Emergency Response, Relief and Development

The increasing insurgency and rapidly deteriorating security situation in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) forced the Pakistan Army to start a military operation against the miscreants. As a result of this armed conflict a large percentage of population from the tribal areas in North West Pakistan were forced to flee their villages and move into more secure areas. SPADO, for the welfare of IDPs from Mohmand and Bajawar Agencies, is working as an implementing partner of UNICEF on issues of child protection in Jalozai camp. The said project is named as “Child Protection in Emergencies”. The geographical focus of this project is estate 1, estate 2 and KG 2 of Jalozai camp. SPADO with the aim to facilitate the vulnerable children in Jalozai camp distributed 12 wheel chairs in disabled children with support from UNICEF. SPADO’s CPMs conducted a survey and had identified these children and had referred them to health facilities (Merlin), where they were prescribed wheel chairs by the doctors. At the event, on 14th June, 2010, camp administration was also present on invitation of SPADO’s child protection coordinator. Mr. Arbab Arshad (Deputy Chief Coordinator Camp) was the guest of honor. He recognized and appreciated SPADO’s efforts. He stated that SPADO has been dedicatedly playing a role in this regard and thanked the organization on behalf of camp administration. 12 wheel chairs were distributed among 8 boys and 4 girls. The parents/guardians of these children said that they had consulted other forums regarding the issue too but unfortunately…

In whole Kacha Garhi IDPs camp different cases of disability were found in the camp with different needs, after screening for available relief program there were found 26 children as physically disable. And their need was identified each case was registered and a case study was formed on the basis of which items were purchased.

Heavy rainfall caused flash floods originating from the Karamar Mountains in Swabi and Mardan Districts in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. The total numbers of affected people remain undetermined. According to various sources, there are reports of 27 deaths, nine people missing, and estimated 400-450 houses destroyed along with massive losses to crops and livestock. The most affected Union Councils were Ismaila, Kalu Khan and Adina in Swabi District and Shahbaz Garhi and Garyala in Mardan District. The District Administration in Swabi has declared a state of emergency in Adina, Ismaila and Kalu Khan Union Councils. As the water swept through the villages, the roofs of mud houses collapsed and caused the majority of the deaths. Concrete houses were also affected by this flow of fresh water. The flood waters submerged the cultivated land in these regions and much of maize, rice, sugarcane and tobacco crops were destroyed. Livestock was washed away and drowned. In addition, valuables in homes were completely swept away and stored grains in houses were destroyed.

An estimated 14million people have been affected by the devastating floods through out Pakistan. Keeping in view the needs of the flood affected people, SPADO after a quick flood assessment, distributed Food Items in Qasim Ali Baig, Nowshera on 3rd August 2010. The distribution of food items in Qasim Ali Baig included bread, milk, juices and biscuits etc for over 700 individuals. Some 175 families benefited from this distribution. It must be noted that this arrangement was done on self-support basis and no help was sought from donors. SPADO staff members are engaged full time in relief activities as well as fund raising in personal capacity. SPADO also intends to distribute shoes in the flood hit areas of Nowshera on or before 14th of August 2010.

Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO) has been working at Jalozai camp since April 2009. Its Child Protection Project is running and children are being provided protection and relief with different activities such as psychosocial support, counseling, games and education facilities etc. similarly, SPADO in the aftermath of the July / August floods have distributed shoes and FIs & NFIs at Jalozai camp. On October 13th 2010, SPADO distributed Wheel Chairs and Hearing Aid Devices among the children of Jalozai camp. Seven disabled children received wheel chairs whereas six children were given away hearing aid devices. These devices were provided by UNICEF (donor partner) and distributed by SPADO (implementing partner) Child Protection staff at Jalozai camp. Mr. Arbab Arshad – camp In charge of Jalozai was present on the occasion as the chief guest. Distribution The incharge of Jalozai Camp, Mr. Arbab Arshad, distributed the wheel chairs and hearing aid devices among the needy children. In his speech during the distribution, he appreciated the efforts of SPADO in providing relief to the affected children through distribution of wheel chairs and hearing aid devices. He pledged SPADO to continue with its efforts to work for the betterment of the society and provision of necessities of life to the vulnerable people. Wheel chairs Seven disabled children were provided with wheel chairs during the distribution. Most of the children were in the age range of 5 to 12 years. Hearing-aid devices Some children were having problem in hearing. They needed electronic devices in…

Flash Flood of July / August 2010 played havoc in the lives of conflict-stricken people of Swat valley, Wrath of water gulped-away the houses, bridges, orchids and agricultural lands, most part of the valley cut off with only aerial accessibility. Many villages are removed from the bottom and the occupants narrowly escaped and lost every possession in the houses. Particularly the Marghuzzar valley saw unprecedented destruction and the people after losing homes are in a state of quandary. In such like catastrophic situation SPADO’s Community Child Protection Centers played a vital role in the provision of Fls, NFls and psychosocial support to the vulnerable children can be easily linked to services and provision of their basic needs can also be ensured. Clothes Distribution Clothes were distributed among those children whose houses were washed away by the flood water. Total 510 suits were distributed among the flood affected children in Marghuzzar valley. This was in response of the winterization, that is winter season has set-in most parts of Swat valley. Due to which, people are prone to many diseases and vulnerabilities. These clothes will provide some relief to the flood affected children. Children were given clothes according to their gender and age. The distribution took place in Marghuzzar valley. SPADO staff from Child Protection Project Swat was involved in the distribution of warm clothes. These clothes were provided by UNICEF (donor partner) to SPADO (Implementing Partner). The whole activity was carried out by SPADO staff after receiving the clothes and identification…

People with disabilities are invisible citizens mostly unseen and unheard in schools, on buses, in the workplace and restaurants .They are not only unseen on individual level but no heed has been given to them on institutional level. Few years back there was no understanding even, about this segment of society and to facilitate them with an unusual focus. Disability “summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. The UN estimates that there are 500 million persons with disabilities in the world today. In Pakistan, the estimated 15 million of its population may be categorized as persons with disabilities, of whom about2.82 million are below the age of 18 years. But the aforementioned data is a rough estimate and the actual figures are supposed to be even higher than this. The other useful rough figures about disability in Pakistan are +18: are- 2.402-m); visual impaired 1.41-m and 1.201-m; hearing impaired: 0.705 and 0.6-m; mental disability: 1.41-m and 1.201-m. these people represent the 10% of the whole Pakistan population. 77% of the people with disabilities have no access to education. 66% of the people with disabilities live in rural areas .Women with disabilities are twice as more likely to be abused than women without disabilities .Disability may be genetically pre-determined or may be caused by environmental conditions such as poverty, violence, unsafe working conditions, malnutrition, poor…