Draft Minutes of the Federal WASH Cluster Meeting:
Date: 15 April, 2010 – 1100 Hrs
Venue: UNICEF Country Office, Islamabad.
Attended by:
CWS-P/A, FIDA/ IRD, HDOD, UNSDP, INTERNEWS, UNICEF, OXFAM-GB, IMC, MUSLIM AID, SALIK FOUNDATION, CAP, HRDS, SOCAIL AID, HDP, KURRAM WELFARE, HOPE’87, SOLIDARITIES, NCA, IRD, MERCY CORPS, CRS, ACTED, KADO, PRDP, UN-HABITAT, LG & RDD.
The Federal WASH Cluster meeting was held on 15-04-2010 at 11:00 AM in the UNICEF Country Office, Islamabad chaired by Mr. Jamal Shah, Wash Cluster Coordinator. After brief introduction forum reviewed and approved the minutes of the WASH meeting held on 25th March 2010.
The meeting commenced with its agenda items. The discussion points of the meeting are stated as follows:
Situation Overview:
In Kohat and Hangu registration is continuing. Oxfam, UNICEF and IMC are providing WASH services in the area. New Camp at Togh Serai has been established where UNICEF IP SABAA is providing WASH services while Mohammad Khwaja Camp is being de-commissioned.
Situation in DI Khan/Tank remains unchanged as far as new registration is concerned. UNICEF and IRD are providing WASH services for the IDP’s in Host communities.
Palosa camp is about to close down; the option of IDP families living there is to either go back to their homes or to move to other camps. Some IDP families are shifting to Jalozai; Benazir Complex is going to be closed by the end of this month. In Jalozai camp, repatriation of Mohmand IDPs has started on 15-04-2010; Transportation support is arranged by Government with the help of UNHCR; NFIs, Tents, Kitchen sets and WASH NFIs are being provided to returnees.
Discussion about Funding/ & Assessments:
The following points were the outcome of this discussion,
• Funding remains a major gap for all agencies to plan an effective response strategy in all the affected areas.
• While the response to new emergency situations is high on priority but at the same time the earlier areas should not be neglected (which seems to be the case both with donors and implementing agencies).
• A Uniform Comprehensive assessment mechanism should be followed by the Cluster partners.
At the end of discussion it was decided that WASH Cluster will engage a team for undertaking assessments on behalf of the Cluster.
Action point: Agencies interested in assessment should register themselves with Mr. Jamal Shah (jshah@unicef.org)directly.
Action point: WCC will share Comprehensive assessment (CAT) tool with cluster.
Action point: WCC on behalf of the Cluster will engage a team for undertaking the assessments on behalf of the Cluster.
Return to area of origin- Mohmand:
Return to Mohmand Agency from Jalozai Camp and Hosting areas have started from April 15, 2010. This has necessitated immediate WASH interventions in the areas of return.
While a list of 23 damaged Water Supply Schemes has been received from PHED Mohmand Agency, a rapid assessment (followed by a detailed assessment) of the area would be required to enable the WASH agencies to plan/undertake required interventions.
The issue of NOC (to work in Mohmand Agency) was also discussed. The forum was informed that FATA Secretariat/FDMA would be responsible for issuance of NOC. All interested agencies were stressed to apply for NOC as soon as possible.
Action Point: Organizations planning to apply for NOC should do it on priority basis.
Saudi Funding:
It was informed that observations of Saudi authorities been received through fax and reply has been formulated; the Saudi funds are still awaited; NGOs applied for the fund will get it through UNICEF.
AOB:
• WASH Cluster needs a monitoring framework for assessments;
• Needs for the development of safety and security standards in camps and off-camps was highlighted
• New information management officer of UNICEF Ms. Samra Hanif was introduced to cluster partners;
• Next WASH Cluster meeting will be held in Islamabad on 29-04-2010.
