February 10^th, 2006

Villages of Union Council: Batta Morri, Teh & Distt: Batgram (NWFP)

Purpose

The purpose was to distribute relief items including CGI sheets and toolkits for 100 deserving and vulnerable families of village Bhirrh, Walarr Gutt, Rajmera under KLWT Shelter Program and to monitor the constructions of 50 shelters, for which CGI sheets donated by the KLWT in 1st phase.  

Background

A two member Team of KLWT comprising of Mr. Zahid  Jamil Malik & Mr. Kamran visited the villages of union council Batta Morri, Tehsil & District Batgram (NWFP) from: 05-06 February 2006.

District Batgram of NWFP is one of the worst hit areas in the massive earthquake of Oct 08,2005.

This is one of the KLWT project areas where Relief Program and Shelter Program are in progress. Now as winter has arrived the people need shelters in that area. KLWT shelter program is designed to meet this need. KLWT already provided shelter to 50 deserving and vulnerable families of village Bhirrh and Bhirrh Bala.

Observations

Community of that area had suffered a lot because almost all houses & other property (Shops, shelter for livestock etc) were fully / partially damaged.

Being at higher altitude it is hard to reach the area and above all there is no proper road access .Houses are made at distances from each other due to mountainous terrain.

Therefore this area is under-served and people can not get relief easily. There were no other NGOs active in rehabilitation of this area.

Following activities done by the KLWT team

Shelter:

KLWT took the trucks loaded with the goods to Jaiswal village, 10 Km ahead of Batgram city. From Jaiswal onward the goods have been moved by the local jeeps. It is an hour and a half drive from Jaiswal to village Walarr Gutt. After off loading from the jeeps people took the sheets on their shoulders to their houses.

KLWT Shelter Program is a community based program & people are participating with great enthusiasm. The people had already built 50 Houses in the 1st phase.

KLWT team visits the houses of the people who got relief items and CGI sheets for shelter. Most of the constructions were complete and people were living normal life. They were very happy and praying for KLWT staff, donors and appreciation for the shelter program.

KLWT team distributed the CGI sheets at village Walarr Gutt and brief the community that how easily they can construct their shelters. The shelters made by the people of village Bhirrh Bala and Bhirrh is the prime example.

Education:

Team brief the people that how they can improve their living standard by educating their children, especially girls. The team further added that a girl of today will be the mother of tomorrow and she will improve the life of whole family. An educated woman can solve problem easily.  She can supervise and groom her children and family easily. So education is must for both boys and girls. There are 3 Boys Primary Schools and 1 Boys Middle School but enrollments in the schools are very low. There is a Govt: Girls Primary School in village Summ Banda, but due to some cultural environments only few of the girls attending the school.  

Team accompanied with 8Th class student Mr. Abdul Wahid resident of village Walarr Gutt met with many children and guide them that all the boys must go to school and develop their personality as Abdul Wahid is, he can speak, read and write Urdu as well as English. KLWT Team also distributed shirts and clothes among the Boys and girls. School going children demanded School Bags, Uniform, Note Books and other stationary items.

Health:

The community of Village Bhirrh Bala, Bhirrh, Buland Patti Summ Banda, and Walarr Gutt demanded a dispensary in the area, there is only BHU in village Rajmera which is serving more than 7000 families of 2 union councils Batta Morri and shamlai (Batgram), there is shortage of staff and medicine. The community elders are ready to donate the land for dispensary.

Observation & Recommendation:

There is also need of 100 more shelters for the survivor of the earthquake in this area and  a dispensary at village Walarr Gutt.

Appeal:

For those who want to donate some shelters to the poor and needy victims of earthquake, the cost of each shelter is around PKR 18,000 (USD 300, GBP 170).