Rapid Response Payment Request No. 06/2009

Funds Sent To: Church World Service, Pakistan/Afghanistan

Amount Sent: US$ 58,266

Date: 21 April 2009

Details of Response

Emergency: Afghanistan, Nangarhar Earth Quake

Date of Emergency: 17 April 2009

Implementing Member: Church World Service, Pakistan/Afghanistan

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY:

On April 17, 2009 at 02:07 local time, an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 on the Richter scale, and 5.7 km depth, occurred in Nangarhar Province in the Eastern Region of Afghanistan. Two hours later, a second earthquake of magnitude 5.1 and 3.2 km depth occurred in the same area. The epicentre of both earthquakes was near Sherzad (est. pop. 76,500) and Hesarak (est. pop. 28,000) districts, which are located in the Hindu Kush mountain range.

At least 40 people have been reported killed and 75 people injured. Eleven villages of three districts Agam, Hesarak and Sherzad are affected. Kuchi Khel and Tangai of Sherzad district are the most affected areas of this earthquake. According to the Afghanistan Public Health Directorate (PHD), 800 houses have been damaged, of which 290 were completely destroyed, leaving 800 families (5,600 individuals) without safe shelter. The Agriculture Department has shared that more than 600 livestock has been lost in this earthquake.

Nangarhar province of Afghanistan has been suffering from drought, poor health and sanitation conditions, as well as insecurity caused by continuous conflicts due to which the livelihoods of the local population have severely been affected. By the end of 2008, CWS-P/A also launched a Drought and Food Crises Appeal (ASAF-81) to assist the affected population which has not been funded so far. Now due to this new emergency people of the area are in dire need of assistance.

ACTION TO DATE AND EMERGENCY NEEDS:

The following assistance by other Organizations/Departments has been provided to the victims of the earthquake:

• Head of public health department reports that they have dispatched 100 medical kits and some tents and blankets.

• International Committee of the Red Cross reports that the Afghanistan Red Cross Society has dispatched 100 tents, 100 tarpaulins, 400 blankets, 200 jerry cans, and 100 kitchen kits.

• The government disaster task force on site have called for assistance from the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) who state they have 600 household relief kits for distribution. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has requested that these be given to the government for distribution.

• ISAF's Nangarhar PRT sent a five-ton truck with relief supplies such as blankets, tents, food and water to the Sherzad District April 17, 2009.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE

- OBJECTIVES OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

To provide life-saving immediate assistance to earthquake affected families in Sherzad district of Nangarhar Province.

- TARGET POPULATIONS:

As many as 76,553 people live in Sherzad district with 37,511 males and 39,042 females, out of the total population 15,311 are under five, 20,667 are between 6-17 years, 19,136 are between 18-65 years and 21,439 are over 65. Total affected people by the earthquake are reported to be 20,000 (9,800 male and 10,200 female), out of the total affected population 4,000 are under five, 5,400 are between 6-17 years, 5,000 are between 18-65 years and 5,600 are over 65 in the district. Due to the continuous rainfall during the last days in the earthquake affected areas, the people with partially damaged houses are also scared to live inside the houses. People are helpless to live under the open sky during night time as well. In order to provide them immediate assistance, they are in dire need of food packages, blankets and health facilities.

- PROPOSED ASSISTANCE:

More than 300 earthquake affected families will be benefited with food packages, kitchen sets, blankets, tarpaulins and medical assistance in the earthquake most affected district of Sherzad, Nangarhar province. The most vulnerable families will be selected for food package assistance and blankets, while medical care will be extended to most of the earthquake affected people.

Following assistance will be rendered:

• 300 food packages to earthquake affected families (according to the sphere standards)

• 300 kitchen sets to earthquake affected families

• 600 blankets and 300 tarpaulin sheets to 300 most vulnerable families

• Emergency Health Service to the earthquake affected families of Sherzad District.

Food Package: The food packages will be distributed among 300 most earthquake affected families (average hose hold size: 8 individuals per house hold). Tokens will be distributed among the most vulnerable families that will be identified during the assessment and will be called at the distribution point set for this purpose. All the distribution will be according to the SPHERE standards. A standard food package will contain 50 Kg flour, 07 Kg rice, 05 Kg pulses, 07 Kg sugar, 01 Kg tea leaves, 01 Kg iodized salt and 05 litres cooking oil.

Kitchen Set: These will be distributed among 300 most affected families. Tokens will be distributed among the most vulnerable families which will be identified during the assessment and will be called at the distribution point for this purpose. All distribution will be according to the SPHERE standards. A standard kitchen set will contain 01 LPG cylinder, 01 tea kettle, 03 steel bowls, 03 cooking pots, 03 steel plates, 01 cooking spoon, 06 cups, 01 water bucket and 01 water can.

Blankets and tarpaulins: These will be distributed among 300 most affected families. Tokens will be distributed among the most vulnerable families which will be identified during the assessment and will be called at the distribution point set for this purpose.

Emergency Medical Care Service: Emergency medical care services will be extended to the victims of the earthquake in the targeted district. CWS-P/A will operate from its already existing health facilities of Nangarhar Health Project.

- IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS:

The RRF will directly be implemented by Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan team.

- COORDINATION:

CWS-P/A is already active in Nangarhar Province since 1997 and has established good working relationship with different international and national aid agencies operational in the area. For this specific response CWS-P/A will actively coordinate with ACT Forum members in Afghanistan, Red Crescent Society of Afghanistan, and Provincial National Disaster Management Authority, various international and national NGOs responding to the disaster, UN agencies and local authorities. CWS-P/A will also regularly participate in the coordination meetings and other forums established for this purpose.

- COMMUNICATIONS:

The Associate Director-Disaster Management Program of CWS-P/A will assist ACT and its members for regular updates on the activities.

- PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD:

The proposed activities are planned to be initiated as soon as the approval is received from ACT Coordinating Office. The activities will be implemented within two months and report will be submitted within one month after the completion of activities.

BUDGET: US$ 58,266

(For the detailed budget, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 58,266 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.