IRIN
PAKISTAN: Water aid flows in quake zone
29 November 2006


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

BALAKOT, 29 November (IRIN) - The future looks brighter for more than 
41,000 people in remote mountain communities in Pakistan's earthquake 
zone thanks to a determined drive to complete water supply schemes by 
one international aid agency before the onset of winter.

There is a flurry of flying pickaxes and scraping shovels as villagers 
carve a channel into stony earth to lay the grey, steel pipeline into 
the ground. It is the final section of piping to provide clean water to 
over 4,000 people living in the remote mountain village of Dandar near 
Balakot.

Villagers had been praying for this day to come. "It is a gift from 
God," says Qazi-ur Rahman. "Allah has answered our prayers." The piping 
of clean water to the village is life-changing for his family.

Dandar lies some 1,500 metres above the Saraash Valley, in North West 
Frontier Province (NWFP). Like dozens of mountain communities in the 
region close to the quake epicentre, it was hit by the full force of the 
South Asia earthquake just over a year ago. Every structure was 
destroyed: loved ones lost, livelihoods shattered - an entire way of 
life swept away the day the earth shook.

More than 75,000 were killed and some 70,000 severely injured or 
disabled in the earthquake. An estimated 3 million were left with 
inadequate shelter, most of them in need of food in the immediate 
aftermath.

The fragile infrastructure supporting the village was gone. With it the 
water supply and the single winding track cut into the side of the 
mountain giving jeep access to Balakot, the nearest town below.

Their homes and livelihoods destroyed, like most families in Dandar and 
the surrounding villages, Qazi-ur Rahman, his wife and eight children 
were evacuated to a camp in the valley below the winter snow line. Six 
months later they returned to the land of their forefathers.

Yet their arrival back in the village after the winter was a sombre 
affair. No smiles of celebration marked their return. Like countless 
thousands they had left the camps to return to the same devastation they 
had left six months previously. Only the weather was kinder.

The international aid community provided emergency shelter. Food was 
available in the valley below. But access to fresh water was the biggest 
challenge facing the village. It became an obsession.

Since April, a single water point has served the people of Dandar, 
diverted from a neighbouring community. For Qazi-ur Rahman it has meant 
a twice-daily trek of more than 1.5 km across perilous mountain paths 
and a back-breaking return with a couple of 25 litre water canisters 
across his back to supply his family's needs.

Seven months ago there was a look of hopelessness in his eyes, as he 
explained he hardly knew where to begin in rebuilding his life.

Visit Dandar today and it is a different story. The reminders of those 
lost in the remote mountain areas can still be seen at every turn during 
the two-hour hike to the village; graveyards with row upon row of tiny 
mounds, marking the scale of tragedy in human lives.

In the distance the township of Balakot remains strewn across the valley 
floor, like a toy town of tiny bricks swept aside to total destruction 
by an angry child.

But now there is a new hope in Dandar. Following the additional 
challenges of August's heavy monsoon rains in the area, bringing flash 
floods, international aid agency Oxfam has powered ahead to push for 
completion of 24 permanent water schemes across communities like this by 
mid-December.

In Dandar a distribution chamber with an intake from three mountain 
springs supplies a reservoir tank feeding 15 tap stands across the 
community's four village clusters, totalling around 6.5 km of permanent 
steel piping.

Oxfam has worked closely with the community to assess its needs and plan 
the project in full consultation with the people of Dandar.

With labour provided by the village under the watchful eye of Oxfam 
project supervisor Nasar Ahmad, the scheme is now set for completion 
within the week. Additional toilet units, technical assistance and 
training for sanitation also support the project.

Saif-ur-Rehman Durrani, head of Oxfam's operation at nearby Balakot 
explains: "Supplying permanent water to mountain communities is not 
always enough, which is why we support our schemes with public health 
promotion, training and the distribution of hygiene kits. Education 
forms a major part of the solution. We also provide child-to-child 
activities, supported by toys and uniforms - and have livelihood 
programmes too - all working closely with the community, identifying 
needs and practical, sustainable solutions for the future."

In addition to Dandar, the agency has completed five other water 
projects in the region, at Siri Garhi Habibulah, Garlat, Sangar, Bangian 
and Paprang. And the race is on to complete a further 18 permanent 
schemes which are under way before the onset of winter. The total number 
of beneficiaries is 41,182 at a cost of around US $700,000.

"Water is like life for us. Without it we have no future. With the water 
comes hope and we are thankful that help has come through our brothers 
at Oxfam. Life in the village is very hard after the earthquake. But now 
it will be much easier. It is like a gift from God." Qazi-ur Rahman 
said.

At Dandar, little Fatima Bibi already stands at the water point just a 
few steps from the family home, waiting for the moment the precious 
water will begin to flow from the tap.


IRIN-Asia
Tel: +90 312 454 1177
Fax: +90 312 495 4166
Email: IrinAsia@IRINnews.org


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