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Media Statament, 5th December 2005
1 GOAL programme location
Our team is rushing against the clock to bring essential relief
to communities on both sides of the line of control separating Pakistan
Administered Kashmir from Indian Administered Kashmir, in advance
of the harsh Himalayan winter, which will render access to remote
communities almost impossible.
GOAL is proud to have been one of three international aid agencies
invited to meet President Bush at The White House earlier this month,
to discuss our work in Pakistan - testament to the US Government’s
high regard for GOAL’s work.
GOALies are providing approximately 100,000 people – representing
13,500 families - with essential emergency supplies. Our emergency
shelter programme has so far distributed 1,500 winterised tents,
50,000 blankets, 6,200 pieces of plastic sheeting and 3,500 sleeping
bags. GOALies continue to distribute life-saving food and monthly
food baskets to the survivors. Currently, there are 20 GOALies in
Pakistan implementing these activities.
1.2 India
On the Indian-controlled side of Kashmir, GOAL is working with our
long-term local partner CINI. Over 1.000 families in Tangdhar, Uri
and Kupwara sectors are benefiting directly receiving roofing, insulation
material and warm clothing.
Over the coming weeks GOAL will intensify relief efforts to ensure
that those most in need, in both Pakistan and India, receive adequate
food and shelter in advance of the harsh Himalayan winter, which
will render access to remote communities almost impossible.
2.1 Further to the emergency relief, GOAL is also
preparing a strategy for rehabilitation and intends to help those
affected families rebuild their lives:
• GOAL will carry out multiple activities as part of the
rehabilitation programme. These interventions will ensure that
beneficiaries have the capacity to begin the task of rehabilitation
when the winter has passed, and ensure that people do not deplete
remaining assets in an effort to survive.
• We will provide asset recovery for agricultural communities;
support to tradespersons and the re-establishment of necessary
local enterprises such as bakeries and local markets through livelihoods
fairs.
• Cash-for-work initiative: GOAL’s cash-for-work scheme
kicks off this week in earthquake-ravaged Kashmir, to encourage
communities to rebuild schools by paying them a wage. Not one
school was left after the October 8th tragedy. The initiative
is beneficial on two fronts: not only will it ensure that the
children get back to school soon, but the parents will also have
a livelihood and a job, bringing more meaning and normality to
family life. GOAL had much success with similar schemes in Sri
Lanka in the wake of the tsunami, and we’re expecting equally
great results from the scheme in Pakistan.
GOAL believes in keeping its cost base as low as possible,
and is proud to have kept administration costs at an average of
5% over a 27 year period. Once again, thank you so much for your
donation
3 General Backdrop
• The Government of Pakistan compensation package available
stands at between PKR25,000 and PKR150,000 for a destroyed house.
There is also an additional PKR25,000 available for those who
rebuild their houses according to ‘regional guidelines.’
• The top UN official coordinating relief in Pakistan, Jan
Vandemoortele, has called on donors not to neglect the urgent
relief needs of the 3.5 million people affected by the 8 October
earthquake, amid concerns that focus and support may be shifting
away from such needs to long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation.
• Snow has started to fall in the areas near the South Asia
quake in northern Pakistan, according to the UN refugee agency
(UNHCR) and the dropping snow line, as well as the rains at lower
elevations, is making life “cold and miserable.” (Temperature
minimum: 2 to 8 °C in low-lying areas, 6 °C in Muzaffarabad,
but as low as -4 to -14 °C in the highest villages)
• Population movements from the mountainous, remote villages
to lower grounds continue. Uncontrolled population movement could
overwhelm facilities currently available. (OCHA).
• The Government of Pakistan has taken control of the nation’s
vast tent production potential aiming at manufacturing 10,000
tents every day, NGOs are sourcing outside Pakistan.
• Official confirmed earthquake death toll figure for Pakistan
has been revised back down to 73,000, but this is expected to
increase
• World donors pledged almost $6 billion, and Pakistan vowed
in return to account for every cent as it distributes the aid
to survivors of last month's huge tremor ($3 billion in fresh
pledges).
• Throughout the quake-hit areas of Pakistan, there are
currently 18 planned or organized camps and approximately 1,000
self-settled ones. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have
32 Pakistani civilians and army personnel on site planning and
improving the camp living conditions.
• Officials estimate that it will take more than five billion
dollars and five to 10 years to restore the shattered infrastructure
in the devastated areas of earthquake-ravaged Kashmir.
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