On October 18,2005 the GPDD secretariat sent out a survey to the listserv as well as other contacts in the Pakistan earth quake region. The responses are posted below as well as the original Questionnaire. If you have not yet replied to this survey but have information please do not hesitate to send it to us.  Are your organizations participating in needs assessments, reconstruction efforts, aide distribution discussions, other activities? What are you specifically doing?
Have you had contact with disability organizations in the region and what are they telling you?
Are there plans for your organization to focus on this issue in greater detail?
What are you seeing as some of the major challenges?
What role do you believe the Global Partnership on Disability and Development should play in this situation?
What type of questions are you being asked? What areas have you been unable to answer?
Do you have any lessons learned from the Tsunami catastrophe that you have been able to use in this situation? Do you sense a better preparation to deal with the needs of people with disabilities due to the fact that this is the second large scale natural disaster within a year?
| Responses by organization |
Christoffel-blindenmission (CBM) For many years, CBM has been supporting projects in the affected region, most of them are eye hospitals / eye units but also a special school and a mental health center. Most of its partner projects reported no severe damage. CBM is actively supporting the efforts of its partner projects in the earthquake area in their relief and reconstruction efforts. CBM has a coordinator in place who plans, coordinates and implements CBM`s efforts in close collaboration with the Regional Office involved. In detail, as only one partner project was severely damaged, apart from CBM partners' relief work, CBM supports together with the partner, the local authorities and other donors the set up of a temporary hospital and the reconstruction of the totally destroyed hospital. Additionally, CBM supports minor reconstruction of another partner projects' infrastructure, the repair of one hospital related to a partner project and the reconstruction of 40 destroyed homes for leprosy patients where one of CBM’s partners is also involved. All CBM partner organizations are disability organizations. They informed us on the situation and are updating us on the present activities, planned interim solutions and the planning for medium and long term reconstruction efforts. CBM's mandate area is disability, reaching from support for prevention of disability up to education, rehabilitation, training etc. of people with disabilities. Major challenge is the collaboration with Governments, e.g. regarding the issue of tax exemption for local purchases. The GPDD should advocate towards the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of releif and reconstruction / rehabilitation activities. Commonly agreed international standards such as the Sphere Standards should be implemented. Manuals / Handbooks outlining specific requirements or needs of PWDs should be implemented. If GPDD has access to disability specific assessment information this should be widely circulated. After the Tsunami, CBM is presently in a process of improving it's preparedness in case of natural disasters. In general, as a lesson learnt from the Tsunami disaster CBM would like to stress the importance of community participation in planning rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) Public Trust (http://www.itacec.org/) An assessment has been undertaken in AJK Muzzaffarabad. A form has been designed to assess the household level impact of the Earthquake so as to design interventions for relief and rehab. Disability is one of the areas. Will focus on a couple of camps and also 4 villages for their work. They have contacted the Fed Ministry for Social Welfare and Special Ed to send teams to make their own technical assessment on physical disabilities as more limbs are begin amputated due to delayed medical relief and gangrene setting in. Also in the Protection Cluster formed of UN, Government and other NGOS a task force on Disability has been formed with Ministry of SW and SE as its head. The Protection Group with UNICEF and other agencies has also been alerted on this issue. They main challenge they see as being the co-ordination and the design of safe places for people The GPDD should take on knowledge sharing on good practices and what immediate actions are required. A report is available please contact Baela Raza Jamil for further information World Vision Pakistan: Particularly looking at shelter (distribution of tents, blankets, cooking sets, quilts, tarpaulins, water containers, hygiene kits, rehab tools kit, stoves..), child protection (setting up of Child Friendly Spaces) and short term mobile medical facility. The main challenges are short term prosthetic limbs for amputees, longer term rehabilitation of same and access to services which are not set up for the disabled. They believe that the GPDD should mainly do advocacy - common front for agencies to push the GoP to improve access to services for the disabled (e.g. rebuild on PHCs could include disabled access) and set up prosthetic limb clinics in the affected areas funded centrally. Those who have suffered have already lost enough - all their resources are likely to be used in reuniting family / rebuilding their houses. It is possible that there was a better response due to recent experiences wit the Tsunami. Many mobile medical teams (not just WV) were there soon after the event to treat crush injuries, head injuries and others. However, this resulted in many amputations which was not the case in Tsunami. This was quite unlike other emergencies except maybe Bam, Gujurat, Ghor. RISE: Pakistan Relief and Information Systems for Earthquakes They are doing distribution of relief goods and discussing the state’s role and policies regarding relief They are in contact with all the organizations that are focusing on distribution of relief goods. I the future they will focus on advocacy for access for people with disabilities to the aid and support process. The main challenge is to meet the health needs, the rehabilitation of victims and the lack of partnership between the army, civil government and civil society. A big question is how will the people becoming disabled survive and earn their livelihood? Handicap International Handicap International and Atlas Logistique are running a joint assessment mission which has already become operational through: set up of logistics support for INGOs, NGOs, UN, etc for transportation of relief material from the airport to remote areas. Work on disability issues through rehabilitation of injured people (prevention/awareness) and disabled persons due to EQ ( rehab of SCI, amputees, etc) , and network with other organization to cover needs of people with disabilities alive in affected areas Linkages with existing rehab centers and professionals and authorities involved (army + civilian) Cooperation with DPOs in Pakistan (STEP = Special Talent Education Program), a cross disability and DPI ( under process) Advocate for the inclusion of disability issues in relief activities (accessibility of temporary shelters, medical facilities, etc.) Advocate for special coordination/sub-cluster on disability issues
Main challenges include but are not limited to: The fact that people are evacuated to hospitals (by air, by road), they are discharged and sent to convalescence centers but no one knows really where they go after that. It will be difficult to trace/find all these people. The geographical context which will add difficulties to set up appropriate follow up (people scattered in a vast area, winter conditions, et cetera). Mainstreaming of disability issues in all relief / reconstruction activities such as accessibility of relocation camps, access to distribution, etc. Collaboration between all stakeholders (military/civilian, public/private, international/national, etc.)
What they have heard for DPOs in the area is that they are concerned about people with disabilities access to relief activities. DPOs want to be involved in the efforts e.g. working with injured persons and new disabled persons (peer counseling, tracking, etc). So far according to HI) they are not included in the general coordination mechanisms (through UN as agreed with the Pakistani authorities). Furthermore focus is still on saving lives. Concerns were just raised by local authorities (the army) about the rehabilitation process. HI would in the future like to focus on the areas of need mentioned above as well as development of rehabilitation services + follow-up (using the CBR approach) through support/use of local networks and capacities and including people with disabilities. The role of the GPDD could be one of advocacy towards donors agencies for them to include disability issues into their funding guidelines (reconstruction accessibility, access of people with disabilities to all activities set up.) and of knowledge sharing at international level and support for the involvement of local authorities in charge of people with disabilities and DPOs in the emergency process (guidance, technical advice, etc.) The primary lesson learned from the Tsunami catastrophe was to be present early in the emergency and to link up as soon as possible with disabled people to ease identification of people with disabilities (people who were disabled before the earth quake and newly disabled) and to include them into the whole process (in Pakistan there are very good DPOs, therefore it is easier as there is no capacity building needed prior to their participation to the response mechanisms set up. CBR NETWORK (South Asia) http://www.cbrnetwork.org.in/cbrservlets/cbrweb/jsp/cbrhome/homepage.jsp CBR NETWORK partners NGOs are actively involved in the relief work. Volunteers from NGOs are well equipped in the rehab work. But there are gaps in terms of disaster management preparedness in terms of technology and equipment. The worst affected as we see are people with disabilities, children, senior citizens and women. They are sending volunteers/ collecting materials and funds to the affected areas. In their experience the DPOs need money, materials and volunteers most of the requests are asking for specific material such as tents in the earth quake region, wheel chairs, rehab facility for spinal injury and counseling support to children and women. The major challenges are perceived as lack of preparation, lack of adequate training and crisis relief management relevant to the local needs; for example people refuse to accept old clothes which is a lesson for many of us the help they need should be given with dignity and respect and not least: local knowledge. A major challenge is the long term support rather than ad hoc crisis help, how to build sustainable disaster relief to enable people to rebuild their lives. Society for Disabled Women (SDW) Pakistan SDW’s focus is women and children with disabilities. SDW volunteers are ready to offer services, but they need to be equipped to work out the problems. At present we need food emergency supplies. SDW has local volunteers and children who have become disabled need fulltime caretakers. SOCIETY FOR DISABLED WOMEN is meeting with disabled women and children and making possible to get them medication food supplies. SOCIETY FOR DISABLED WOMEN has witnessed the situation in the disaster areas. Thousands of people are still in need of food, clothes, medicines, blankets etc. thousands of people are homeless more than 80000 died and orphan children are waiting for their parents to come and take them. The tents are not enough the winter has already started and after some days snow fall will start and is people are afraid of coming chilly winter. To save the orphaned and disabled children and women SDW has a plan to start Rehabilitation shelter Home (RSH) for disabled and orphan children victims of disaster. The GPDD should play the role of raising the voice of people with disabilities. Sense International (India) www.senseintindia.org Sense International (India) is part of the "Citizen's Initiative", which is network of NGOs in Ahmedabad, involved in disseminating information, providing support with experiences gained during the Gujarat Earthquake. Not much information on the situation of people with disabilities is available. Since we are not a 'humanitarian-aid' organization, we have decided to be available for specific technical input to the work with deaf blind / multi-handicapped people. The Biggest challenge is the enmity between both countries and hence NGOs and Aid workers can not reach to each and every affected person. The changing weather (soon there will snow fall) is yet another hindrance in the relief and rehab activities. The GPDD should work with both governments and secure an agreement that affected people will be served without the Visa or border hassles. The three major disasters- Gujarat earthquake, Tsunami and now Pakistan earthquake have once again proved the urgent need of increased efforts on mainstreaming of disability. If disability is mainstreamed, all the disaster management plans will include features / measures to address the needs of people with disabilities. 
STEP (Special Talent Exchange Program) Azad Kashmir, North Western Frontier Province and some other parts of the country including the capital city Islamabad were badly affected. In the time of grievances whole world is participating for relief and rehabilitation of devastated people in affected areas. Our organization, STEP (Special Talent Exchange Program) which is a cross disability network based in Islamabad felt the responsibility to rescue first of all its own affected members in different parts and then extend services to others who were in need. Islamabad faced more than 1000 tremors of aftershocks, which was a great psychologically disturbance but it is highly motivating that our members who got training from Japan and APCD Thailand in IL, ICT and management contributed their efforts along with a crew of dedicate volunteers above the capacity of our organization. They left their houses and many sleepless nights for relief activities. Although these efforts and contributions are extremely small as compared with the actual need but it is being done with a deep feelings and sincerity. Because we know that people who became disabled in this calamity are the most vulnerable victims. Some of the major activities carried out are reported as: · Contacted all disabled members in different parts of the country particularly in most affected areas. · Established a relief camp at Melody Market Islamabad to collect and dispatch households and goods for immediate relief · Arranged to dispatch collected goods through the coordination of other organizations. Almost six tucks containing blankets, shoes, cloths and food stuff were ensured to reached in Mansehara, Muzaffarabad and Bagh. · Five volunteers with three doctors visited Mansehra and Muzzafarabd for five days and rescued particularly persons with disabilities. Medicine was collected from the whole sale market in bulk for these visits · Participated in establishment of a field hospital in Jinnah Stadium (Sports Complex) Islamabad having a capacity of 150 beds with sufficient supply of food and medicine. The hospital has been established by Capital Development Authority in coordination with different NGOs and individual donors. · Our representatives participated in all levels government meetings as disability experts conducted for relief management. · We had several meetings with the representatives of Handicap International about the present situation persons with disabilities after earth quack disaster. · Representatives of STEP are also included in the UN task force on disability for the rehabilitation of earth quack victims. · In response to requests DPI has appealed national assemblies of DPI to support people with disabilities in Pakistan. These efforts will continue with a warmer spirit until the mainstreaming of all people with disabilities and now we are planning to have an Information Resource Center and a Shelter Workshop for Persons who became disabled, homeless, and jobless. M I L E S T O N E Society for the Special Persons® Find report here (Word Document)
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