A Powerful earthquake struck Baluchistan on
24th September 2013, the quake’s epicentre was in the Awaran
District, but other districts of Baluchistan – Kech (Turbat) and Panjgur were
also affected. According to reports, the tremors registered were of 7.8 on the
Richter scale. After the initial incident, another earthquake of 7.2 magnitude
hit same area of Baluchistan on September 28, 2013.
The initial results of rapid assessment by
HANDS (Health And Nutrition Development Society) International and the data
presented by PDMA (Provincial Disaster Management Authority) Baluchistan showed
that 42000 families and nearly 300,000 people were affected. Around 90% of the
buildings including shops and houses in 8 union councils of District Awaran
collapsed. According to PDMA Baluchistan 399 people died and 599 were injured.
Dozens of health & Education facilities, water wells were also damaged.
HANDS Believe in community participation and
works with group methodology, thus 400 Community support Groups
(CSGs) were
formed. Each group comprised of 25 beneficiaries.
Realising the immediate needs of targeted
communities in the relief and early recovery phase of the earthquake, HANDS
distributed 10,000 emergency shelter roofing kits, 20,000 blankets and 10,000
ceramic filters and 10,000 solar lights to the affected as per their need assessment.
In the heath sector the contribution of HANDS
included 7 mobile medical teams sent from Karachi to provide health services to
27,000 sick and injured people.
Emergency health care services package included maternal & child
care, physiotherapy of injured, rehabilitation of disabled through developing a
cadre of Community Health Workers. HANDS also distributed 50 wheelchairs to
disabled people. HANDS is also in process of providing 2 Hilux ambulances to
the District Headquarter Hospital Awaran.
In education sector, considering the urgent
needs, 25 Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) were established. Learning and sports
material was provided which played a vital role to increase the interest of
children, the change in environment probably attributed to the increase in
enrolment up to 1,469 children. One teacher from each school was trained and
equipped with psycho-social wellbeing skills.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services were provided at 25
targeted locations of Government schools along with provision of furniture and
learning material.
HANDS
in recent years has developed and excelled in providing low cost shelters in
disaster affected areas. Through its Infrastructure, Development, Energy, WASH
and Shelter (IDEAS) program arranged to deliver the knowledge and skills at
local level for construction of disaster resilient shelters through conduction
of orientation sessions to community groups. The project provided the
opportunity of “Cash Grant” through bank transaction of PKR 49500 to 4500
families. Cash grant of PKR 223 million
is in process. 
HANDS also intervened on the livelihood
aspect and “Cash Grants” for 1200 livelihood schemes to benefit 10,000
community members is in process as livelihood enhancement support. Out of 1200
schemes 32% are water related, 28% - Cleaning & Hygiene, 1.4% - Community
Physical Infrastructure (CPI), 11% - Handicraft and 10% - Shelter. HANDS also
enhanced the livelihood of community groups through provision of 800 toolkits
each of comprised of 6 tools to be used in agriculture and non-agriculture
labour.
To ensure the transparency HANDS signed an
agreement with United Bank Limited for an online cash transfer direct to the
beneficiaries on presentation of National Identity Cards (NIC). HANDS has also
established an online complaint mechanism called “Suggestion And Complaint (SAC)”
system to give direct access for all complaints to Chief Executive Secretariat
for sharing of any concerns and grievances through telephone, letter, messaging
or emails.
HANDS Monitoring & Evaluation Program
also appointed “Baluchistan Engineering and Technology University Khuzdar” as 3rd
party monitors, after signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The
Monitoring & Evaluation Program also made it mandatory for different cadre
of staff to make monitoring field visits to ensure timely sharing of challenges,
smooth implementation and sharing of monthly progress.
HANDS requires your generous support to
continue these efforts, to make our dream come true through rebuilding affected
areas of Baluchistan and achieve our vision of “Healthy, Educated, Prosperous
and Equitable Society”. Millions of Baluchi women, children and survivors are
looking forward to us. Let’s work together to give them a ray of hope.
