I O M P A K I S T A N Quarterly Newsle er N E W S L E T T E R
July 2014
A female beneficiary applies lime mud plaster to improve the durability of her shelter in flood‐prone North Sindh © IOM 2014
Situation Overview A security operation in North Waziristan, located in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), has led to mass and widespread displacement since late May 2014. The humanitarian community is sup‐ porting the Government’s efforts to respond with life‐ saving assistance for the newly‐displaced families.
I N D E X
IOM has been engaged in discussions with the Human‐ itarian Country Team to establish strategic direction and priorities for humanitarian activities, as outlined in the Preliminary Response Plan for North Waziristan. Furthermore, IOM is supporting the displaced popula‐ tion by disseminating critical information on available assistance through its Humanitarian Communications Programme.
Whilst activities scale up in the northwest of the coun‐ try, IOM continues to support the recovery needs of populations affected by past floods in southern Paki‐ stan. Preparedness planning for the upcoming mon‐ soon season and capacity building initiatives for gov‐ ernment authorities are also underway. Likewise, reg‐ ular activities related to resettlement, voluntary re‐ turns, reintegration, migration health services and mi‐ gration management are ongoing.
Situa on Overview
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Assistance for Tirah Valley Returnees
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Early Recovery Shelter Programme
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Shelter Coordina on Ac vi es
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CCCM Capacity Building
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Rese lement Movements and Opera ons
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Migra on Health Services
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Humanitarian Communica ons
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Migra on Management
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Assistance for Tirah Valley Returnees
Families displaced from Tirah Valley following clashes between militants and government forces in Decem‐ ber 2013 have begun returning home. Upon arrival they face significant obstacles to recovery, and many find themselves without homes or adequate shelter. IOM has received CERF funding to assist nearly 400 vulnerable returnee families with shelter repair kits. An assessment was conducted in June 2014 to identity target areas and beneficiaries for prior to distribution of the assistance. 1
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IOM’s Early Recovery Shelter Programme has received generous support from DFID, OFDA, CIDA, Government of Finland, Government of the Czech Republic and the private sector.
Beneficiary Story: Early Recovery Shelter and Non‐Food Item (NFI) Support Enabled Recovery
Trainings focus on DRR construc on techniques such as the use of lime to improve shelter durability © IOM 2014
Noor Bano, a 65‐year‐old widow from district Shikarpur in Northern Sindh, is the head of her household. After floods in 2012 destroyed her home, she was selected to receive early recovery shelter assistance from IOM. The programme has acquainted her with basic construction skills and provided NFIs to support her family’s recovery.
Early Recovery Shelter Programme
IOM’s Early Recovery Shelter Programme continues to support vulnerable households in flood‐affected areas of Sindh to rebuild safer shelters, with 15,390 One Room Shelters currently under construction in districts Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Ghotki and Badin. The programme’s approach is beneficiary‐driven, equipping families with the technical skills and knowledge required to construct more resilient shelters.
10,860 shelters in North Sindh are in progress to support recovery from the 2012 floods, while construction continues on 600 shelters for families affected by the 2011 floods in South Sindh. 9,095 beneficiary households (BHHs) have completed the first construction milestone (plinth), 4,559 BHHs have progressed to the second milestone (plinths and walls), and 2,096 BHHs have completed their shelters. PKR 278.72 million has been distributed directly to BHHs in the form of cash grants for building back safer shelters using vernacular methodologies that incorporate disaster risk reduction (DRR) elements. A 5‐day Training of Trainers (ToT) for IP staff on the use of lime to improve shelter durability was completed by Strawbuild expert consultants in June, with a second ToT planned for July.
Cash and technical support enabled Noor’s family to work together to rebuild a stronger shelter, improving their resilience for the future. Noor speaks about her experience as a Shelter Programme beneficiary:
“The floods completely changed my life, making me responsible to provide for my family. My husband’s death and the loss of all our material belongings incapacitated me and my family. I have two daughters and one son. My son, being the youngest, could not share the responsibility. Farming was the only option I could see then, so I started working and began to earn, but the money was not enough to build a shelter for my family. I am thankful to IOM for transparently choosing us and many others in need. The cash enabled us to build tailored shelters in line with our needs, and the solar lamps provide comfort in everyday tasks such as traveling at night to fetch water or moving around in the village.”
To complement ongoing recovery shelter activities, a Sanitation Pilot Programme is planned, with the aim to provide latrines for 12 vulnerable communities in North Sindh. A feasibility assessment of 34 villages has been completed, and construction will begin in 1 village to test and finalize the design and methodology.
A beneficiary receives NFI support as part of IOM’s Early Recovery Shelter Programme © IOM 2014
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Shelter Coordination Activities
In anticipation of the approaching monsoon season and potential impacts of other hazards during 2014, IOM as National Shelter Working Group Lead has developed multi‐hazard Preparedness and Response Plans for the Shelter/NFIs and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) sectors.
To inform preparedness activities and evaluate current conditions in areas previously affected by floods, the Shelter Working Group conducted a study on Community Coping Capacities after Disasters (CCCD) in 4 flood‐prone districts of Sindh province during June 2014. Additional planned activities include trainings and information sessions for district‐level government officials on relevant topics including:
Coordination and information management; Population displacement and basic CCCM principles; Tracking of distributions to affected populations; Beneficiary selection criteria for ensuring that assistance reaches the most vulnerable Meanwhile, the Shelter Working Group con nues to convene regular coordination meetings for organizations implementing recovery activities in areas affected by the 2012 floods, where more than 75,000 shelters are currently under construction by various organizations.
Management Authority (PDMA). In partnership with PDMA and the National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), 3 district‐level trainings were conducted for a total of 69 government participants in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Kohat. In addition, IOM continued to support NDMA’s inter‐agency humanitarian capacity building programme with CCCM trainers in Hyderabad, Mirpur and Gilgit.
Resettlement Movements and Operations
During the second quarter of 2014, IOM processed more than 650 cases for refugee resettlement to Australia (435), Canada (102), the United States (85) and various European countries (44). Furthermore, Cultural Orientation Sessions supported refugees and skilled migrants departing for Canada (148 participants) and Australia (87 participants). IOM additionally assisted a total of 847 returnees upon their arrival to Pakistan under the Assisted Voluntary Returns (AVR) and Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration (AVRR) initiatives. All activities are closely coordinated with the respective Government counterparts.
CCCM Capacity Building
In the second quarter of 2014, CCCM capacity building focused on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at the request of the local Provincial Disaster IOM conducts pre‐departure Cultural Orienta on Sessions for Australia and Canada © IOM 2014
Migration Health Services
IOM’s medical clinics in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur provided health assessment services to 12,454 prospective migrants and refugees from April to June of 2014, with the majority of patients received in the Lahore office.
Government officials from district Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkwa par cipate in a CCCM training © IOM 2014
Health assessments supported the United Kingdom’s Tuberculosis Detec on Program (5,817 cases), as well as Australian (3,360) and Canadian (2,736) immigration medical examination requirements.
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Humanitarian Communications
From April to June 2014, IOM’s Humanitarian Communications Programme provided support to vulnerable returnees to Kurram Agency and Tirah Valley, as well as freshly‐displaced IDPs from North Waziristan. The programme aims to facilitate two‐way information flows between displaced or returning populations and service providers to ensure timely, needs‐based and streamlined assistance. Specific activities and achievements for the second quarter of 2014 include:
A series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
with information for returnees to Tirah Valley and Kurram Agency developed at the request of the Returns Task Force. 20,000 leaflets in total distributed on Mine Risk Education to Kurram and Tirah Valley returnees. 4,000 brochures and leaflets on Mine Risk Education distributed in Jalozai Camp, Nowshera. 10,000 brochures with details on government and humanitarian assistance for Tirah and Kurram returnees distributed. 310 community‐based awareness raising sessions attended by a total of 5,918 beneficiaries, covering topics such as food assistance, government return and compensation plans, Mine Risk Education and civil documentation. Protection Cluster’s Return Intention Surveys for IDPs from South Waziristan Agency and Needs Assessment interviews supported by Humanitarian Communications field staff and the Humanitarian Call Center.
Following the conclusion of an earlier CERF allocation at the end of June 2014, efforts are underway to mobilize sufficient resources to meet growing demands for Humanitarian Communications support in the ongoing North Waziristan response.
Community‐based awareness raising sessions compliment radio announcements and print materials © IOM 2014
Females a ending an awareness session about Mine Risk Educa on at Jerma © IOM 2014
Migration Management
The project launch and first monitor meeting for IOM’s “Pilot Initiative to Monitor Readmission in Ukraine and Pakistan” were held from 24 to 26 July 2014 in Ukraine. Funded by the European Union, the meeting was attended by Ukrainian authorities, the Director General for Home Affairs of the European Commission, IOM, UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders.
During the meeting, IOM presented its initial observations from the first preliminary monitoring visit of readmitted nationals in Pakistan, as well as an update on the progress of a Feasibility Assessment for an Electronic Readmission Case Management System in Pakistan. In the coming months, IOM will undertake additional monitoring visits of readmitted persons in the country.
Furthermore, the Feasibility Assessment will continue, including stakeholder analysis and technical capacity review of authorities involved in the readmission process.
Stakeholders meet to launch the “Pilot Ini a ve to Monitor Readmission in Ukraine and Pakistan” © IOM 2014
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