Action by Churches Together (ACT) Appeal - Pakistan Emergency Drought Relief - ASPK01 Appeal Target: US$ 26,695 Geneva, 26 May 2000
According to the UN and other sources, the drought situation in Pakistan is developing into one of the worst natural disasters in the country's history with the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh being the most severely affected. Although these areas have always been prone to water shortages, rainfall over the last few years has been at an all-time low, often with no precipitation at all. The Thar, Kohistan and Kachoo regions in the province of Sindh, where 95% of the population live below the poverty line, have been declared disaster areas. A large number of families have been seriously affected with loss of livelihood (livestock) and the dearth of food and water has forced many to migrate to other areas. About 1.3 million people in the region have been directly affected by the drought. ACT member Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A) is proposing to provide the most vulnerable with the following assistance: Seeds for Agriculture Fodder for Animals Potable Water The overall relief effort represents a coordinated effort by the International NGOs Coordinating Group to which CWS P/A also belongs. At its meeting the coordinating body mapped and allocated the working areas and input sectors to its members. In view of the critical situation and the rather small request, the ACT Coordinating Office sent US$ 20,000 from its Rapid Response Fund to enable CWS to initiate immediately some of its planned programs. The project will be completed by July 15, 2000 or sooner depending on the speed and extent of support received. Ms. Genevieve Jacques Thor-Arne Prois Rev. Rudolf Hinz Director ACT Coordinator Director WCC/Cluster on Relations LWF/World Service REQUESTING ACT MEMBER Church World Service - Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS P/A) IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER and PARTNER INFORMATION CWS P/A strives forward with its multi-sectoral support and development endeavors in Pakistan and Afghanistan, since 1954. It is registered as an international NGO with the Pakistani Government, and works autonomously as regional office of the Church World Service USA and relief and development arm of the National Council of Churches of Christ USA (NCCCUSA). The organization operates through its Lahore, Karachi, Mansehra and Jalalabad offices. While its head office is based in Karachi, the Disaster Response Office operations rest with Lahore. CWS P/A is a faith-based organization, but it works with all organizations irrespective of class, color and creed, in the following sectors, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan: Disaster Response Program Capacity Building Social Development Program Working over the past decades, the organization has grown strong in its belief that communities themselves should set the agenda for sociopolitical change. Thus, the organisation's work currently focuses on: improving access of the underprivileged to basic amenities like clean drinking water, food, shelter, education, etc., increasing participation of the marginalized segments in the development process and bridging the gap between policy makers and development actors (NGOs, Community Based Organisations and other local bodies). Such a strategy, CWS P/A believes, encourages equal and even growth in communities, instead of cultivating hierarchical structures and controls. Since the mid-eighties, CWS P/A has been working with Afghan refugees and since 1997 it has extended its capacities and established network of the partners, namely Pak-Afghan Disaster Response Network, under its Capacity Building initiative. The program was organized in collaboration with ACT and the University of Wisconsin and included both fellow partners in the field and other interested and involved in the sphere of emergency response. Today, Pak-Afghan Disaster Response Network includes 11 regional organizations working in relief and development. Description of ACT Member's Implementing Partner For some time, the Pak-Afghan Disaster Response Network work was limited to the extent of information sharing among partners on training and disasters. It included publications, Disaster Response Office (DRO) Updates and News and DRO Alerts and warnings. But, later when earthquakes, floods and cyclones devastated parts of Pakistan in the late 90's, the need for a broader and coordinated approach became imperative. Thus CWS P/A took a lead role in raising successful appeals with local churches, colleges and partners and in initiating dialogues and meetings with the partners to widen the scope of the relief and rehabilitation. Pak-Afghan Disaster Response Network comprises of energetic NGOs, among which the Participatory Village Development Program (PVDP) stands out because of its strong institutional capacity and tangible outreach in the arid zone of Tharparkar. PVDP, established in 1998, has its offices in Islam Kot and Mithi in Pakistan, and has 8 paid personnel and over 50 volunteers, working in concert with each other. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION The Tharparkar District lies in the arid, southeastern zone of Sindh province of Pakistan and is a continuation of the Thar Desert. It is bound on the eastern side by the district of Khairpur and in the west by the districts of Mirpurkhas and Badin. Tharparkar has a population of around 1,107,000, of which slightly less than 100,000 resides within urban centers. The major source of income for 68 % of the population in Tharparkar is rain-fed agriculture, followed by wage labor and livestock. The rainfall occurs in the monsoon season between June and September and varies between 50 to 300 mm. The main crop in the area sowed immediately after the first rains is bajira (local millet). In addition, guwar (cereal) and cluster beans are also cultivated and used as cash crops as well as food. In order to mature, these crops require at least three showers of 150-200 mm in intensity starting from June to the middle of September. Such a pattern of rainfall also supports the range-lands of the arid zone to grow seasonal grass that provide the whole year's fodder for the animals. Tharparkar is in the grip of a devastating drought, which has defied all the indigenous systems and coping mechanisms, that have been tested and tried successfully for centuries. The only option left for the desperate people is migration towards the plains of Indus in search of subsistence. An estimated 40 % of population and nearly 75 % of the livestock have migrated to the Indus, leaving behind skeletons of domestic animals. There is a huge influx of desperate people in the already over-saturated agricultural fields of the barrage areas causing a sudden fall in the routine wages. The livestock market has also slumped as hundreds of starving animals have been put up for distress sale. Goat and sheep prices which in normal times vary between Rs.1,300 and 1,500, have now dropped to Rs.300. Similarly, there is a steep fall in the price of cows from 8,000 rupees to below 4,000, while fodder, millet and wheat flour prices have risen sky high. Consequently, the economic structure of Tharparkar has collapsed completely and life in the area has become desperate. The situation is particularly drastic in the surrounding villages of Vakerio inhabited by nearly 4,000 households who have not migrated. Women trail for miles to collect water from the sandy ponds and the children are becoming increasingly frail and malnourished. With their backs to the wall these people face certain starvation should no help be forthcoming. While the situation has caught the attention of the government and development organizations, help is seemingly slow to come. Hence in the interim, to help the people survive their present ordeal, CWS P/A aims to provide seeds (in anticipation of some rains), fodder and potable water to the people, while food, sanitation, health care and other inputs will be provided by others such World Food Program, OXFAM and others. Impact on Human Life and Damages: Around 500 households are seriously affected by disease, malnutrition, psychological problems, death and displacement due to the shortage of food and water. Around 8,500 head of livestock are estimated to be in danger due to the scarcity of fodder. GOAL & OBJECTIVES The project aims to provide life saving and life sustaining assistance to the disaster-stricken families the villages of Vakerio, Tharparkar. Specifically the objectives are to: - Provide seed packages of Bajira (Millet) and Guwar (cereal) to 500 most vulnerable families. - Provide of Sukhrana (dry fodder blocks) to those families with livestock in immediate danger estimated at 8,500 animals. - Provide 500 poor families with clean water. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION CWS P/A, intends to target the most vulnerable and impoverished families of Vekario who are unable to help themselves as they have no means of support left. Economic indicators including land holding as well as livestock and other assets, were applied as criteria for beneficiary selection. Consequently, five hundred such families were identified, wherein each family possesses less than 15 acres of land and livestock numbering less than 15-20. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION Targeted families will be provided with packets of Bajira Millet (20 kgs) and Guwar (5 kgs) seeds to enable them to grow crops in the coming rainy season. The beneficiary families will also be provided with fodder (4 kgs of Sukhrana, which is enough for 15-20 animals per day for 30 days) for their livestock. The seeds and fodder distribution program will be implemented by CWS P/A through its partner, Participatory Village Development Program (PVDP), who are already working in the target area. The organization will carry out its operations through its 8 staff members, supported by 50 volunteer workers. Providing seeds and fodder at this critical juncture, will save lives of the people and animals and afford the beneficiaries some space and time to recover a little. Water testing along with well cleaning and deepening will be taken up to provide the families access to potable water. The water project will be implemented by CWS through its partners and the Pak Afghan disaster Response Network. ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MON ITORING, REPORTING Administration PVDP has its office in Islam Kot, which is adjacent to the target area. In collaboration with the implementing partner, the Disaster Response Office (DRO) team of CWS P/A will be responsible for monitoring, reviewing and reporting of the program. This team comprises of 4 staff members, headed by the Coordinator for the Disaster Response Program. The DRO team will ensure that the program is carried out as per schedule. Procurement CWS P/A and PVDP are presently in the process of collecting quotations for the different items from various dealers. Factors including price, quality, efficiency of delivery, policies and procedures (if applicable), political and cultural sensitivity and reputation of the suppliers, will be taken into account before finalization of the order. Finance The Administration and Finance divisions of the CWS P/A, head office in Karachi will make sure that financial and management aspects are adhered to in accordance with the established budgetary guidelines and procedures. Regular financial updates and reports will be prepared at the end of the project, the finance officer will collect the supporting documents from the partners and carry out an internal audit. A general audit will be carried out at the end of the project and shared with the ACT Co-ordinating Office. COORDINATION CWS P/A will work in collaboration and coordination with other UN-based, non-governmental and governmental agencies, which are working in other sectors like health, sanitation, food distribution, etc. in the same geographical area. On the ground, CWS P/A will operate through its Disaster Response Network's partner, Participatory Village Development Program (PVDP), while retaining responsibility for the overall implementation and management of the program. BUDGET ACT-CWS P/A Estimated Expenditure Description Type of No. of Cost per Budget Budget Unit Units Unit PKR PKR US$ Direct Assistance Guwar (Cereal) Seeds Kg 10,000 17.50 175,000 3,431 Bajira (Millet) Seeds Kg 2,500 8.75 21,875 429 Sukhrana (Fodder) Kg 60,000 7.00 420,000 8,235 Well Deepening & Cleaning Well 20 10,000 200,000 3,922 Water testing (Total Dissolving Salts TDS Test) 55,000 1,078 Sub Total 871,875 17,095 Transportation & Logistics Storage Mth 1 30,600 30,600 600 600 Transportation, Material Supplies & Logistics * 127,500 2,500 Sub Total 158,100 3,100 Documentation Documentary video Video 1 20,700 20,700 406 Articles Article 3 5,000 15,000 294 Report/Documentation 40,800 800 Sub Total 76,500 1,500 Description Type of No. of Cost per Budget Budget Unit Units Unit PKR PKR US$ Personnel Co-ordinator Person 1 20,000 20,000 392 Assistant Co-ordinators Person 2 15,000 30,000 588 Emergency Officer Person 2 10,000 20,000 392 Driver Person 1 6,500 6,500 128 Sub Total 76,500 1,500 Administration Assessment 51,000 1,000 Communication 51,000 1,000 Travel 25,500 500 Vehicle operations * 51,000 1,000 Sub Total 178,500 3,500 TOTAL APPEAL TARGET & EXPENDITURE 1,361,475 26,695 Exchange Rate: US$ 1 = PKR 51 * Travel is expensive because the Thar desert is one of the most neglected and remote areas. Only 4x4 vehicles can be used and some will have to be hired as CWS does not have sufficient numbers. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of churches and their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ecumenical Centre Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33 150, route de Ferney Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06 1211 Geneva 2 Telex: 415 730 OIK CH Switzerland http://www.act-intl.org distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -