Partnership for Earthquake Reconstruction
April - June 2008

On October 8, 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan, killing 74,000, injuring 70,000, and rendering more than 2.8 million people homeless in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).

The U.S. response was immediate and massive. Within 48 hours of the earthquake, the first CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrived from Afghanistan. Focusing on immediate humanitarian needs, U.S. Government (USG) assistance provided emergency shelter, relief supplies and medical help.

The USG's emergency relief efforts were followed by USAID's transition program to enable people to return home and rebuild their lives. From April to October 2006, programs initiated in Bagh District (AJK), Kaghan and Siran valleys and the Allai valley (NWFP), helped residents establish the foundation for long-term recovery.

In October 2006, USAID commenced its four-year, $200 million Earthquake Reconstruction Program, through which it is constructing schools and healthcare facilities, improving education and health services, and enhancing economic well being by restoring livelihoods and expanding employment and enterprise opportunities.

Construction

'Building Back Better'

Keeping in line with its commitment of 'building back better,' USAID builds, furnishes and equips education and healthcare facilities by incorporating earthquake-resistant building standards.

USAID has constructed three schools in Mansehra District and awarded subcontracts for the construction of seven schools in Districts Bagh, with preliminary site assessments completed for the remaining schools targeted to be built this year.

Construction work is underway on nine basic health units in Bagh. Preliminary site assessments have been completed for the remaining health facilities targeted to be built under the program.

Subcontracts for three schools in Mansehra will be awarded by mid-summer and design work is underway for 10 additional high schools in Mansehra.

Health

Integrating Care Services

Through its Primary Healthcare Revitalization Integration and Decentralization in Earthquake-affected areas (PRIDE) project, USAID is working with local health officials and citizens to integrate, improve and expand the network of health services for residents of the earthquake-affected areas. Improved access of the community to vital medical care will be ensured by assisting regional hospitals and health outlets to provide services that have a large impact on health and survival. This care includes immunization against childhood diseases, prevention and treatment of pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria, provision of Vitamin A and medicines, and care for obstetric emergencies.

Last year, PRIDE produced a number of baseline assessment reports to ensure adequate evidence-based planning, implementation and monitoring. These documents included health service performance standards and guidelines, maternal and newborn health training modules, and a community mobilization strategy.

By fall 2007, 48 out of approximately 120 health facility managers had received training in data use and implementation of public health service provision; 124 service providers - mostly women - had received in-service training in infection prevention and family planning; and 44 women health care providers participated in several modules of on-the-job training in maternal and newborn health.

Education

Long-term Investment in Learning

Working with district education officials, teachers, parents and communities, USAID's Revitalizing, Innovating and Strengthening Education (RISE) project improves the quality of classroom instruction and student learning in the earthquake areas. The project will train approximately 10,000 elementary, middle and high school teachers in interactive, activity-based learning and student-centered methodologies linked to content areas of math, science and English. RISE is also mobilizing communities to participate in school reconstruction and maintenance by establishing and strengthening more than 2,300 effective School Management Committees. Additionally; RISE improves educational management at the district level by enhancing government capacity to implement information and management systems. RISE initiated its program in districts of Mansehra and Bagh, but has increased its target districts to include Muzaffarabad and Poonch in AJK.

Livelihoods

Developing Subsistence and Enterprise

USAID's Improving Livelihoods and Enterprise Development (I-Led) project works in Bagh and Mansehra Districts to recover and expand the economy of the earthquake-affected areas through activities aimed at households, industries and markets. I-Led helps remote farmers and herders re-establish and expand their crop systems, restore and care for livestock, reconstruct animal shelters, repair water systems and restore orchards - leading to better income opportunities.

Achievements in 2006-2007 include having reached 306 villages, 780 community organizations and 17,000 households for restoration of economic opportunities. Livelihood grants benefited around 128,000 residents of Mansehra and 40,000 residents of Bagh. Planned agricultural input packages were distributed to 52 percent of Mansehra's targeted 9,208 beneficiaries, and 20 percent of Bagh's targeted 6,000 beneficiaries, whereby more than 2,600 acres of land have been brought under cultivation using high-quality, certified seed and improved farming techniques.

A major success of the project is introducing hybrid and certified seed for the first time ever in Kashmir. Maize variety trials and some vegetable trials demonstrated that improved varieties can result in a more than 300 percent increase in production yields. Rehabilitation of 34 community physical infrastructure schemes is underway this year.

I-Led develops supply/value chains in Kaghan Valley and Bagh District. It has disbursed more than 700 grants to support micro-enterprise for a range of activities for tourism, bakery, fruit, walnut, milk, meat and vegetable production and processing and farm-related services. I-Led also revitalizes local trade and industry by improving access to finance, re-establishing markets, and expanding trading opportunities.

FAST FACTS ON SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE

Earthquake magnitude: 7.6 Richter scale
Epicenter: Muzaffarabad, AJK
Major affected areas: AJK and NWFP
Death toll: Estimated 74,000
Injured: Estimated 70,000
Homeless: Estimated 2.8 million

Immediate U.S. Response

• 370,000 people in affected areas received relief commodities.
• 5,912 relief operations were flown by 21 CH-47 U.S. military and government helicopters.
• 35,000 people received emergency medical treatment.
• 1,000 tons of relief supplies and 107 pieces of heavy engineering equipment were delivered.
• 596,000 people received emergency shelter materials.
• 80,000 people gained access to essential healthcare.
• 57,000 people gained access to safe drinking water.
• 7,270 metric tons of Title II emergency food assistance was provided.
• 48,500 days of work were created.
• Five private-sector CEOs launched South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund to spearhead private fundraising. To date, fund has received over $19 million in cash and pledges, and allocated $4.5 million to five organizations focused on relief efforts, with remaining funds for reconstruction.

U.S. Commitment to Reconstruction

On November 19, 2005, USG actively engaged other donors to support relief and reconstruction at Donors Conference in Pakistan. Demonstrating international support, 75 countries and international organizations pledged $6.2 billion in post-earthquake assistance. U.S. pledged total of $510 million.

• USAID Relief and Transition
  $70 million pledged
  $69.3 million obligated to date
• Food and Refugee Relief
  $24 million pledged
  $32.7 million obligated to date
• Military Assistance
  $110 million pledged
  $133.5 million obligated to date
• Private Sector Contributions
  $100 million pledged
  $151.75 million obligated to date
• Reconstruction over 4 years
  $206 million pledged
  $55 million obligated in FY 2006
  $50 Million obligated in FY 2007

  Reconstruction Program Components:

  • $ 28 million to restore livelihoods and promote economic development
  • $ 28 million to train healthcare workers and improve primary healthcare
  • $ 14 million to train teachers and school administrators
  • $120 million to construct new schools and basic health units and rural health centers
  • $ 16 million program support over life of program