IRSP

Humanitarian Programme

Humanitarian sector of IRSP was established in January 2009 as a result of the conflict between the militants and forces in northern and western parts of the country. After its establishment and capacity building many projects were carried out by the humanitarian team of IRSP. The following projects were completed in 2009

During the project; the need assessment was carried out by IRSP and Oxfam GB in 18 UCs and IDPs and host families were identified to be bailed out and awareness regarding public health. A total of 2200 families were identified and facilitated with FIs and NFIs including 1917 IDPs and 283 host families. During the project 36 hygiene promotion sessions (18 male 18 female) were carried out by utilizing IEC material and focusing on hygiene issues of the IDPs. How to best utilize Hygiene Kit was demonstrated in all sessions.

Total Cost: PKR. 12,566,792

An extensive operation was launched against the militant factors during the last week of April 2009 by Pak Army in the districts of Swat, Lower Dir and Buner. The world largest IDPs influx was recorded as a result. The figure of the IDPs reached over 3 million and got refuge in district Mardan, Swabi, Chardda, Nowshehra and Peshawar.
IRSP and Oxfam GB agreed on a 3 months partnership to response to the human crisis.

The project was designed to provide give relief to 15,000 IDPs families by providing NFIs, Hygiene Kits and WASH facilities in Host families, Schools, Spontaneous Camps and Registered Camps in district Mardan and Swabi.

Emergency Response to IDPs

Total Cost: PKR. 2,279,000

The ever worsening situation of IDPs crisis IRSP and Concern Worldwide developed a partnership in May 2009 to response to provide relief to the IDPs.

The project was designed to facilitate the IDPs by providing basic human needs in the shape of Non Food Items. The NFIs packages consist of a comprehensive package of basic household items and Hygiene kit.

The remote areas of the district Mardan was priority of the project and assessment was carried out in the UCs like Kohi Bemol, Jamal Garhi, Kati Garhi and Gujrat in order to provide assistance to the most vulnerable

Total Cost: PKR. 14,572,450

IRSP and UNICEF agreed on a 3 months partnership to response to the IDPs crisis developed in the first week of May 2009. Due to the influx of IDPs most of them were accommodated by the Govt. in schools of Mardan as the schools were closed for the summer vacations. This project was designed to provide and rehabilitate the WASH facilities in the schools according to the need and to provide hygiene kits and enough knowledge of best hygiene practices. The hygiene promotion activities were carried out IEC material were distributed and demonstration of hygienic practices. The WASH facilities were rehabilitated with consultation of education department. The WASH facilities were repaired and rehabilitated during the emergency phase, are now functional and in use by the school students and teachers.

Total Cost: PKR. 10,158,160

During the month of July 2009 IRSP and Concern Worldwide developed a partnership for skill development of IDPs and Host families in Mardan and Buner.

This was a 4.5 months project aiming to provide vocational training and trade specific toolkits in order to engage them in income generation activities and to provide trade specific toolkits to the skilled persons to restart their profession. The basic theme was to increase the earning opportunities of the IDPs and conflict affected families.
IRSP identified potential and deserving beneficiaries for skill development intervention in 3 UCs of district Buner and 2 UCs of distinct Mardan. For skill development of the IDPs 3 trades i.e. Tailoring, Electrician and Plumbing were identified and Christian Vocational Training Center was hired for the skill development of the identified groups. The unskilled persons were given one month extensive training in their respective trades and their expertise were developed in their chosen skills.

Total Cost: PKR. 8,672,066

After the repatriation of the IDPs to Buner another situation created in the district. A military operation was launched in the Chagharzai area of the district against the militants. This operation led to an influx of IDPs towards the central part of the district. The district Govt. established a camp for the displaced people in Swari. IRSP and Oxfam GB extended its partnership to the camp by providing the WASH facilities and hygiene promotion.

IRSP and Oxfam GB coordinated its efforts with the district government and started providing WASH facilities in the camps. When the families of the camp reached to 900 another camp was established at Krapa. IRSP provided the WASH facilities according to the Sphere Minimum Standards with the support and coordination of district government Buner.

The hygiene promotion activities were the focus of the project design. The IDPs of the camps were provided with the hygiene kits with its demonstration and awareness regarding health and hygiene. The WASH committees were formed in each block of the camp in order to effectively use & maintain the WASH facilities (especially latrine).
During the implementation of the activities a signal of the repatriation was given by the government as the area was cleared after the military operation.

Total Cost: PKR. 1,173,275

IRSP and UNICEF agreed to build the capacity of FATA IDPs on CLTS approach. The purpose of the project was to transfer the skills of constructing low cost latrines and to sensitize them about the hazardous affects of open defecation and reduction in water borne diseases.

This was an opportunity to interact with the community of FATA in camps and build their capacity. The FATA IDPs are assumed to work on CLTS approach after their repatriation and will go with knowledge, sense and skill for reducing the open defecation.

To meet the objective 7 training workshops (3 in Kacha Garhi Camp and 4 in Jalozai Camp) were organized each of 30 participants. During the project 280 IDPs were trained on CLTS in 3 days extensive workshop. The training was facilitated through the Participatory approaches of shame, shock and disgust theme of CLTS.

Total Cost: PKR. 58,307,300

After the conclusion of Buner camps IRSP moved to the Jalozai camp to extend its expertise of WASH to the IDPs. IRSP took charge of 3 phases in Jalozai camp in September 2009 but later on with influx of IDPs from FATA the provision of WASH facilities was extended from phase 7 to 15.

Total Cost: PKR. 19,473,207

After the repatriation of the IDPs in the month of July to their respective districts; there was a severe need of their rehabilitation in their native villages. IRSP and Oxfam GB realized the need and joined hands for a comprehensive assessment in Buner district.

The most deprived and conflict affected UCs (Aba Khel, Mali Khel, Krapa, Norezai and Tor Warksak) of Buner were selected for WASH interventions. The project aimed at improving and providing WASH facilities to the returnees of district Buner. Oxfam GB and IRSP initiated the project to provide relief to the returnees and conflict-affected families of Buner.

The Public Health strategy was formulated focusing on health issues as demanded by the local population, mobilizing the communities to improve health and mitigate risky behaviors by utilizing the local remedies i.e. what the communities know, how they cope with the situation and what they want to improve it further. The participatory approach of providing WASH facilities was the outcome of the consultation with different communities.

To meet the sanitation needs of the community a need assessment was carried out in the selected UCs for the need of household latrines. The identified beneficiaries were provided with all material and accessories of latrines and the household bear the cost of labor for construction of latrines.

The provision of clean drinking water was also a focal point of the project. The need was identified at different locations and coordination was made with PHED for the rehabilitation and extension of the existing water supply schemes. Participatory approach was the theme for construction and rehabilitation of water supply schemes within the selected UCs. The consent of women was considered while designing the water supply schemes in the area as the water collection is mainly the business of the women.

Public health promotion was another theme of the project. The community meetings were held both on male and female side by using the IEC material to promote the public health in the targeted communities. The WASH committees were formed for the Operation and Maintenance as well hygiene promotion in the community. Electronic Media was also used to promote public health and messages were disseminated though FM radio at mega scale. Town cleanup campaigns were organized with both TMAs of the district and garbage lifting, cleaning of drains, awareness walks, community meetings and school hygiene sessions were the main activities of the event.

Emergency Response for Conflict Affected Families in Buner

During the first week of August 2009 IRSP and Concern Worldwide developed a partnership for the relief of conflicted affected families of district Buner. The objective of the project was to meet the immediate domestic and emergency health needs of conflict affected populations including host communities in district Buner. The project activities were implemented in 6 UCs of Buner focusing on distribution of NFIs and Hygiene Kits, conducting the free medical camps and hygiene promotion through IEC Material.

A comprehensive package of NFIs (including household items, kitchen set and hygiene kit) was distributed among 3,500 households to meet the immediate basic needs of the returnees and conflict affected families. The most vulnerable and deprived ones was the basic criteria for selection of beneficiaries.

Total Cost: PKR. 23,621,696

In the succession of the ERCAF project another project of supporting early recovery was launched in December 2009 by IRSP with support of Concern Worldwide.
The purpose of the project is to assist conflict-affected families in their livelihoods recovery through the revival of on-farm & non-farm livelihoods and essential community infrastructure by the end of March 2010.
The project intervention will result in:

The assessment of the beneficiaries for all activities has started in the selected UCs and the project interventions will be completed by the end of March, 2010.