INTRODUCTION

The powerful earthquake that rocked Pakistan also affected north India. Close to 100,000 people were killed in Pakistan and about 1,500 were killed in India. The epicenter of the quake was in west Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and while the bulk of the damage was in Pakistan, parts of India also suffered severe destruction.

Casa's Intervention

Initially the Government of India (GOI) was not allowing any NGO to do in relief work in the earthquake-affected areas. This was because Jammu and Kashmir is an area with militant insurgency and terrorism. NGOs working in the area could be at risk because of this, and there may also have been the risk of militants taking advantage of this situation by posing as NGO workers. However, with the approaching winter, the slow/inadequate efforts of the civil administration towards providing relief, and other inadequacies in relief efforts, the GOI allowed NGOs to begin work in the area.

CASA, a long-term partner of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and fellow member of the ACT alliance, immediately reacted by sending a team to assess the situation and do response planning and implementation. The team reached the area on October 14, and along with assessing the situation also began to network with local NGOs, churches and volunteers to broad base and value add to the relief operations. The team identified the areas of Uri and Tangdhar to do relief work in. The immediate needs of the people were also evaluated and were identified as:

• Woolen Clothing materials
• Utensils
• Blankets
• Tents, Tarpaulins and tin sheets

CASA targeted 6,575 of the most affected families in the Uri and Tangdhar sector. These areas had villages that were either completely or partially damaged. Priority was given to the most vulnerable sections among those affected such as women and children.

Relief phase 1 (initial response)

Relief phase 2

In this phase CASA did the distribution of tin sheets and bukharis (indigenous coal/ wood burning heaters) and additional blankets. We anticipated that transport of material in the Kupwara district (Tangdhar) would not be possible after November 10, and locations in Baramulla district (Uri sector) would become inaccessible by November 20. The challenge ahead of CASA and other NGOs was to transport tin sheets and also distribute bukharis to these areas before snowfall, which we managed to accomplish.

In the Project Proposal submitted to ACT, we envisaged distribution of eight tin sheets each to 3,000 families for roofing only. However, after reassessing the situation, we increased this to 16 sheets (each 0.6 mm gauge and size 10 ft X 2.75 ft) for 1,500 families. This has been done to enable people to use the sheets for roofing as well as for the sidewalls. The approximate size of each family shelter to be constructed will vary from 200 to 400 square feet depending on the scale of salvaged material used. Insulation of these beneficiary constructed shelters will be done using planks and fieldstone salvaged from the ruined houses. Families covered for tin sheet distribution also received 10 blankets and one bukhari each.

Relief phase 3

Conclusion

In spite of the problems faced, CASA and its partners completed the above activities by November 24, 2005. The villages selected for response were among the most remote and vulnerable. The assistance of the Army and the administration was invaluable in the timely and orderly delivery of supplies.

It has started snowing in the upper reaches of the affected areas. While winter will be an ordeal for the quake survivors due to the harsh weather conditions, we are confident that the assistance rendered by CASA will help families survive the cold weather. We are currently involved in planning for supplementary intervention in terms of further relief distribution, livelihood restoration and rehabilitation activities. We will keep you informed of the progress from time to time.

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