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| Earthquake recovery continues in Pakistan 7 October 2008 Three years after a powerful earthquake devastated areas of Pakistan on 8 October 2005, most of the affected families are well on the road to recovery - but more work has to be done, according to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS). PRCS Secretary General Ilyas Khan said that Red Cross Red Crescent recovery efforts are focused on building safer communities for the affected families. “We want a long term impact to ensure a better life for our people,” he says. The earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, killed more than 73,000 people left an estimated 3.5 million homeless. The PRCS, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), responded quickly to bring immediate help and relief to more than one million people in the worst-hit areas in North West Frontier Province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. After the emergency phase, PRCS and its Red Cross Red Crescent partners launched recovery projects such as the reconstruction of public facilities, strengthening communities' disaster preparedness, providing medical and health care, improving water and sanitation and promoting livelihood opportunities. These activities are still ongoing and are expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2009. A total of 34 public buildings - comprising 16 schools, 12 health facilities and six vocational centres - will be rebuilt in the earthquake-affected areas. Twenty-four buildings are at various stages of construction, with one middle school for girls already completed and handed over to the local education authorities in the North West Frontier Province’s Mansehra district. The construction of the rest of the buildings is expected to start in November 2008. To deal with disaster risks and help promote safer communities, PRCS has organized 23 disaster management cells in selected areas, with 20 more expected to be added by the end of 2009. The cells work with local communities in identifying vulnerabilities and assessing their capacity to cope with emergencies. Alongside various disaster preparedness exercises, relief stocks for at least 35,000 families have been pre-positioned at various levels and are ready to be dispatched when disaster strikes. Mobile health units travel throughout the earthquake-affected areas and parts of North West Frontier Province as needed, delivering medical care along with health education to as many as 6,000 people each week. In addition, around 60,000 people have received psychological support from PRCS social workers to help those affected cope with the trauma of shattered lives and lost loved ones. To date, at least 600 well-trained community-based first aid volunteers continue to be active in the towns and villages where they live. The PRCS has also trained 20 female traditional birth attendants in earthquake-affected areas. Ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation is always a priority, so the Red Cross Red Crescent has worked to rehabilitate 56 water supply systems and installed 3,500 latrines, 305 washrooms and 350 waste bins, directly benefiting 105,000 people in affected areas. The livelihoods programme has focused on ensuring sustainability in targeted communities after providing agricultural assistance to 15,736 families during the emergency phase. For women, the PRCS has provided training on kitchen gardening as well as cutting and sewing clothes. As well as the rebuilding and recovery work for the affected families, the IFRC is helping PRCS to build its capacity to meet humanitarian needs. Capacity building programmes have included training in various life-saving skills, and the National Society’s facilities have been upgraded. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Teresita Usapdin, Communications Coordinator, Islamabad Tel: +92 300 555 4505 Jason Smith, Communications Manager, Kuala Lumpur Tel: +60 123 87 0829 Paul Conneally, Media and External Communications Manager, Geneva Tel: +41 79 308 9809 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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