Minutes of the 57th WASH Cluster Meeting-21-07-2010

Minutes of the 57th WASH Cluster Meeting:


Date: 21 July 2010 – 1100 Hrs


Venue: LG & RDD, PESHAWAR, KPK.
The 57th meeting of WASH Cluster NWFP was held on 21-07-2010 at 11:25 AM in the LG &RDD, Peshawar. Mr. Jamal Shah, Wash Cluster Coordinator KPK, chaired the Meeting. The meeting started a bit late due to rain and resultant traffic jam in Peshawar. After formal introduction WASH Cluster Coordinator welcomed all participants.

Agenda Item: 2-District Hangu:


WASH Cluster Coordinator informed the forum about reports of outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) in off-camps particularly UC Zargary (most affected), District Hangu; the affected area is almost 45-50 km away from Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, district Hangu and shares border with Orakzai agency; he also informed that accessibility to the area is a problem as evident from the fact that ICRC & MSF also can not intervene; he further informed that UNICEF managed to collect water samples with the help of PHED valve man of the tube well & also of the private water sources in the houses inside Zargary union council. He hoped that results of the water quality tests would be available in couple of days and which will be shared with concerned stakeholders. He also informed that samples have also been collected from the privately maintained water springs sources of the affected areas and their results will also be shared soon.

He also informed that due to accessibility challenges, there was need for the ICRC, MSF and UNICEF to work in close coordination to cope with the situation. ICRC also shared their views regarding the subject issues and agreed to create a close liaison for the purpose.

UNICEF: The UNICEF representative informed the forum that Aqua Tabs have been provided through their IP’s & activists have also been mobilized for hygiene promotion in the affected area; it was revealed by ICRC and other IP’s working in the areas that the affected population have no knowledge how to use the Aqua Tabs and there were reports that some people due to ignorance are chewing the tabs instead of using them in drinking water, Responding to the points raised, UNICEF representative requested the WASH Cluster to nominate facilitators and trainers to be trained urgently in the Aqua Tabs usage and other health related precautionary measures to address the situation. She further informed the forum that one of their Engineers (Mr. Rehman Ullah) was in the field to personally supervise and lead the WASH response. She also informed about arranging a second T-45 tank. She also suggested UNICEF/ ICRC/ IMC & SABAA should sit together & identifies the gaps if any. She observed that sanitary conditions in the Togh Serai camp was not up to the mark & suggested that WASH partners should increase the number of sanitary workers to bring an urgent and positive change. It was also important because the recent rains in the areas will make the sanitary condition in the camp more challenging. She informed the forum that additional water taps were supplied to the IPs.

W.H.O: The World Health Organization representative informed the forum that their initial response included collection of water samples, distribution of 10,000 Aqua Tabs, decontamination of dug wells & community awareness through elders; he also informed that they performed their interventions with the help of local police. He was of the view that more rehabilitation work is needed in the area. He further informed that 1000 soap pieces were distributed. He also informed that they have provided a chlorinator to the tube well of Tough Sarai camp.

ICRC: ICRC representative informed the forum that they have paid one visit to union council Zargary; he also informed that the area has 3 contaminated wells, one spring & no bore hole(s); spring water is clean & was used by Levies force (Army) & locals were not allowed to collect water from the spring he added. He confirmed the reports that people were chewing the Aqua tabs as were distributed without informing them about their usage. ICRC representative also informed the forum about Acute Watery Diarrhea in village Barh, UC Nasrat Khel district Kohat, Located around 30 to 35 km away from the main Hangu and Kohat city. He mentioned that ICRC wants a close coordination with UNICEF. He also informed that disinfection of sanitation systems is underway; a T-45 (Oxfam Demountable Tank) having 'in-tank' treatment facility for settlement and chlorination mixing is being in the process of installation he added. He also mentioned that a standby generator was also supplied.

Action points:

1. W.H.O to let the WASH partners know the exact localities affected by AWD in district Hangu/ Kohat as soon as possible with continuous updation on every 2nd day.

2. UNICEF and ICRC will set together to chalk out a joint strategy to decide how and where to intervene at the earliest opportunity.

3. WASH partners having physical presence in the areas should nominate facilitators/ trainers to be trained hygiene promotion practices who will then be deployed in the affected areas for urgent hygiene camping. Other organizations having expertise or resource persons should also inform UNICEF if they can contribute in the exercise.

4. IP’s working in the Tough Sarai IDP camp should increase the number of sanitary workers to clean the camp and it is properly maintained as a regular activity. UNICEF will look if additional work force can be accommodated with in the available contract or some other arrangement.

5. Effort be made that the new tube well at the Tough Sarai camp is commissioned at the earliest and additional water pipes networking is completed immediately.

6. WHO and PHED Hangu to ensure that the chlorinator supplied to the area is installed immediately.

7. ICRC and other WASH partners will share their future plans for Tough Sarai camp with Mr. Jamal Shah through email.

8. Camp level coordination at Tough Sarai needs to be strengthened

Agenda Item: Updates from partners:

HRDS pointed about filling of pits in Jalozai camp; a separate corner meeting with UNICEF was suggested to mutually address the issue.

ACTED pointed about Government Primary Schools in District Dir having no water connections and requested to address the issue urgently. He was advised to share the list of such school with WCC.

Just Peace International reported no issues

IRD & Handicap International stressed the need for the water testing facilities in Tank & D.I.Khan.

Action point: WHO representative advised IRD to contact their team in DIK to facilitate them in the water quality testing. Mr. Kashif Jan (WHO) to coordinate.

Social Aid pointed out the plight of IDP’s, migrated from Upper Orakzai and living in lower Orakzai and they are not being accessed by any organization despite the fact that the area is accessible. He informed that he has data on the IDP’s.

Action Point: Social Aid was advised to share the IDP’s information with WCC immediately.

ICRC reported that still there is an accessibility issue in Orakzai Agency

Updates from Partners:

International Medical Corps: IMC representative informed the forum that IMC is providing WASH services to 500 families in Tough Sarai camp in District Hangu; he also informed that 1250 hygiene kits & 2500 jerry cans were distributed among the camp families; special hygiene promotion sessions were conducted in camp; he also informed that 2 female staff was hired to address the female portion.

UN HABITAT: UNH representative informed the forum that they are intervening in 4 union councils of District Hangu namely Khotki, Kahe, Raissan & Katch. Their WASH interventions include installation of hand pumps, latrine construction, hygiene kits distribution and water supply schemes he added. About the progress he informed that so far installation of 10 hand pumps has been completed. He also informed that assessment in 5 villages of Jarma union council in District Kohat is completed & will share the report with WASH Cluster Coordinator.

Action Point: UN-Habitat to send an email to Mr. Jamal Shah to resolve the long outstanding issue of grant of NOC to their evaluators in DIK and Tank which will be taken up with PDMA from WASH cluster platform.

World Health Organization: WHO representative informed the forum that in week 28, 11% acute diarrhoea cases was reported in Tough Sarai Camp; while in Jalozai-3 it was also 11%. But it cannot be termed alarming in this hot season. About AWD in Zargari & Shnawari he was of the view that containment activities against sporadic & isolated point source outbreak are underway; he further requested the WASH partners for hygiene promotion sessions among the communities of affected villages regarding water storage in clean utensils and washing hands with soaps after critical times.

Agenda Item 4: AoB:

1. WCC informed the forum that COORDINATION mechanism in Kohat is going to be established from next Week, OXFAM-GB will be Co-Chairing these meetings after establishment; he requested all WASH partners working in the area to attend. PHED and TMA’s will be asked to attend and facilitate the forum.

2. WHO and UNICEF to fix a date and venue for the urgent trainings.

3. No major issue was reported from MKD, Peshawar valley and Jalozai


NEXT MEETING WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.