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Omar Asghar Khan Foundation: Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief

By Online Editor 26 August 2010 3 Comments
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Desperate to move: A man tries to cross the Indus River on a dangerous makeshift bridge in northern Pakistan. Source: OAKDF

The floods that have ravaged Pakistan in July and August 2010 have left many towns and villages cut off from the rest of the country. Below is some information on the relief efforts of the Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation. First is some information on the NGO itself, and next there are details about the chairlifts and suspension bridges that the foundation is helping locals to build in affected areas, such as Kohistan and Battagram.


Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief

On 2nd August 2010 Omar Asghar Khan Foundation initiated its Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief. It draws on the Foundation’s extensive experience of organizing affected people, following the 2005 earthquake and the 2009 Malakand conflict, and working with them to extend relief and rehabilitation support. The design of Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief is based on first-hand needs assessments, review of secondary data, and on the Foundation’s knowledge of the area and its links with local people.

Objectives

To extend relief assistance to people affected by the 2010 floods in Pakistan by providing:

  • 15-day package of food and essential non-food items
  • Clean drinking water or water purification tablets
  • Shelter – tents or corrugated iron sheets
  • Access – chairlifts, suspension bridges, pedestrian pathways, and road clearance
  • Psycho-social support and facilitation to access healthcare
  • Liaising with government and other organizations to ensure effectiveness

Outreach and Distribution Mechanism

Sixteen of the 24 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are affected by the floods. Of these, nine are severely affected. Many in need of urgent aid are difficult to access as areas are isolated due to road/bridge destruction/damage; and blockages due to landslides. The Foundation is initially focusing on the following districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

  • Nowshera
  • Charsadda
  • Shangla
  • Kohistan
  • Battagram
  • Mansehra

The Foundation’s Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief will be extended to other affected areas as its work continues. Through collaboration with other partners, the Foundation is also extending relief assistance to affected areas in the Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and also plans to support efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Providing Shelter

Shelter is an urgent need as more than two million homes are damaged or destroyed. The Foundation is providing tents or corrugated iron sheets to families that are displaced or are living near their destroyed houses.

shelter-cost-oakdf-2010

Access

Many areas are isolated as bridges, roads, and even jeep tracks are washed away. People are forced to cover long distances on foot often over very difficult terrain to access food. The Foundation is working in collaboration with local communities to restore access.

Installation of Chairlifts:

Chairlifts are being installed to connect areas that are isolated due to destruction of bridges or blockages due to landslides. They help people access food, healthcare and other basic needs. Selection of sites for chairlifts is under process. The following two ongoing projects serve as illustrative examples of costs, extent of support, etc.

Chairlift: Shangla-Battagram: The Kund Bridge over the River Indus connecting people of District Battagram with Shangla was washed away by the floods. A manual structure was put in place by local people to restore some access, even though it is extremely hazardous. Under the Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief, a mechanized chairlift is being installed to reconnect access, which is also more safe and reliable. More than 60,000 people of four union councils of District Battagram will benefit from this intervention. Its estimated cost is Rs.484,000 and installation time is about 15 days.

Chairlift: Dubair, District Kohistan: The town of Dubair, the gateway to Kohistan along the Karakorum Highway, was almost entirely swept away by the floods, destroying its bazaar, homes, and the main bridge that connected the area to the main Karakorum highway. Desperate for access, people walk for hours along extremely difficult terrain to reach bazaars in Bisham or other places to access food and other essentials. Under the Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief, a mechanized chairlift will provide stronger and safer access, spanning 400 ft, to the local people. The estimated cost of this mechanized chairlift is Rs.550,000.

Construction of Suspension Bridges:

A series of suspension bridges are to be built across ravines and gorges to reconnect people living in far flung areas who are isolated due to destroyed bridges and road networks. These bridges will be located to provide access to secondary routes that link up to main roads so that people are able to access food, healthcare and other basic necessities. These bridges have longer term value as they will continue to be a means of access for local communities. The cost of bridges varies according to their length. At present, the two that have been surveyed will cost Rs.400,000 each, in which local communities will provide support upto Rs.50,000.

- Source: Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation


For more information on this NGO’s flood relief programme, visit their website here.




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3 Comments »

  • Omar Asghar Khan Foundation: Pakistan 2010 Flood Relief | Pakistan Flood Information said:

    [...] FULL ARTICLE Posted in Local Coverage, News « The numbers behind the Pakistan flood disaster Both comments and pings are currently closed. [...]

    # 27 August 2010 at 9:06 am
  • Sultan Rome Advocate Shangla said:

    Shangla a “valley of sorrows” is in grip of natural disasters (Earthquake, Floods, Rains) and terrorism
    The spell of heavy rains and floods beginning in the month of July 2010, affected approximately 2 million people in Pakistan. It caused death of thousands of people and many more were injured across the country. Hundreds of dwelling houses, shops, roads, bridges and other infrastructures were completely washed away by floods. This is the biggest natural disaster of history in Pakistan.
    Shangla is an unfortunate valley which also severely affected in recent natural disaster. In fact natural resources and beauty is bestowed by God to Shangla valley. Due to its scenic beauty, ever greenery and fragrant air it is piece of paradise on earth. Shangla upgraded to status of district on July 10, 1995 by the then chief minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. On one hand Shangla valley is gifted with natural beauty while on the other hand, Shangla is a backward and tribal society where majority of the people live below the poverty line and are illiterate. Its poverty and backwardness can be well estimated from the fact that Shangla district is on top in ratio of poverty in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa province and on 2nd across the Pakistan.
    Due to negligence of government and its elected representatives Shangla lag behind in the run of development. Similarly, the natural disasters and calamities had made this valley miserable.
    Since long Shangla is confronted with natural disasters and terrorist activities. Shangla has been affected in 1974 by destructive earthquake and in 2004 by the severe snowfall, mud sliding and fall of avalanches. In October 8, 2005 a powerful and devastating earthquake struck the Shangla caused major destruction and take of lives of thousands peoples. The affects of which still existed in the memories/minds of the people. They have not reconstructed their damaged houses yet. Similarly the valley remained in grip of terrorist activities since 2007. Fear and fright prevailed among the people due to terrorism. Activities and businesses of the people remained suspended due to continuous curfew. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and compelled to leave as IDPs. The current natural disaster and spell of torrential rains and floods hit this valley severely once again. Shangla which was already deprived of basic needs and rights of life, the current devastating damages pushed it back, almost a 100 years. Keeping in view all these calamities Shangla may be named a “valley of sorrows”.
    In Shangla 168 people lost their lives and hundreds of people suffered from injuries as a result of such natural disaster. The torrential rains and flash floods destroyed about 110 communication bridges including 9 main bridges and 5 suspension, 500 KM roads including 150 KM main roads and 350 KM link roads, 139 hydro power stations including 4 major stations, 450 water mills, 3233 dwelling houses completely, 4514 dwelling houses partially, 4 Health units. Similarly 51 schools including 27 boy’s primary schools, 21 girls’ primary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 girl’s middle school, 9 high schools and 278 water supply schemes have been damaged. The floodwater and rain also damaged standing crops on 9603 acre area, 1200 acre agricultural land, 25 pedestrian streets, 89 water sources 25 water tanks, 1 oil pump, shops, vehicles, standing trees and timbers. The floods also washed away buffalos, 934 cows, 613 goats/sheeps and 840 animal shelters. In short the floods completely washed away all resources of income of people of Shangla.
    The severely affected union councils in Shangla are Pirkhana, Damori, Shahpur, Koozkana, Ranial, Opal, Dheri, Pirabad and Butial. In Shangla major unpleasant incident occurred in village Olandar of Pirkhana Kana, where at least 60 people have been died in land sliding.
    The damages of the current floods and rains are much more severe as compared to earthquake of 2005. In 2005 at least it was possible to find the dead body of the person died due to earthquake, while the dead bodies have been washed away by the recent floods.
    In earthquake of 2005, houses were destroyed but the goods of the houses were present in the remains. The earthquake affected people had a place to sit on the remains or on the surroundings, while the floods have completely drained houses, it’s all goods and even place/plot it’s.
    In current disaster if anyone has succeeded to save his life that is only in his dressing. He has ran away bare headed and bare footed.
    After 2005 earthquake affected people were able to raise tents in fields surroundings of their destroyed houses, but now no field or area is left behind to fix tent to live in. Majority of affected people are laying deprived and helpless only on the mercy of God.
    In earthquake of 2005, the roads and bridges were safe, while in recent turmoil neither road nor bridge remained safe. The peoples are confronted with trouble to get their livelihoods.
    In earthquake of 2005, there was no damage to electric and telecommunication systems, while after current flash floods all these things do not exist.
    Mostly maize crop is produced in Shangla and if anyone has maize in their homes, but no water mill is existed to tread the maize.
    On one hand, this natural disaster has damaged the people’s lives, health and wealth; on the other hand it has also damaged them mentally.
    The educational institutes affected first by terrorism in the region and now the current natural disaster have once again severely affected the academic activities. The children are really confronted with critical situation and need special measurements.
    As Shangla was already in grip of natural disasters such as earthquake of 1974 and 2005, suicide attacks, militancy, military operations, curfews and displacement the current floods proved another severe blow.
    The people of Shangla need special attention of government and nongovernmental organisations. In this regard media can play a key role to highlight these problems of people of Shangla.

    At the time of such natural disaster, torrential rains and floods I was in UK to study my LLM course. After the calamity in month of August 2010, I visited Pakistan. I witnessed these damages and destructions by my own eyes and observed the whole situation. I’m myself travelled by feet many kilometres in the month of Ramadan. I also observed that peoples are really in very miserable situation.

    # 4 October 2010 at 1:06 am
  • Sultan Rome Advocate Shangla said:

    Pukhtoon Qaumi Jirga United Kingdom
    A meeting of Pukhtoon community belong to Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa and Afghanistan was held in Luton United Kingdom. The meeting was presided over by Abdullah Khan. Large numbers of Pukhtoon attended the meeting. The meeting was started with recitation of verses of the Quran; Samaj Ahmad recited verses of the Holy Quran. In the meeting all the participants introduced themselves to each others. Zahid Hussain Mohmand presented agenda of the meeting. He stated that now- a- days a large Pukhtoon community live in United Kingdom, who is confronted with many problems. He stressed upon the community that it needs to be united and organized for welfare, progress and prosperity of the community. He stated that Pukhtoon community wants to keep close cooperation with each other.
    Those who spoke at the occasion were Zahid Hussain Mohmand, Abdullah Khan, Mohammad Azhar, Qasim, Saeed Hussain, Mahboob Khan, Fayaz Ahmed Mohmand, Yousaf Khan, Amir Khan, Sultan Rome, Mahboob Shah, Fazal Rahim and Karmal Khan.The speakers said that the pukhtoons has its own culture, custom and history. Pukhtoon needs to keep preserve their identity and culture.
    It was decided in the meeting that beyond their political affiliation, all Pukhtoons living in UK should be organised and united at one platform. In the meeting, a committee was founded. The meeting unanimously nominated Committee of five members’ i.e. Abdullah Khan Battagram, Mohammed Azhar Peshawar, Qasim Afghanistan, Saeed Ahmad Malakend Agency and Sultan Rome Advocate Shangla. The participants of the meeting authorised the Committee to frame basic draft of the Constitution for the organization that how its functions will be carried out. The Committe was also authorized to conduct meetings with Pukhtoons living in UK and collect their data.
    The participants of the meeting expressed their assurance to the committee that they will extend their full cooperation for welfare of the Pukhtoon.
    At the end of the meeting Abdullah khan in his address thanked the participants of the meeting.

    # 23 October 2010 at 3:10 am