors & trolleys etc are under the broad term of sanitation he added. He also stressed for blanket distribution of disinfectant soaps and deserving families for the hygiene kits.

Secours Islamique France informed the forum about 900 hygiene kits distribution in district Charsadda. He was asked about the number of disinfectant soaps distribution in district Charsadda.



INSTALLATION OF HOUSE HOLD TOILETS:

WCC said that we do not encourage HH toilets as 1, 72000 houses are damaged due to floods and due to raised water level it needs a lot of technical & financial resources to respond to such huge demands. Moreover, unless responded at mass scale, it will create friction and deprivation in the society. He however, emphasized that latrines can be provided at communal places having concentration of affectees.

HYGIENE PROMOTION:

WCC said that with distribution of NFIs we must promote hygiene through pamphlets and through FM radio. This is most effective and economical way to reach out to maximum in less time and resources.

Secours Islamique France enquired about the WASH slogans.

Annemarie of UNICEF to circulate pamphlets & slogans on Hygiene promotion.

NFI’s:

WCC informed the forum that WASH NFI’s as jerry cans & buckets are distributed with a purpose; optimal utilization of resources and as per needs is the guidelines he added.

SPO representative pointed out that Sphere Standards indicate sufficient storage capacities for the affected populations.

He was replied that Sphere guidelines and standards are two different chapters for example we distribute buckets and jerry cans to people in need, but what if we restore a WSS and people get water in houses from their own water tanks, it means that jerry cans/ buckets/ aqua tabs should be distributed to affectees fetching non-chlorinated water and then pour in the buckets with an Aqua tab/ or PUR sachet for water disinfection.

IDP’s:

It was informed that PHRP-2010 needs revision and will be launched with PFERP. About IDPs return it was informed that 146 families have moved from Tough Sarai camp Hangu to Orakzai and 1000 families have already moved to their places of origin in Lower Orakzai. WCC requested WASH NFI’s to these returnees and restoration of WSS through government line agencies. He also informed that 50,000 IDP’s plan to leave soon. Exact data about the return can be ascertained from PDMA/FDMA websites.

CORAID representative enquired about IDPs return whether it’s a self return or organized by government. He was replied that it’s organized return.

OCHA representative was of the opinion that organizations be encouraged to work in FATA/ D.I. Khan & Tank and through FDPGC WASH assessment may be carried out in FATA. He also suggested focusing on WASH indicator of diarrhoea in Upper Dir as increased AWD is reported. He also enquired about the future plan for flood affectees residing in schools. About re-shifting of IDPS’ from schools, WCC replied that this is a policy level decision to be taken by government. We will follow government policy in this regard. Annemarie of UNICEF added that there must be some kind of indication that schools are going to be vacated from flood affectees as we have to deliver services and some one has to play a coordinated leadership role in this regard; we are investing resources and there must be a plan she added.

Action point: the matter may be tabled in the inter-cluster coordination meeting at PDMA for clarification and guidance of WASH partners engaged in schools.

AoB:

1. Another representative of PCSIR laboratories offered their organization’s products and services for utilization by WASH partners. He was advised to send e-mail to Mr. Jamal shah.

2. Dr. Wassaf of UNICEF explained that AWD is actually a life saving issue and therefore advised that WASH cluster and WWG at district level should keep close coordination for prompt response.

3. Annemarie requested OCHA in helping of AWD cases mapping.

4. OXFAM informed that they are working in Shangla.

5. Tribal Women Welfare Organization representative requested for provision of clean drinking water in Tank and D.I.Khan.

6. Zareef Khan Foundation Nawshehra representative said that they have established flood relief and complaint office in Tarkha village in district Nowshera. Requested for collaboration of WASH partners. He was advised to attend WWG meetings in Nawshehra.

7. Salik foundation representative said that they have completed assessment in Kohistan and identified 42 damaged WSS. He was advised to work closely with Public Health Engineering Department and TMA’s. He also shared list of UC’s for their target interventions. He was advised to attend WWG meetings to avoid duplication.

8. UNHABITAT representative said that they have submitted proposals.

9. OXFAM representative was of the opinion that organizations dealing in hand pumps must ensure clean drinking water to communities by providing results from W.H.O, PCRWR and PCSIR laboratories to the WASH forum in Peshawar & Nowshera.

10. WHO was requested to attend the WASH cluster meeting as a lot of points are related to them and need spontaneous response and clarification.



NEXT MEETING: It was announced that due to duplication of meetings date, timing and day will be circulated through e-mail.

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