Programmes and Operations

Present Programmes

Pakistan

ICMC Post-Earthquake Assistance Programme

On the 8th of October 2005, the major earthquake that hit South Asia, measuring 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale, left many in urgent need of humanitarian aid.Since then, although much has been done, there is still much needed.

From January 2006 in the Azad Jammu Kasmir (AJK) and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) regions in Pakistan, ICMC has provided sustainable, durable solutions for Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVI's) and Extremely Vulnerable Communities (EVC's) for whom return to their homes is not an option presently.

This operation is scheduled to last until December 2007, and was developed as a part of the Government of Pakistan's Early Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan (ERRA).

Thus, it has been designed in consultation with ERRA's priorities and policies. The operation was organised under three major phases. The following briefly outlines the phases, some of which have already taken place and some which will do so in the future.

For more information, please click here.

Some stories from the Vocational Training Programme…

Phase 1

Phase 1 occurred between January 2006 and June 2006. This phase included the provision of vocational skills training and tools to both AJK and NWFP regions. Further, psychological support such as individual and group counselling sessions using extended family structures were held. Educational and training sessions were created, such as the "Training of Trainers Programme". Through information centres in AJK, the provision of individualized legal protection and information was also provided. This included working with National Database and Registration Authority in Pakistan to assist Internally Displaced People (IDP's) in obtaining an ID card in order to be able to apply for disability, livelihood and housing compensations. Further, ICMC information centres in Muzaffarabad provided sessions, leaflets and relevant forms regarding compensation policies and rights.

Last, but certainly not least, important aid such as high altitude life saving units of non food items such as jackets, winterised tents, blankets and plastic sheets were distributed to difficult to access villages in NWFP.

ICMC staff member with an elderly widow named 'Parveen' who had been living without any support or source of income in a tent.

ICMC provided her with a goat, that will allow Parveen to sell its' milk, and in this way make a living.

Phase 2

Phase 2 started in June 2006 and will continue until March 2007. This phase has and will continue to focus on short term life saving needs of EVI's, capacity building for the winter as well as long term durable solutions for EVI's. This includes continuing to deliver immediate lifesaving services, continued Psycho-social support, creation of daily community activities in the camps and Union Councils, continued legal advice protection and information distribution and further, the "Restoration of Livelihoods for IDP's" which includes vocational skills training, distribution of relevant tools and materials and the dissemination of information about government livelihood compensation packages targeting EVI's.

In in village Shangrita of U.C Battal district & Tehsil Mansehra, people were very happy to receive this pump, which solved the severe water shortage problem.

Before this scheme was introduced, women had to fetch water from a very far source. This intervention was part of the Community Livelihood Input Scheme, funded by Caritas Australia and New Zealand.

Phase 3

During March 2007 and December 2007, phase 3 will focus on long term durable solutions for EVI's as well as continuing many of the previous operations and programs. Psychosocial support will be a large focus for phase 3. The development of the local capacity for addressing individual counselling needs, re-establishing recreational and community activities in places of return or relocation and the strengthening of local NGO's, health institutions, Social Welfare Departments, teachers and community recovery groups through training, supervision, support grants and professional placements to develop and implement psychosocial programs and activities will be launched in this phase. Phase 3 will also include a focus on "protection issues".
Continuing and adding to work from previous phases, these will include:

• Legal counselling and information centres addressing political and legal rights.
  
• Protection awareness - raising campaigns within communities.
  
• Creation of "protections watch groups".
  
• Building capacity of the affected population to advocate and mobilize for protection.
  
• Training community leaders, Social Welfare Department, teachers, hospital staff, police and government workers in trafficking and protection issues.
  
• Capacity building through training and small grants for local NGO's.
  
• Case Management for EVI's including the implementation of longer term case management to ensure the recovery and rehabilitation of EVI's .
  
• Case management for landless families including information about compensation policies and government plans.

ICMC has and continues to work closely with district line departments, local administrators, army, community representatives as well as both local and international Non Governmental Organisations to carry out this challenging work. ICMC is extremely appreciative to all the donors who have contributed and continue to contribute financially to this operation. These include Caritas Australia, Caritas France, Caritas New Zealand, Caritas Pakistan, The French Government, UNHCR and UNICEF.