MINUTES 66th WASH CLUSTER FLOOD EMERGENCY/ IDPs MEETING KPk

WASH CLUSTER FLOOD EMERGENCY/ IDPs MEETING KPk


(Minutes of the 66th WASH Cluster Meeting)

Date: 30 September 2010 – 1000 Hrs

Venue: LG & RDD, KP, PESHAWAR

The 66th meeting of WASH Cluster KPk (WASH Cluster Flood Emergency/ IDPs meeting) was held on 30-09-2010 at 1000 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 after formal introduction the following agenda points were taken up.

AGENDA POINT 1: OVERVIEW & UPDATES:

WASH Cluster Coordinator in his opening remarks said that flood response can be divided into categories:

• Relief; and

• Early Recovery (ER).


Explaining ER in Northern parts of KP (Swat, Kohistan, Dir, Shangla etc) he said that extent and scope of infrastructure damages identified including washed away structures in these areas, while in Plain areas of KP (Nowshera, Charsadda, D.I.Khan etc) contamination of water sources occurred; in the earlier case of North, water sources were largely safe but in latter case of Plain areas, relief process is still in progress due to water contamination. WASH response to both the situation will be different. He said that separate specific ER projects will be needed along with continuing with the relief response on need basis.

He informed the forum that 80% of relief work has been achieved, but still WASH NFIs are distributed and water tankering is going on in needy areas. He pointed out that the neediest areas for relief are D. I. Khan & Tank and a few union councils in districts Nowshera & Charsadda. He also said that in field, people demand about assistance to every one, but they do not attend the coordination mechanism meetings established for the main purpose to discuss the needy and neglected areas. He pointed out that if public sector water supply schemes are functionalized in a certain area then why to distribute jerry cans and buckets to people not in need of these items rather we should distribute these items to people fetching water from a distance as in district Swat/ Shangla/ Kohistan/ Dir/ Tank. We need to give special attention to this point in future WASH response.

About duplication of distribution of hygiene kits he said that more then once hygiene kits were distributed in Nowshera to same affectees. He also said that chlorinated water is supplied through tankers in Nowshera & Charsadda and still agencies are distributing Aqua tabs & PUR sachets without realizing its needy areas. He suggested efficient & optimal way for distributions. He also pin pointed the need for the standardized hygiene kits, being approved from the WASH cluster.

Ms. ANNMARIE of UNICEF asked if the lists of rehabilitated water supply schemes & non functional water supply schemes in districts & union councils could be shared. This will help WASH partners and NGO’s to divert their attention to more needy areas and un-served areas.

Mr. Shaida Muhammad to share the latest data about damaged WSS in KP. Mr. Amjad Hussain to share list of 4 union councils of Nawshehra with WASH cluster still not covered.

GAP ANALYSIS & CASE LOAD:

WCC informed the forum that MICS (Multi Indicator Cluster Survey-2008) is available now; he elaborated the gaps concept by quoting example of piped water supply to 75,000 residents of a city out of 100000 residents which, means 75 % coverage in a certain area; he further compared that with district Kohistan and said that if all water supply schemes of Kohistan are restored it means 33 % coverage; he was of the view that this is the gap where the NGOs should work on distribution of WASH NFIs & water supply schemes. He also said that NGOs not supporting the government has different case load. For Kohistan the case load is 100% where we should be focusing more he added. WCC reminded the forum about the supply of chlorinated water & prevention of diarrhoea as the main objectives, and requested to focus on both in Tank & D. I. Khan. He also said that we should realign our priorities for Kohistan, Shangla, Swat, Dir, D.I. Khan & Tank.

CRDO representative pointed out the issues of lack of coordination at the district level & missing data in 3 W matrices. He was replied that DCO is looking into food, shelter, NFIs, Infrastructure damages etc; to support DCO efforts WASH Working Groups are established at district level to address field level coordination issues on weekly basis. He was advised to attend WASH W.G meeting in respective districts of interventions. All NGOs were requested to furnish revised 3 W matrices, failing which the matter will be reported to the respective donors by WCC.

OXFAM GB representative informed the forum that OXFAM GB is facilitating the Charsadda & Nowshera WASH working group meetings. He pointed out that a few partners attended the last WASH W.G meetings but majority did not.

WATSAN CELL coordinator was of the view that NGOs should inform the DCO about their progress even about the assessments & planning, they are undertaking. He also requested WASH partners to attend the district working group meetings regularly.

AGENDA POINT 3: DEWS REPORT:

WCC informed that AWD in Nowshera is 45%, in Charsadda 41% & in Tank/ D.I.Khan 20%; he was of the view that DEWS report is not true representative report of AWD because it is based on only patients’ consultations (cases). However, under the given arrangement, it is quite important and helpful for target WASH response. He however revealed that malaria has gone up from 1% to 2% which is one of the areas for WAH intervention as its cause is stagnant water and ponds.

ANNMARIE of UNICEF informed the forum that in D.I.Khan & Tank, ICRC & KKT are covering some union councils and HANDICAP International (HI) agreed to look into the gaps. She also said that HI is in the process of mobilizing on the ground.

KKT representative informed that they are working in 2 union councils in D I Khan.

IRD representative informed that they are working in 5 to 6 union councils in D I Khan.

WATER FILTRATION UNITS:

WCC informed the forum that one of the water filtration unit has been shifted to Tank and another to DIK by PDMA. He also informed the forum that 40 to 50 more water treatment plants are in pipeline and requested PHED & LG & RDD for sites selection & urgent utilization. He was of the view that Tank, D I Khan, Nowshera & Charsadda are priority areas.

WATSAN CELL coordinator informed the forum that as per information collected through our WatSan Officer DIK/Tank, one unit has been installed in Basti Dabba, Wali Rehman Abad in D I Khan & another one in Police station city Tank.

ANNMARIE of UNICEF said that where feasible, water tankers could be filled from water from water filtration plants when installed.

IRD representative informed the forum that approximately 16 water filtration plants were installed in D I Khan & Tank under CDWA project but majority of them are non-functional; he disagreed with the actual utility of these water treatment plants and also questioned their site feasibility. WASH cluster must get more information about the sites and utility of the water filtration plants.

AGENDA POINT 4: ORAKZAI & S. WAZIRISTAN IDPs RETURN:

WCC informed the forum that last week he visited Orakzai in UN multi-sector mission & met with Political Agent Orakzai. He also informed that 1, 97000 individuals were displaced in Orakzai of which 1700 families (16, 000 individuals) have gone back. He further informed that the Return Plan consists of 6 phases & currently phase 2 is in progress. He also informed that 400 to 500 families are returning to areas of origin daily. There was found to be great need for WASH facilities for the returnees and their areas of origin.

WASH SUPPORT TO RETURNING IDPs:

WCC said that IDPs living in camps has access to WASH support in terms of WASH NFIs but IDPs lived/ or living in host communities did not get this support; agencies interested in supporting these IDPs at point of return may act quickly he added. He also informed that in Lower Orakzai 46 WSS of PHED are damaged & returning IDPs to these areas will face water supply problems. He also said that agencies interested working inside Orakzai may contact him directly (jshah@unicef.org).

SOUTH WAZIRISTSAN:

WCC informed that mission was on his way to S. Waziristan but delayed due to land sliding. However, Government plan return of IDP’s from DIK and Tank and other parts of the province and therefore there is urgent need to do some thing form them. He also revealed that almost 1 million still IDPs mostly in host communities need our support and donors must allocate resources for their WASH needs. We as WASH cluster would be encouraging organizations have plans in difficult areas. He also advised to contact FDMA for planning response in FATA.

AoB:

1. One of the participants informed the forum that they had a meeting with Orakzai Commander Colonel Habib of Pak-Army and conveyed on his behalf that organizations interested in working in Orakzai will be welcomed & full security will be provided. He also informed that in next two to three days a seminar about Orakzai will be convened which will provide opportunity to NGO;s to ascertain areas immediate needs and requirements.

2. WCC said that FDMA has informed that NOC for the area is not a problem for NGOs.

3. EPS representative pointed out that winter is approaching therefore agencies should accelerate their pace of work in Upper Swat.

4. WCC informed the forum about funding opportunities of ERF (OCHA), RAPID FUND (USAID through Concern) & UNICEF and the process to access them.

5. Annmarie of UNICEF informed the forum that funding through UNICEF involve quite a process to bring partners on board and include Assessment/ Qualification of applicants & follow a detailed procedure. She also said that in floods UNICEF mostly relied on existing partners. She further said that if a new NGO wanting to be a partner has a strong WASH experience is working in areas where there are limited organizations (e.g Orakzai & S. Waziristan), they can submit profiles and we will consider evaluating them as potential partners. She also suggested a portion of web site for organizations profile on WASH Cluster web site. She also suggested a special session on training of partners on 3 W Matrix.

6. OXFAM GB representative informed the forum that Global Hand Washing Day is approaching on 15th October, 2010 & this is an opportunity in all flood affected areas to raise awareness about diseases spread through dirty hands. She appreciated the Commander Safeguard approach in Pakistan to reach the minds of children’s in schools. She distributed a poster about GHD to Cluster members. She stressed for mass mobilization on 15th October & suggested a more then a day event.

7. Annmarie of UNICEF said that that UNICEF is also mobilizing its partners to celebrate GHD and that we should strive for maximum coverage/impact in our activities especially in this time of flood emergency.

8. IRD representative informed the forum that they are celebrating whole week as Global Hand Washing events.

CLOSING REMARKS:

WASH Cluster Coordinator Mr. Jamal Shah appreciated the WASH Cluster for its outstanding performance in controlling the outbreaks of diseases in the last two months. He also appreciated the WASH Cluster in controlling the epidemics. However, WASH partners were encouraged to keep it up and also access the areas not reached so far.

NEXT MEETING: will be informed through e-mail.

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