SPOPK.com

Update July 25, 2010
Strengthening Participatory Organizations (SPO) in continuation of its efforts for emergency response in the torrential rain and flash flood affected areas in eastern Balochistan. SPO partners and team members are involved in damage assessment, relief work in the affected areas with mobilizing relevant stakeholders to address the immediate needs of affected communities. SPO is playing leading role in coordination with the humanitarian actors and government (PDMA) in Quetta.

A delegation of civil society organizations led by SPO hold meeting with LT General Nadeem (R) Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at PDMA office Quetta yesterday at 7:30 pm.  He briefed humanitarian organizations about objective of his visit and shared the findings of the most affected areas of flash flood especially Districts Sibi, Nasirabad, Barkhan and Kohlu respectively.

He clued-up that in result of flash flood caused by torrential rain washed out UCs Talli and Sultan kot (25000 populations) in District Sibi. The residents of these UCs belongings and infrastructures are completely washed away and required assistance on urgent basis.  He confirmed 16 deaths with missing 20 people in result of flash flood. The communication lines and road access are impeded beside this railway tracks are not functional which is further hampering relief work. The UCs Talli, Lehri, Threher, Bukhtiarabad in district Sibi and in district Nasirabad the UC Dera Murad Jamali are ranked among most affected, while District Barkhan is comparatively less affected. Approximately, 400 houses are damaged in Kohlu district and water supply systems are totally damaged.

He further shared that the immediate needs are food, Shelter and cash compensation are the dire need to reconstruct their houses. He also shared the probability of the spread of epidemic diseases in affected areas if health and hygiene associated activities are not started quickly. He said that he will request to concerned line departments for the reconnection/restoration of road network on priority basis. He shared that NDMA has sent 2200 tents to different areas but affectees still need more tents for affected areas.

Mukhtiar Ahmed Chalgari, Regional Head SPO Quetta raised a point that not a single point on the damages of livelihood of affected districts brought in limelight and it is imperative to address this issue as well. NDMA chairman admitted and requested to SPO to take lead in assessment of the damages and share data with PDMA. SPO will conduct the assessment with the coordination of Save the Children and PEACE Balochistan respectively.

Lt-Gen Nadeem (R) concluded meeting with these remarks that Government will not launch appeal for international assistance but national and international NGOs will be facilitated if they start assisting the affectees of flash flood in Balochistan.

Mr. Shair Khan Bazai, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Ali Nasirabad requested to PDMA Balochistan for the food assistance to 20,000 affected people and 2000 tents.

It is imperative to note that in absence of proper access to the affected area effective and swift coordination is require among the humanitarian actors and government line departments for timely support.

Updated Damage Assessment:

Strengthening Participatory Organizations (SPO), in coordination with other civil society organizations and its partner have initiated massive work for damage assessment and coordinated relief efforts.  A brief of updated preliminary is provided below:

Detail of District Sibi

Source: SPO partner organization (Dehi Terquaiti Tanzeem Sibi) & Peace Balochistan

Detail of District Kohlu

Source: CRS and its partners

Detail of district Nasirabad

Source: District Revenue Department

Tehsildars Dera Murad and Tamboo/Manjushori data collected from different sources as last night the flash flood hit different areas of district Nasirabad last night. In result of it 8 mozazs are badly affected and people moved to Rabi Canal.

Today minister C&W Mr. Sadiq Umrani along with administration visited affected areas and met with people who were asking for immediate support for food and shelter. District Officials stated that they did not visit far-flung areas but know the ground realities.  According to District Official sources more than 50,000 people of district Nasirbad are affected. Commissioner Nasriabad along with district officials are visiting the Tehsil Tamboo and collecting data.

SPO’s response from coordination to relief work:
SPO is awarded leading role for coordination with humanitarian networks and government line departments in current flood response. In this context second general coordination meeting will be held tomorrow in SPO, s office Quetta at 10.30 am. In which all national and international humanitarian organization will participate beside this PDMA and all line departments are invited with objective to chalk out strategy to address the needs of flood affectees immediately.

Beside this In the light of identified needs of the affected communities, SPO has chalked out plan for distribution of food packs to 300 families of Bakhtiarabad in district Sibi. SPO with the collaboration of its partner organizations has established a camp in Quetta to appeal for donations and collection relief goods with objective to mobilize the local people and highlight the issue on different echelons.

Immediate Needs
The number of directly affected people is estimated at more than 80,000. The immediate relief required based on the needs of the people is as below:

1. Drinking Water
2. Food
3. Kitchen Utensils
4. Transitional Shelter/ tents
5- Health & Hygiene kits

For further details or any other relevant information, you may contact SPO staff at following locations,

1.    Mukhtiar Chalgari-(Quetta)-03458300130
2.    Fouzia Khajjaz-03337931296
3.    Farooq Magsi-03013719957
4.    Syed Shahan Abbas - (Islamabad)-0321-9696177
5.    Noor Baloch-(Islamabad)-0321-2290286

Mukhtiar Chalgari
Regional Head SPO-Quetta, H # 109-A, Jinnah Town
Ph: 081-2870750 - Quetta

Malick Shahbaz Ahmad Tahir
Special Project Section
Mobile: 0300-5556324
Ph: (051)2104677, 2104679-80, 8316890, 2298892-3
Strengthening Participatory Organization – Islamabad