Response Bulletin - ReliefWeb · of his mother He wanted to settle in Dubai but luck had it, ... He had been taken to a psychiatrist and diagnosed as depression. Mushtaq, Saleem and

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Response BulletinJammu & Kashmir Flood Response,

J&K 2014 Vol 3 February, 2015

Key Note Message

Kashmir is witness to one of the worst conflicts of modern era with huge human costs and mental health one of the worst casualties. Lifetime prevalence of major depression, substance use disorder and PTSD is at all-time high. The economic costs of this huge mental health burden are tremendous. But as if this was not enough we had more than share of natural disasters .Kashmir earthquake of 2005, snowstorm 2005 proved our vulnerabilities to natural disaster .But after every disaster we rebounded back the human spirit of resilience and coping was displayed in its purest form.On night intervening 6th and 7th September the incessant rains culminated in flash floods, river banks gave way and cities and villages got inundated with massive floods. Lakhs of people got trapped in their houses there was minimal or no rescue and relief .Fear was only emotion prevailing and palpable. But then the local population responded in unparalleled way never witnessed in history perhaps, anything and everything that could float started roaming in city and village waters rescuing every human life that could be saved ,providing food ,water and medicines in every nook and corner .Were else did you see such human spirit of brotherhood and love. And here we are rising from mud and dust like a Phoenix does, we may be slowly rising but we surely are.Disasters do leave psychological scars and we are no exception but most of the people are coping and resilient, you can see resilience on roads people are doing their best to leave trauma behind and reconnect with life, cleaning, retrieving, mending and helping all are signs of coping. But how best we cope will depend on how best relief and rehabilitation is done In terms restoring shelters, businesses and lost employments As there are inadvertent delays in all of that the psychological morbidity is emerging .Mushtaq a 40 year old male was rescued from 2nd floor of his house in a boat along with his two kids from chhattabal, while they were rowing to safety there boat hit a block and capsized and for a moment he thought everything is lost, he saw his kids and wife struggling, luckily for them another boat which was near them rescued them with help of few young man. but he is stuck there, he continuously thinks about the event .He cannot stop thinking about it, his dreams have turned into nightmares were he only here’s cries of his wife n kids. He has not gone back home since then, even though his house is safe and everybody else has returned .He fears water and even tap water gets his heart pounding He seems to be at edge n jittery he is not able to rest as flood keeps on coming his mind the flashbacks just don’t go. He cannot even look at flowing Jhelum through his window, he gets angry at slightest of provocation He doesn’t listen to any logic of going back to his home, he thinks it is unsafe .He is in this state from last three months with continuous worsening, he refuses to let his wife or his kids move out of house. He has been recently diagnosed as PTSD.Saleema a 25 female was married two years back last year he and his husband bought a house in rajbagh from all they had. On 6th September it was deluged and he and his wife with one year kid were rescued in a boat, for next four weeks they shuffled between various relatives till water started receding at rajbagh .the couple were feeling fine and were thankful to GOD for being alive. But everything changed when they returned back to their home.it was damaged completely. It was lost permanently and both sank with that loss. They could not reconcile with the fact that they are homeless. The

only help they received was few thousand rupees which can buy them nothing but then the husband started resuming his routines. But Saleema started remaining aloof and sad she will get in middle of night and weep. She lost INTREST in everything including his kid. She stopped taking food and she lost 10 kg in next month. She is inconsolable as mere thought of being homeless sends shivers inside her heart pounds and she cries and cries.Saleem a 35 returned from Dubai leaving a well-paid job on insistence of his mother He wanted to settle in Dubai but luck had it, he could not resist his mother’s repeated calls to return home had started a business after selling all jewellery of his mother and taking a huge bank loan” at jawahar nagar on 6th September everything sank. His dreams and his lifetime collection, his home now he is in huge debt no help from anywhere homeless and alone fighting the ill fortune he succumbed to stress from last three weeks he has stopped coming out a rented accommodation they live in he has lost all INTREST in life, is not sleeping from last 10 nights his eye look luster less begging for help but no one is listening. He had been taken to a psychiatrist and diagnosed as depression. Mushtaq, Saleem and Saleema are now our new realities more we delay rehabilitation more and more of them will succumb to the black hole of traumaour weapons are faith and belief, social networking and social bonding. We should avoid loneliness and social isolation. We should pledge to do whatsoever it takes to minimize psychosocial morbidity.

Dr. Arshad HussainConsultant Psychiatrist

Government Psychiatric Disease Hospital

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INTER AGENCY COORDINATION :

The First Multi stakeholder Consultation, was organized at District Headquarter, Baramulla on 8th January after receiving request from the District Administration on providing technical support on developing the District Disaster Management Plan for district Baramulla. The main agenda for the workshop was to review the existing District Disaster Management Plan and to discuss the process for updation/preparation of improved DDMP. Sphere India also shared a presentation on usage of Google Earth software for mapping the disaster affected zones, relief and rehabilitation activities which was well appreciated. The District Development Commissioner, Baramulla felt that there is a strong need of a District specific Disaster management Plan in an multi-hazard prone district like Baramulla and conduct the vulnerability profile of the entire district to different kind of hazards. The meeting was attended by 10 Line departments and few NGOs. A District Advisory Committee was formed to take review the DDMP Processes being adopted on a regular basis.

Coordination Updates from Sphere India:December 2014

A Baseline Report for collaborative advocacy has been initiated with an initial pilot from three most affected districts. This report gives a brief oversight on the status of access to social protection schemes and other entitlements. The advocacy tool along with the baseline report will be shared with the advocacy subcommittee for their inputs. An extensive Baseline Study will be carried out involving the local partner agencies in the target areas of their respective agencies in accordance with the processes adopted in the pilot study.

Further to the requests received by the District Development Commissioners, from three district locations, five day Training of Master Masons was organized in District Bandipora, Baramulla and Kulgam from 5th to 19th January in partnership with CARE India on building disaster resilient shelters. While Sphere India garnered logistic support from the district administration for effective implementation of this activity, Care India provided technical support for these trainings.

Following the Consultation, the DDMP Processes were initiated in the district. A DDMP Consultant has been placed in the district. Inter-district meetings with Line Departments have been initiated and Hazard Vulnerability Capacity Analysis is also been carried out in 6 villages of Baramulla. These activities will feed into the DDMP Report of Baramulla.

Outcomes of the Training :

• Creating a cadre of 60 masons skilled in building disaster resilient shelters.

• Orientation to Masons on adhering to UNDP Guidelines(specific to J&K) on building earthquake resistant houses.

• Government to appoint these trained and skilled masons in the re-building of flood affected houses. Linkages can be established with NGOs working on shelter.

• The trained masons to impart similar training to other masons in their respective blocks and tehsils. District Commissioners to provide financial support.

• The recommendations pertaining to hazards, vulnerabilities and shelter interventions, put forth by the trainers in the training report, can feed into the respective DDMPs.

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Google Earth Mapping :

A process of mapping the shelter beneficiaries of different organizations was initiated in response to Jammu & Kashmir Floods. This tool was shared with the Shelter Agencies to collect detailed information on the Shelter support provided at the district level along with geo tagged pictures for updating the Google Earth Mapping. A database of all the beneficiaries covered under different Shelter schemes by International, National, Local organizations was developed and converted into Google Maps which brought more clear and transparent picture of intervention activity and beneficiary coverage by different agencies.

Planned Activities for February-March 2015 :

• First Multi stakeholder Consultation on DDMP at Shopian HQ. • First Multi stakeholder Consultation on DDMP at Kulgam HQ.• State level Consultation on initiating the DDMP in Jammu.• First Multi stakeholder Consultation on DDMP at Poonch HQ.• Final Multi stakeholder Consultation on DDMP at Bandipora HQ.• Initiation of DDMP Processes in District Shopian, Kulgam and Poonch.• Multi stakeholder Consultation on Common Forward Looking Learning Mission and Advocacy Study.• Collecting of Shelter Beneficiary details from Shelter Agencies for Google Earth Mapping.• Capacity building of GO NGOs in Google Earth Mapping in three district locations.

Collection of information on the Revised Government Entitlements under SDRF/NDRF norms for the disaster affected population. Urdu Translation of IEC Material was shared with the Collaborative Advocacy vertical. The printed material will be disseminated in the most affected districts of J&K.Developing a Common Lesson Learning Tool/Questionnaire post J&K Floods. The Tool has been shared with the Knowledge Management Committee for their insights and inputs.

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Responding to…….BUILD BACK BETTER KASHMIR (2014-2015) :

Caritas India with the support of the implementing Partners CSSS completed 50 transit shelters for the flood victims of Pulwama district along with distribution of food items, NFI and livestock covering 2900 families in Pulwama and Anantnag districts.In Srinagar, Caritas India is in the process of completing 100 transit shelters in support with the Corporates.

Identification of the beneficiary :

For the purpose of identification of the beneficiary for the distribution of food grains, NFI and Livestock, Caritas India and CSSS made an assessment of the villages and identified villages which are poorest of poor and vulnerable. The Aquaf Committee was contacted and list of the people coming under the criteria of Caritas India was selected. The selected members are provided a card for availing the benefits.

Actions taken by NGOs :

Shelter :

A model prototype of the transit shelter was constructed in Shanpora Habak. The design of the prototype was discussed and approved by the District Administration. Caritas India has made it mandatory that the community participation in the finalization of the design. The design was shown and discussed with the beneficiary and Aquaf committee before it was finalized. Also it was made sure that community specifically the beneficiary will be part of the construction process to bring in ownership essence among them.

SI.No

1. 100

2.

No. of Transit Shelter

Districts

Srinagar

Pulwama 50

Support through Food grains and NFI kits :

Caritas India along with the implementing partners distributed food grains kits covering around 1200 families in the district of Pulwama and Anantnag districts. The main focus of this is to support the vulnerable families during the winter season as there is no income and there is no storage of food grains due to flood. Providing the food grains and NFI will support the families specifically women and children to run the household. The local team identified the ration shop through which the food grains were supplied. The 1200 identified beneficiary will use the card provided by Caritas India to avail the benefits. Each family will be receiving food grains worth Rs. 2000. For the purpose of NFI, 1200 will be supported with following items worth of Rs. 2430

Caritas INDIA

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SI.No

1. 25 Kg

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Quantity

10.

Food items

Rice

Ata

Rajma

Channa

Refine oil

Soyabean

Kashmiri Tea

salt

Dal

Spices - chilli, tumeric

10 Kg

2 Kg

1 Kg

2 liters

3 kg

1 kg

1 kg

1 kg

500 gms each

Distribution of Food Grains :

SI.No

1. 7 meters of Feran for the family which includes Feran for men, women and children

2.

3.

4.

Quantityitems

Feran

Socks

Kangadi

Foam

5 Pairs of socks for the family

3 kangadi for the family

10x10 for the house

family will be receiving food grains worth Rs. 2000. For the purpose of NFI, 1200 will be supported with following items worth of Rs. 2430

Support with Livestock:

One of the major issues identified in the sector assessment is that livestock were majorly affected due to the flood. Many of the families are not in the position to support the livestock and selling them for food grains. Hence, Caritas India felt the need to support 500 families with livestock materials –

SI.No

1.

2.

items

17 kgs Bran

25kg Feed

Through this the families will be able to rear the livestock.

Collaboration with the Government and Various institutions :

Caritas India has developed good rapport with the government and works in-hand for the flood intervention. Every month Caritas India team meets the respective District Administration and briefs the programme intervention. Caritas India and CSSS is also part of the Coordination meetings held in various district on J&K Flood. Caritas India also maintains good rapport with other organization like Sphere India, Seeds, Mercy Corps, Red R etc. Caritas India believes in collaborating with other organizations in reaching the needy and vulnerable people and strives towards it.

Distribution of NFI :

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Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) is working in Kashmir since 2004 in Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar districts. IGSSS responded to major earthquake of 2005 in Uri, Baramulla with relief and rehabilitation and also initiated its major emergency response project in the aftermath of massive floods in Kashmir. IGSSS as an active part of Sphere India network in Kashmir carried out Rapid Needs Assessment in 70 areas on Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla. IGSSS has planned to reach out to 15750 families through, unconditional cash transfer, relief materials, medical attention and psychosocial support in 56 areas of Pattan and Singhpora blocks in Baramulla, Sumbal and Hajin blocks of Bandipora and and 14 urban area Srinagar district. The Flood Response Project is being supported by Misereor Germany, Islamic Relief India and Faizal & Shabana Foundation.

Major Achievements :

• Unconditional Cash Transfer provided to 12461 families• Relief Materials (NFI, Hygiene Kits and Blankets) provided to 15558

families• Food Items (rice, cereals, edible oil etc) was provided to 3736 families• Medical attention to 10117 people was provided through mobile health

camps• Health Education was imparted to 2140 women and adolescent girls• Psychosocial support to 1060 children through creation of Child Friendly

Spaces

District Wise Progress

Srinagar :

• In Srinagar district 14 areas were reached out to with relief materials and unconditional cash transfer

• Unconditional Cash Transfer was provided to 3084 families.• Relief materials consisting of blankets, Non Food Items and hygiene kits

to 3598 families were provided.• Health camps in Srinagar were organized with the support from Help age

India and 1814 persons were treated in these camps.

Bandipora :

• In Bandipora district 30 villages from Sumbal and Hajin block were reached out with relief materials, unconditional cash transfer, health and psychosocial support.

• Unconditional Cash Transfer was provided to 5779 families • Relief materials consisting of blankets, Non Food Items and hygiene kits to families were provided to 7657 families.• Food Items (rice, cereals, edible oil etc) was provided to 2227 families• Mobile Health Camps in Bandipora are being organized by IGSSS Medical team with the support from Doctors for You, 5700 persons were treated in these

camps. 1744 women and adolescent girls have been imparted health education on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), nutrition and sanitation till date.• 920 children are being provided with psychosocial and educational support through child friendly spaces

Baramulla :

In Baramulla district 26 villages in Singhpora and Pattan blocks were reached out with relief materials, unconditional cash transfer, health and psychosocial support.• Unconditional Cash Transfer was provided to 3598 families • Relief materials consisting of blankets, Non Food Items and hygiene kits to families were provided to 4466 families.• Food Items (rice, cereals, edible oil etc) was provided to 1345 families• Mobile Health Camps in Bandipora are being organized by IGSSS Medical team with the support from Doctors for You, 4628 persons were treated in these

camps. 1740 women and adolescent girls have been imparted health education on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), nutrition and sanitation till date.• 40 children are being provided with psychosocial and educational support through child friendly spaces

Islamic Relief’s assistance to flood affected communities in J&K

True to its vision to a caring world where the basic requirements of people in need are fulfilled, Islamic Relief engaged in assisting flood affected communities in Kashmir soon after the onset of the floods.

Indo-Global Social Service Society’s (IGSSS) Kashmir Flood Response Project

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Based on Joint Rapid Needs Assessment, Islamic Relief supported flood affected girls, boys, women and men in Sumbal and Singhpora Blocks in Bandipora and Baramulla districts respectively. Islamic Relief in partnership with Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), made relief distribution of dry ration, hygiene kits, and kitchen sets, blankets, mattresses, foam sheets and solar lamps to more than 5,000 families spread over 17 villages to meet the immediate needs of those families. The relief distribution process was marked with community participation, culturally appropriate, transparent and accountable methods, coordination with other agencies and respect to the beneficiaries.

Concerned about the water borne diseases, Islamic Relief quickly installed water filtration/treatment plants, with capacities of 1,000 litres an hour, in 20 neighborhoods in 17 villages. These water plants support more than 5,000 individuals with provision of clean drinking water and thus prevented threat of potential water borne diseases. In addition, the project has provided 47 gravity based water filtration plants to 21 schools benefitting more than 2,500 children. Understanding that provision of safe drinking water is not enough to

maintain a healthy environment, the project undertook social awareness campaigns through group meetings and wall writing to promote safe practices related to safe water, hygiene and sanitation practices. With stagnant contaminated water all around, the project undertook cleaning and bleaching drives in critical locations like schools and primary health centers.

Floods took its toll on existing health infrastructure and services that left people no recourse to address their health needs. To address this situation, the project took the health services to the door steps of villages and conducted more than 80 health camps in 48 villages. These health camps has so far provided 9,000 medical consultations and dispensed basic medicines. One of the key feature of these camps has been to conduct health education targeting adolescent girls and women on personal hygiene. Health education has so far benefitted more than 4,000 beneficiaries. With heavy loss to their houses, household assets, standing crops, food stock, livestock, other means of livelihoods, girls, boys, men and women were traumatized. Their routine lives were shattered. While starting to provide psychological first aid, the project undertook an assessment and found that many suffered from loss of sleep, aggression, and loss of appetite, somatization, hallucination, recurring nightmares,

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helplessness and hopelessness and even some individual thoughts of ending their lives. The project focused on this issue and started provision of group counselling. For this purpose, the project reenergized the existing groups of youth and women and provided them a platform to reconnect and psychological first aid. The project trained 20 field volunteers in basic skills of counselling and provision of psychological first aid, and deputed a team of expert psychosocial counsellors. The results of these interventions are getting more visible with counselors now starting to terminate clients since these clients are back to normal functioning. More than 425 youth and women have benefitted from this interventions in about 20 villages.

Save the children Flood Humanitarian response 2014-2015:

Incessant rains resulted in the overflowing of the Jhelum and Tawi rivers in Jammu & Kashmir leading to the worst flood to hit the state in 60 years. Over 5 million people in the state have been affected in over 2600 villages, of these an estimated 2.2 million are children. The loss due to floods in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been pegged at INR 50,000 crore. By September 6 the flooding was recognized as the worst in 50 years. (Reports claim that it was the worst flood in 109 years). Heavy rainfall has caused (1) flash flooding with localized damage across the state, (2) landslides, which impacted on communities and road connectivity and (3) widespread flooding in the Kashmir Valley. Floodwaters breached embankments in many low-lying areas in Kashmir, including the capital Srinagar, forcing people to move to safer places. The Jhelum River, Chenab and many other streams were flowing above danger mark. The worst affected districts were Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Budgam, Rajouri, Poonch. Save the Children mounted a rapid assessment within 24 hours after floods intensified; and also actively contributed to the joint assessment of the humanitarian coalition. Humanitarian needs overwhelmed in terms of immediate relief support of food, non-food items, shelter, medicine, drinking water, clothing, etc. Schools were closed and many of them severely damaged. Entire government machinery in Srinagar was paralyzed as the government buildings were under water (in some cases covering 1st and 2nd floor of the buildings). The displacement was immeasurable.Save the Children mounted a Child-Centered Humanitarian Response within 48 hours targeting 10,000 households (approximately 60,000 persons including 25,000 children) who were made severely vulnerable due to this unprecedented humanitarian crisis across 6 worst affected districts (Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Rajouri and Poonch). As per the standard operating procedures SC deployed several members of the Humanitarian Roster to strengthen the local team and has provided immediate relief in close coordination with Government and CSOs.

Most concerned about the disturbances to the routine of girls and boys and psychological impact of floods in their lives, the project started bringing girls and boys of 6-14 years into child friendly spaces. These safe spaces, where girls and boys had opportunities and access to recreation, play and peer group interaction under trained facilitators, provided children to return to their normalcy. Child behavior checklist was administered to analyze the psychological impact of floods, specialized activities were conducted with children to address their issues. 1,042 girls and boy are benefitting from these interventions in 15 villages. There are many girls and boys who have lost their parents and in many cases their only home is Orphanages. In collaboration with J&K Social Welfare Department, Islamic Relief has provided winterization and education kit support to all children living in State run orphanages in both Kashmir division and Jammu division.

Islamic Relief and its partner IGSSS find courage and inspiration to continue to engage in supporting flood affected communities, when they see happiness on the faces of girls and boys, hopes in the lives of youth and return of shine on the faces of women.Encouraged by testimonies of beneficiaries, Islamic Relief is, in principle, committed to continue recovery and development work in the Kashmir valley.Islamic Relief is thankful to its donors and supporters for their financial support.

SI.No

1. 4985 Families

2.

3.

4.

Numbers ReachedActivity

Food Basket

NFI

Transitional Shelter

Child friendly Spaces

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Winter Education camps

Flooring

winter Education Kits

Bukharis

Mink Blankets

Pheran

Hot Water Bag

Kangri

Utensils

Bedding

Health Camps organized

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

2500 families

2400 children

8000 Families

809 families

784 Families

30

800 Families

360 Families

5025 Children

438 Families

10 camps

60 Villages

158 Families

8938 Families

Till date save the children implemented following activities in six districts of J&K.

Below is the detail of direct beneficiaries reached:

11526

GirlsBoys

12681 19980

MaleTotal

24207 38478

TotalFemale

18498

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The activities which have been implemented in the month of January 2015 are as under :

• Distribution of Non-Food Items: The distribution of non-food items to the most affected beneficiaries has been carried out in all the 6 districts which was part of the target set in the response plan. NFI kits were provided to 2100 families in this month.

• Child Friendly Spaces: The child friendly spaces which have been set up in the affected areas. Children enjoy learning, playing and socialization in the CFS. All the 60 CFS have been provided the materials to keep warm inside. The materials include foam and carpet, Bukharies have been provided to all 60 CFS. 6479 boys and girls are enrolled and attending the CFS regularly.

• Distribution of winter NFI: The beneficiaries have been provided material like bedding, Bukhari, hot water bottles, pherans, thermals and fire pot (Kangries). By this intervention 9,500 beneficiaries were benefitted.

• Winter Education Camps: The winter education camps have been established in the target areas, where children study and learn. The enrolment in these winter camps is 1081 children. The children were provided with Education Kit comprising of Mini Solar Lamp, Water bottle, Bag, Umbrella, 6 Big size note book, 5 small size note book, Scale, I box Pencil, eraser, Sharpener, Pen Kit and Drawing book. 5025 kits were distributed among children enrolled in CFS and winter camps during the month of january.

• Mink Blankets: Mink blankets were provided to 800 HH in four districts of Kashmir province in this month.

• Transitional shelters to most affected households: As over 80% of houses in flood-affected areas of our intervention areas where either submerged, or destroyed/collapsed and most houses in badly affected areas remain inaccessible, there was need for transitional shelters to protect them from harsh winter, when temperatures drop below freezing. Those families were provided with material support for transitional shelters whose houses were collapsed by floods. Save the children with the support from partners identified 200 families in four districts of Kashmir valley. Under phase first save the children has provided material support for transitional shelters to 158 HH. The following is the district wise break up: Srinagar= 55, Budgam=33, Anantnag=25, pulwama=25, Poonch=20). The size of the shelter is 15’/12’ one room or partition in between with single entry. The shelter were elevated 1 feet from ground in order to protect from rain and snow. The shelter is covered with tin sheets and ply woods boards inside for insulation.

The following is the detailed description of the components of the transitional shelter-

1. Tin Sheets and Plywood Boards- 30 tin sheets (15feet x12 feet cut size 180 GSM) and 10 ply wood boards were be used to construct the transitional shelters. Apart from that households used timber they have secured from the debris to raise the wooden structures. The wooden material will act as an insulator for the shelter.

2. Heating Arrangements- A traditional heater arrangement like Bukhari and additional items like wood, charcoal or other fuel were provided to these 158 households.

This intervention will reach out to 200HH in this month and it will make families self-sufficient to overcome the harsh winter conditions.

Expected Outcomes :

• 200 highly vulnerable households receive temporary shelter in this extreme cold winter.

Long term Intervention :

Save the Children is planning to do following long term intervention in the flood affected districts:• Food security and livelihood• WASH• Reconstruction of damaged/ collapsed schools.

Following the devastating floods in Jammu &Kashmir in September 2014, immediate relief assistance was provided to affected communities by SEEDS and many other humanitarian agencies. However, post the emergency phase, the pressing need that arose from most of the flood affected communities in J&K was that of provision of interim shelters to withstand the harsh winters that lay ahead.SEEDS with support from United Way of India and TATA, soon set on the task of providing transitional shelters for 192 flood affected families across 14 villages of Pulwama district.

An “all of village” approach was adopted for carrying out the intervention. According to this approach, the aim was that the intervention should benefit all families in single village. Thereby, the most destitute and families in dire need were to be provided with a fully complete interim shelter unit of 264 sq. ft. (considering SPHERE standards for average family size of 7). Rest of the affected families shall be provided with material support. Families whose house are not affected, but would have been impacted from the floods anyway, were welcome to seek any technical guidance from the SEEDS team based in the village.Based on this, with support from United Way of India, SEEDS constructed complete shelter for 191 families and provided shelter material support to one family across 14 villages of Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir.

Transitional Shelters for Flood affected familiesSEEDS Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 – 15

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The shelter design developed was such that it ensured quick construction, use of local and low cost material, acceptable, adaptable and replicable by the community and protection from the harsh winters. Factors like snow level and seismic safety were also considered.

Each shelter unit is 24’ x 12’ (centre line of wall), with 265 sq. ft. of carpet area. The structure is in ‘A’ shape with CGI roofing. Soak-pit based toilet of size 4’ x 4’ was provided to 91 families who required it. As part of beneficiary participation and contribution, Brick wall masonry over stone plinth, flooring and fixing of door/ window shutters were required to be carried out by the beneficiary using salvageable material from the damaged house.

The process :

The intervention began with house to house survey across various villages of Pulwama for identifying families and determining the category of intervention required based on the impact of floods and the choice of the family on the kind of support they require.

The list developed by SEEDS during relief distribution, was taken as basis of initiating the survey. Further support was taken from the district authorities, panchayat members and local leaders to reach out to the most affected and deserving families.

SEEDS is provided assistance to 192 families across fourteen villages namely, Mohanviji, Dougham, Marvel, Sathergund, Kakapora, Khadarmuh, Kisrigam Gundibagh, Bighumbagh, Naman, Larow, Gulbugh, Banderpora and Kadlabal.

22

Number of identified families to be

supported with complete sheltersName of the Village

Mohanviji

Dougam

Marvel

Sathergund

Kakapora

Khadarmuh

Kadlabal

Kisrigam

Gundibagh

Bighumbagh

Naman

Larow

Gulbugh

Banderpora

Total

6

5

26

5

18

192

8

24

1

22

14

17

12

12

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AMAN Health CENTER :

Since 2003, the AMAN Trust has been running a health care center in the village Matipora, Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The center provides basic health care facilities to neighboring twenty villages, in a radius of around 7 kms.

Floods in September 2014 :

Jammu and Kashmir witnessed the worst floods from 2nd September 2014 onwards during the last stage of monsoon in India. This triggered flooding and landslides in India and the adjoining areas of Pakistan. On 5th September, the Jhelum river in Srinagar was reported to be flowing at 22.40 feet (6.83 m) which was 4.40 feet (1.34 m) above the danger mark and at 33 feet (10 m) at Sangam in Anantnag district above the danger mark. In actual figures 2600 villages were reported to be affected in the entire state out of which 390 villages in Kashmir were completely submerged. Around 281 people died in these floods — 196 of them in the Jammu province and 85 in the Kashmir Valley.12.50 lakh families were directly or indirectly affected by the floods. Loss of property was estimated to be 1,00,000 crores.

AMAN flood intervention :

In the first phase of intervention, AMAN in collaboration with Sadbhavna Trust began intervention in district Baramulla from 17th September onwards by offering free health care and relief in district Baramulla. A large number of people extended their solidarity and support for the relief programme with financial donations, medicines and voluntary services. In the second phase of intervention doctors from St’ Johns Medical college of Bangalore volunteered their services and in collaboration with TATA group extended relief work in the form of free medical camps and community kitchens in districts of Baramulla, Bandipora, Budgam and Srinagar.A total of over 20,000 beneficiaries were given medical treatment and free medicines during the camps in various villages of district Baramulla (10000 patients), district Bandipora (7000 patients), district Budgam (1000 patients) and Srinagar town (3000 patients). The camps were held in over 25 villages and localities. Along with the medical camps, the team of doctors and volunteers conducted awareness programme in the evening informing the community about how to take measures to avoid post-flood diseases and epidemic. The community kitchen were held from 17th September-8 October. Our team collaborated with the villagers to initiate community kitchen in different villages. The Community Kitchen reached out to well over 50,000 people in Bandipora and Baramulla districts. The villages where the community kitchen were located were Najin, Gadakhud, Shagunpora, Khandajipora, Deour Yakwanpora.Apart from the above, the AMAN team in collaboration with the TATA group has distributed family kits and warm kits among 927 families in 11 different villages of districts Baramulla and Budgam during the period, 11th Oct- 13th Oct, 2014. AMAN in collaboration with Charities Aid Foundation also distributed 500 health/food/hygiene/family kits in 7 villages spread across 3 districts of Bandipora, Budgam and Srinagar.

Terre des hommes(TDH) Sailaab- Flooding in Jammu & Kashmir 2014

Unprecedented floods in the month of September 2014 killed more than 250 people in Jammu & Kashmir. According to the authorities of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 10 million people have been affected with floods.

As a response to the floods, Terre des hommes (TDH)-Foundation promptly sent a team to participate in the Joint Rapid Needs Assessment and coordinate with the authorities and other NGOs on ground. While the needs were manifold, TDH and its local partner NGOs Coordination Federation (NCF) decided to concentrate its efforts in 8 villages of Baramulla and Anantnag districts. The target villages are Gund Ibrahim, Zadi Mohalla, Dewar Yakhmanpora, Matipora, Aalambal, Gagripora in district Baramulla and Shoul & Shamsipora villages in district Anantnag.

Starting with the household identification survey, TDH’s initial intervention concentrated on improving access to safe drinking water through provision of filters in schools, anganwadi centers and communities, provision of ration supplies for 3 months to Anganwadi centers, educational kits (including notebooks, pencils, a pencil case, a warm cap and a school bag) for children and hygiene kits (including soap, detergent, disinfectant and sanitary pads) for adolescent girls.

Catering to the food security aspect of the affected population, TDH decided to provide cash assistance in the form of unconditional cash transfer and cash for work. Till mid of January 2015, TDH delivered 1250 educational kits, 1400 hygiene kits, ration supplies for three months to anganwadi centers and constructed 6 hand washing stations and refurbished 4 water sources close to schools. In order to help people cope with the sub-zero temperatures and generally harsh winter season, TDH distributed 1250 winter kits to flood affected people in Anantnag and Baramulla districts. Each kit included three blankets, and 4 thermal tops in assorted sizes. 2 tops for children and 2 tops target adults in each household. TDH also plans to carry out mass awareness campaigns on WASH issues highlighting the importance of clean drinking water and hand washing. WASH awareness campaign will target approximately 10000 beneficiaries in communities with special focus on students, caregivers and food preparers in schools and anganwadi. Improved WASH facilities and knowledge will make the affected populace aware about the basics to be practiced for safe drinking water and maintain sanitary conditions at home and the community.

Hygiene kit distribution at Dewar Yakhmanpora, Baramulla

Hand washing station constructed at Govt. Primary School, Zadi Mohalla, Baramulla

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Master Mason’s Training – Jammu & Kashmir

During the recent floods in Jammu & Kashmir, a huge number of shelters were destroyed & thousands rendered homeless. One of the reason being the shelters not being disaster resilient. Thus, shelter was one of the emerging needs in the region.

Therefore, CARE India in collaboration with SPHERE India organized a series of training programme on Disaster Resilient Construction for 63 master masons (Bandipore-23, Baramulla-20 & Kulgam-20) on request of the District administration, Govt. of J&K in 3 districts of Srinagar division namely Bandipore (5th-9th Jan’ 15), Baramulla (10th -14th Jan’ 15) and Kulgam (15th-19th Jan’ 15). The event was inaugurated by Dr.Shah Faesal (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Bandipore; Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani, ADC-Baramulla and Mr. Sajjad Ahmad- ADDC Kulgam in their respective districts.

The purpose of the training was to develop Master Masons by building their knowledge and skills on disaster resilient shelter construction to reduce the risks in case of a disaster situation due to existing vulnerabilities in the region. Thereby, the Master Masons trained would become a vehicle of change by incorporating DRR features in shelter construction and propagate the same to their counterparts.

Each training was conducted for a span of five days encompassed various sessions including Rapid Needs Assessment in shelter, Shelter design (evolving appropriate design), components of building and option of materials, Structural performance, Government of India-Guidelines for Earthquake Resistant Reconstruction and New Construction of Masonry buildings in Jammu and Kashmir State, components of foundation, components of brick masonry in cement mortar, concrete block masonry in cement mortar and field demonstrations of safer practices.

Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Baramulla who has been working as a mason for around 30 years mentioned that he has acquired new techniques and skills during the training period which he would put to good use in constructing disaster resilient shelter construction in his districts and other masons echoed the same opinion.

The recommendations of the training include -1. Model house construction using DRR features should be undertaken at the district headquarters, 2. Follow up mason training at the block level should be undertaken and 3. The training generated high level of interest among the master masons for the Guidelines. In view of that, translation of the annexed

Guidelines should be done in local language to be used as resource material for subsequent trainings.

Action Aid Response to Floods in Kashmir

Action Aid has been working in Kashmir from last 12 years with its focus on psychosocial care, entitlements and livelihood generation. Action Aid has also responded to some of the emergencies that Kashmir has witnessed including the earthquake that hit Kashmir in 2005.

Towards the floods of September 2014, Action Aid’s first and immediate response was carrying out a rapid and independent assessment, which was started on 8th September, in six districts of Kashmir covering a total of 295 villages. Once affected areas were mapped, Action Aid devised its strategy focusing on immediate and recovery/intermediate needs. With the help of its partners – J&K Yateem Trust and Human Welfare Foundation, Action Aid initiated its J&K Food Response Programme to provide ration, blankets, beddings, hygiene kits, and health care as immediate relief and later expanded in subsequent phases to provide livelihood opportunities, education support and recreational facilities and psycho-social care in the intermediate phase to thousands of flood affected people in Kashmir to enable them recover from the impact of floods. Action Aid evolved a very systematic approach which assured that communities are engaged in the programme from taking decisions on the selection of beneficiaries to distribution of relief among people as well as providing critical inputs on the basket of items to be provided in relief.In its first phase, Action Aid reached out to more than 2000 flood affected families with immediate relief including ration kits, hygiene kits, blankets, and provided health care to more than 3500 people across 40 villages/areas in 5 districts (Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Srinagar and Baramulla). Action Aid was among a few organizations which reached to the people with relief immediately in these areas.In the second phases of response, Action Aid not only continued with relief distribution but expanded its intervention and rolled down a ‘Cash for Work’ programme, which provided 40 days of wage employment to 1000 families who were poor and flood affected, in 31 villages across Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama. Other than increasing access of affected people to incomes (Rs. 9000 per family), facilitating people’s engagement in activities also helped to develop their coping capacity and resilience to deal with mental stress that people were experiencing after witnessing such large scale devastations in their habitations.

ActionAid’s strategy involves multiphase intervention with an immediate response to provide ration, blankets and health care to

people in the first phase, and expanding the intervention to livelihood, education support, child recreational spaces and psychosocial

care in the subsequent phases.

In this second phase, Action Aid also increased its relief distribution in Baramulla district, where only a couple of NGOs intervened in flood affected areas. The support included providing ration kits, hygiene kits, solar lanterns, beddings (quilts, mattresses and warmer covers), blankets and Kangries to 1670 families across 20 villages in Baramulla district.

In the third phase of response in January 2015, Action Aid rolled another component of its emergency programme, ‘Play and Learning Centers’ for children in 10 flood affected areas of Pulwama. These centers provide education support and engage children in recreational activities, as a process of facilitating their participation in joy and fun, so that they are able to cope up easily with the experience of floods. More than 750 children are participating in these Centers. In the third phase, Action Aid also continued its relief distribution of providing ration kits, hygiene kits and blankets to 2200 families in 36 villages across Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama. With Action Aid’s more than decadal long experience in providing psychosocial care in Kashmir, it has also expanded its ‘psychosocial project’ to provide psycho-social care to those who experience stress, anxiety, depression or any other mental health problem in 30 flood affected villages of Anantnag, Pulwama and Baramulla.

Action Aid also provided heat convectors and blankets to L.D. State Maternity Hospital, Srinagar and is also in process to procure many more equipment’s for Government Medical College Srinagar.

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Other than being able to provide support for food, non-food items, medical care as well as livelihood, Action Aid has also realized the need to engage in and build discussions on issues of disasters, government’s response and long term strategy that Government should adopt to be able to deal with emergencies in a more systematic, effective and rapid way. In this direction, Action Aid organized a seminar in University of Kashmir in November 2014, attended by reputed academicians, psychiatrists, civil society, government officers, media and students, in large numbers, in which the causes of floods, responses of government and non-government sector, as well as the way forward towards rehabilitation of affected people was debated and discussed. Action Aid is also engaging at the grassroots level in flood affected areas with communities to demand their rights to compensation, rations and livelihood in order to enable excluded families to access their due share of rights and entitlements.

Families engaged in CASH for WORK Programme of ActionAid

Voices from Community :

MY experience in floods as Chief Warden Baramulla

Five months after Kashmir saw the worst floods in a century, rehabilitation process for the survivors is still going on. It was Army who stepped in first for rescue operations but civil society contributed the most in search and rescue. 12.5 lakh families have been affected and the government of Jammu and Kashmir has made an initial estimate of about 1 trillion. With the onset of winter, the rehabilitation work is still unfinished. My family was trapped for more than 4days on the half constructed 2nd storey and one storey house was submerged in water. Everyone trapped was praying for his life.I fail to find words to express the horrible situation all of us were confronted with. My attempts failed to rescue my family early due to lack of logistics. Terrifying speed and water levels of over 10 feet level in Bemina Srinagar created a dreadful scenario. Everyone, irrespective of age or sex, feared for his or her survival. As chief warden civil Defense Baramulla I communicated last at 10:30 am with radio kashmir for sending safety messages on air for livestock to untie all animals in flood areas and there after all communication system failed.It was finally on 11 September I along with team of relatives rescued the family on inflated air mattress along with some neighbors and provided relief material like milk,water ,medicine, vegetables etc which we have carried for 3 hours in water to reach there in Bemina Srinagar from HMT .In-between we were busy in other adjacent areas for rescue and relief operations.Failure of planning, corrupt practices and lack of risk perception by the governing bodies have added more miseries to public due to lack of preparedness and initiating mitigation measures.People were helpless and hopeless because they did not have a place where they could stay. They didn’t have food to eat or clothes to wear. Whatever they had was broken or spoiled. They were living

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a miserable life during that period. It was very unfortunate to hear that there were no announcements or alerts regarding the flood at all. They were not told to leave their homes and go to safer places. The people stayed for many days in the bank building waiting; all thirsty and hungry. Praise for the Kashmiri youth from flood free areas who had rescued at the cost of their own lives.The devastating floods, besides taking so many precious lives, have washed away the property worth thousands of Crore— houses, bridges, bunds, roads, shops and other infrastructure. Kashmir is vulnerable for both natural and manmade disasters and lies in worlds most vulnerable zone for earthquake zone 5.preapredness and mitigation measures would be cost effective than post disaster rescue and rehabilitation investments.

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM FIELD

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Henna HejaziProgramme Manager-TCBP [email protected]: +91-9906489491

Shivani RanaProject Coordinator-IAC

[email protected]: +91- 9811709916

Chhemet LamoProgramme Manager-IAC

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Developed by Pooja Rana with inputs from Henna Hejazi and Field Team.

SHELTER CONSTRUCTION IN JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Agreed non-negotiable points:

1. Scientific assessment of houses and soil must be conducted before repair and re-occupying for the large number of houses that have not collapsed post floods to ensure they are safe to live in.

2. Strong permanent foundation with proper plinth raised to approx. 3 feet.3. Transitional houses should be built to last at least 6 months4. Shelters constructed should be:

a. able to withstand heavy snowb. Should have provision for thermal insulationc. Should be fire resistant

5. Use of construction material that can be re-used with a provision to build up further and expand the structure when the people have additional resources.

6. Shelters should have provision for kitchen and also sanitation7. Shelter should meet minimum standards (approx. 3m sq per person)8. Technology for construction should be such that can be learnt and is doable by the local community9. Houses for persons with disabilities should have accessibility features.10. Community participation in the construction process should be encouraged