In light of the complex emergency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), resulting in large scale displacement of households to the neighboring province of Khyber Pakhtukhwa (KP), Alliance2015 members, ACTED, Cesvi and Concern Worldwide have been assisting the most vulnerable families since 2014, with the support of ECHO.
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Livelihood response
During 2017, ACTED with its partners addressed the needs of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) through a response which included short term employment and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support in districts Bannu and Peshawar in KP province. These districts host the largest populations of TDPs from FATA in Pakistan. In 2017 alone, ACTED and its partners assisted over 68,000 people with ECHO support through the rehabilitation of water supply schemes such as hand pumps, ensuring that communities’ have access to clean drinking water.
To reach the most vulnerable, including women and persons with disabilities, cash support was also provided for families who engaged in rehabilitation work of community infrastructure such as roads and irrigation channels, as well as for those who attended health and hygiene training. This cash injection supported the most vulnerable to meet their basic needs and improve health and hygiene conditions in these communities.
Challenges to overcome
In one village ACTED works, located outside of the city of Peshawar, a large number of TDP families from FATA live. The influx of TDP families had an impact on the village, as reported by one village resident. Suleiman Jan recounted that prior to ACTED’s intervention, the village suffered from a poor supply of electricity and a weak water and sanitation system. In this water logged area, most households were resorting to the use of unsafe water for drinking, increasing the prevalence of disease, especially among children. In order to provide access to safe water and sanitation facilities, ACTED’s project focused on the rehabilitation of drainage lines and water hand pumps. Further, the communities’ were engaged in hygiene and health awareness sessions along with nutrition training sessions.
Targeting the most vulnerable
When we left our home, we truly felt helpless, we had nothing to take, nowhere to go. When we got to Peshawar our circumstances further deteriorated, until one day, we were given the opportunity to change them.
ACTED’s team identified Laila and her family, through a household assessment to determine the most in need, which found the family to be extremely vulnerable. Laila was selected for cash assistance. The family decided to invest the money into a business that would earn a sustainable income. Abrar, Laila’s husband, used the money to buy a cart and vegetables to sell in the market for profit. Today, the family tells us that Abrar earns approximately 10 USD a day, and was able to save enough money to purchase another cart for his son. Laila and Abrar told us that “when we left our home in FATA, we truly felt helpless, we had nothing to take, nowhere to go, only ourselves. When we got to Peshawar our circumstances further deteriorated, until one day, we were given the opportunity to change them. We thank ACTED and the people of Europe for their support and facilitating us in creating a better tomorrow for our children.”
This document covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.