Background

Rapid Joint Need Assessment Report of Cyclone affected areas Of Gawadar Districts, Southern Balochistan, Pakistan Joint Team of Pakistan-Humanitarian Forum Member Organizations: Oxfam GB, Catholic Relief Service, Church World Service-P/A, Concern and Caritas Pakistan Quetta July 1 - 3, 2007 1. Assessment team and Methodology A joint assessment team of PHF members undertook a rapid assessment in Gawadar and Kech District of Baluchistan. The PHF member organizations who participated in this joint assessment were Oxfam GB, Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Caritas Pakistan Quetta, Church World ServiceP/A, Concern Worldwide with active support of Rural Community Development Council (RCDC) a local partner organizations in Gawader, MRC (Makran Resource Center), SPO, NCHD in Turbat. The assessment took place simultaneously in both districts from July 1, 2007 to July 3, 2007. List of organisation / persons involved in assessment Sr. 1 2 2. 3. 4. 6 7 8 Name Gulshan Maznani Syed Suleman Gul Wali Khan Shalim Kamran Shgufta Ali Adnan Khan M. Tariq Khan Nisar Mushtaq Organisation Oxfam GB Concern Worldwide Cothlic Relief Service Oxfam GB Cothlic Relief Serrvice (CRS) Church World Service-P/A Oxfam GB Caritas Pakistan Quetta Gender Female Male Male Male Female Male Male Male 1.1 Methodology and sources of information: The team comprised of 8 staff from 5 organizations. The team were divided into two groups to carryout the rapid assessment simultaneously in Gawadar and Kech District of Baluchistan. The assessment team visited most affected Union councils; Kushkalat, Gokdan, Kalatuk, Nodez and Nasirabad of tehsil Trubat, district Ketch and Union councils Kallag of tehsil Pasni and Union council Suntsar of Teshil Jewani of District Gwadar. Ormara was not accessible during the assessment period and even till today (July 4th), Ormara is cutoff from the rest of the country through road link. This report is specifically for Gawadar District. The assessment team used participatory approaches to collect the information, the major techniques were used meetings with communities and focus group discussion with men and women, key informant interviews, transact walk in the affected villages and meeting with government and non government department including District Nazim, DCO , EDO Public Health, EDO health, Emergency Relief Cell, Navy Commander in Pasni town, National NGOs (NCHD) and representative of local NGOs. 1.2 Objective of the Assessment The objective of the joint rapid assessment was to visit the affected communities /area, assess the situation, collect first hand information of the damages/destruction and analyse thesituation so that each individual partner organization can decide and strategize for response to this disaster. 2.Background to disaster Heavy rainfall due to cyclone 03 B Yemyin resulted in massive flooding in local rivers and streams of District Gawadar, Kech of Balochistan Province on June 26, 2007. The rains and subsequent flooding left many villages inaccessible and hundreds of villages in Pasni,. Gawadar, Orgmara and Jewni inundated by flood water. As reported unofficially there are 8 deaths caused due to flash floods, collapsed of houses etc. A large number of villages of 6 UCs out of total 13 UCs in Gawadar District are severely affected. Many villages in Pasni Tehsil is inundated by flash food due to the over flow of Mirani Dam in district Gawadar. Many villages in Jewni Tehsil due to Dash river overflow particularly the villages on bank of Dash river are completely damaged and houses collapsed. The villages in UC Suntsar (Sui, Putan, Teer andes, Ball, Kehto, Ujat, Suntsar, Mataing, Mojo, Chitan, Samadi and Sadat Bazar) have major damages and people have been displaced to safer places. These people have taken refuge in the nearby mountains. 2.3 Affected areas Suntsar, Kallang, Pasni North, Hud, Ormara and Nalient are the most affected union councils of District Gawadar A brief of the damages is as under: Detail Human Losses Missing Houses Totally Damaged Houses partially Damaged Nil 700 1350 Number Eight persons Not yet reported Remarks Crops Damaged (Acres) Orchards Damaged (Acres) Irrigation Destroyed Irrigation Destroyed well Partially wells Totally 9696 3160 65 32 Pasni, Ormara and Jewni: Tehsil Pasni of district Gawadar situated at the distance of 130 kms from Gawadar towards east on costal high way. Total population of Tehsil Pasni is about 8,000 house hold and majority of the houses are either completely collapsed or partially damaged. Tehsil Jewni of district Gawadar situated at the distance of 75 kms from Gawadar towards north east. Total population of Tehsil Jewni is about 5,000 household. Total 22 villages of Suntsar UC were severely affected. According to available reports, tehsil Ormara is also severely affected but assessment team could not visit due to inaccessibility. District Tehsil Union Councils Gawadar 4 (Pasni, Gawadar, Urmara and Jewni 13 (Pasni Shumali, Pasni Jaubi, Kallag, Nalient, Pishukang, Surbandar, Shumali Wasti, Janubi Wasti, Gawadar, Hud, Urmara, Suntsar and Jewni) Population Area Rural areas Urban areas Male Female Ethnic 239292 15216 7 union councils 6 Union Councils 124431 114861 Baloach 3. Key findings of the Assessment 3. 1: Shelter:  In Pasni Tehsil, the villages which are affected by severe rain and Dash river, the people are coming back to their houses and were busy in repairing their houses.  The houses which are completely or partially damaged are made of wooden frame/skeleton with straw mesh of dates/palm tree leaves, The wall of these houses are in filled with mud and mud plastered on the walls and roofing.  In some villages, houses are partially damaged meaning that the houses are intake but the flood water swept away mud and the skeleton is standing. This also destroyed their household belongings and family assets.    The community informed that they did not had enough time to prepare for shifting of their household items to safer places rather they were caught unprepared. In most of the villages the people displaced to safer places and took refuge on the top of sand dunes, however, they were living without proper shelter. In some villages the team observed that community received some tents from Pakistan Armed forces while some of the community were using the old tents they received during 2005 flood.   According to an estimate 60-70% of houses are damaged (partially or complete) in those affected villages of Pasni and Jewni Tehsils. The houses which are partially affected, still intake, but the flood water entered into it and left a huge amount of mud, so is un-habitable. 3. 3 Food  Agriculture farming, unskilled labour, livestock, trading with Iran is the main source of livelihood for these communities. The food stock is mainly traded from Iran through unfair means. Most of the food items such as cooking oil, sugar, wheat flour, eggs, vegetable and fresh fruits are coming from Iran. However, due to the flooding, the roads are inaccessible, so the food market in Gawadar, Jewni and Pasni and dried and prices hiked too much for the last one week.   The community whose houses are damaged have lost their food stock. They also lost their bedding and kitchen utensils. Government of Pakistan through the armed forces and individual donors have been distributing food (cooked and uncooked) in isolated pockets. They also distributed dry food ration, with varying quantities. The food ration were mainly enough for one to two weeks. The size, quantity and quality are not consistent.  The community would required at least one month food ration based on SPHERE minimum standards to these communities, so that they have time to rehabilitate or repair their damage houses 3. 4 Water and Sanitation Damage Water/Sanitation:  The June flood had severely impacts on the existing drinking water supply and sanitation systems as other sectors which already mentioned in 6 affected UCs in district Gawadar, distribution networks, wells, and other water infrastructures. The team observed that the community do not has latrines prior to disaster and had open defecation. The displaced community is using water from rain ponds which poses threats for different diseases. There is a need for health hygiene education and sensitization to prevent and equip them against these potential diseases. Since the water sources have been damaged, therefore, women and children has to go far away for fetching water. Since they have lost their water containers, therefore, women’s time for fetching is more than double. In most of the villages (team visited) people are practicing open defecation at the moment where women are forced to wait all the day for darkness or walk to wet and watery areas which has resulted hardships for the women and children. Lack of bathing facilities and lack of awareness regarding hygiene practice people, people have started facing diarrhoeal and skin diseases. There is an immediate need of restoration of water distribution system and rehabilitation of wells in all affected villages accordingly which will assist people to have access to safe drinking water which will prevent people from water related diseases. Meanwhile distribution of water purification tablets or family filter kits (Norex Filters) and Jerry Cans are immediately required to assist the situation. Same needs for sanitation facilities such as construction of latrines communal (Pourflash latrine) which will provide privacy especially to women and to reduce vulnerabilities and prevent diseases by safe disposal. In addition most of the effected families has lost their hygiene kits therefore there is also needs hygiene kits for the effected population along with hygiene promotion. According to PHED, tube wells are also badly damaged by flood. This resulted hardship for the community who were getting water from these tubewells.       Health and Hygiene As majority of the families have lost shelter and all household items are affected or damaged. There are stagnant water in most part of the village and food water brought a lot of mud into the shelter. Since there were livestock reported killed as well as poultry in these villages. Also they do not have enough cooking pots, clothes, since last four days all men, women and children are wearing same clothes, which is very unhygienic for health purpose. At the moment personal hygiene is totally ignored because food, shelter and drinking water are first priority of communities. Since the affected people are drinking contaminated water from the rain-ponds. Traditionally Household latrine concept does not exist and male, female & children go for open defecation. There are fears it may cause outbreak for diarrhea diseases and it is highly expected in children. Since there is no proper drainage system exists in the towns and villages and there are still stagnant water caused by flood & rain. It may turn out as breeding places for mosquitoes and will cause Malaria spread in the area. Children are exposed for ARI (Acute respiratory infection) because of sleeping on the ground in open air and due to lack of beddings. Livelihood Agriculture:  The livelihood of the communities depend on agriculture mainly rain-fed. livestock, trade with Iran, employment in Gulf states, government jobs and agriculture labour. The recent floods have destroyed the standing maize crops, vegetable, dates/palm and fruit trees.  The people who do not have the land are working as agriculture labour with other farmers in and around their villages. Both farmers and agriculture labour become more vulnerable by having lost their livelihood sources. Bandaat – (protection walls around the agriculture fields) are damaged and washed away by flood water. Every year, farmers spent resources on repairing and strengthening these Bandaat before monsoon starts so that to keep the moisture in the field for crops.  Livestock:  Livestock reported to be the second biggest livelihood means for these affected communities. The communities reported that since their livestock were on the other side of the river for grazing at the time of disaster, so they are unaware of the wareabout or the death of their livestock.   An estimated 5-10% livestock and poultry are killed. The affected communities reported that they have lost not only the family assets, but become food in secured. It was reported that in Pasni 17% of the population depends on agricultural/farming, 50%, on livestock and 33% works as skilled and unskilled labour.  3.5 Education School building in the flood affected areas are affected. 3. 9 Gender Specific Needs: During the visit of two union councils of Tehsil Pasni and Jewni specific information related to gender is available. The below information is collected from accessible villages of the affected areas through meetings, focus group discussion and interviews.  The communities who are devastated by cyclone have been displaced and a lot of work of women has been increased due to displacement. As traditionally, women are responsible for cooking, fetching water, washing, cleaning and taking care of their children, so they the additional work burden may increase their vulnerability and their health.  Due to the displacement, women shared that their privacy has been badly affected because there are no latrine facilities available and women are afraid to go outside as they are not familiar with environment. Being living in congestion, there is fear for disease outbreak. Women also shared that they are stressed and traumatized due to this disaster and lack of sense of protection. Due to non availability of latrines, the women has either to wait till dark or to go in bushes for defecation which can create a potential threats and security for the women.  Coordination Mechanism There is an emergency cell has been created by the government in Gawadar. DCO is the focal person for coordination and sharing information. However, there is no proper coordination mechanism by civil society or NGOs in Gawadar. Communication: Pasni Tehsil is easily accessible by Coastal Highway. Far flung villages are not easily accessible due to damages of causeways/bridges. Suntsar Union Councils of Jewni Tehsil is at the distance of 75 kms from Gawadar but it takes almost four hours due to bed condition of the road. Out of 22 flood affected villages only three are accessible so far. Electricity supply completely destroyed and grid station is under water. Recommendations:  Food package for at least one month as per Sphere Minimum standards for 2,500 – 3,000 families.  Transitional shelter is required where affected communities need to construct their houses on safer places. In most of the affected villages, the existing houses are not on safe places. Therefore, transitional shelter is recommended using the locally available construction materials.       Water purification filters/tablets for potable water, jerry cans can be helpful for fetching and storage water Restoring and rehabilitation of existing water sources. Construction of household latrines is immediate need of population. Hygiene Promotion and campaigns including targeting schools children is recommended. Distribution of hygiene kits. Since the communities have lost their kitchen utensils and other household assets and items, therefore, we recommend kitchen sets, bedding, mosquito nets for affected communities.