Pakistan Earthquake 2005 Response

KEY FACTS

The health of women and children is improved and women are being educated about their rights

This programme offers a range of disability services to 3,000 young victims

WJR coordinated the British Jewish response to the Pakistan earthquake of 2005, raising over £200,000, which provided direct assistance to over 22,000 individuals through six projects, four of which are still running.

The aims of these programmes are to ensure that the people of NWFP and Kashmir (Pakistan controlled) are left better prepared for the realities of life than they were prior to the earthquake and to deal with some of the issues that have occurred due to the change in situation following the earthquake.

WJR’s work includes programming to tackle high rates of maternal and infant mortality among IDPs in Azad Jammu, Kashmir Province. The aim is to target 100,000 poor and vulnerable women (7,200 per annum, it is estimated), teaching them about sexual and reproductive health and rights, including gender based violence and how to get access to health services.

Through these longer term projects WJR is directly contributing to the development of Pakistan. The health of women and children is improved and women are being educated about their rights: potentially the birth rate will be reduced through programmes such as these from 4.3 children per woman. This directly aids development of individuals, communities and of the country, as the poverty cycle, in which these people are trapped, can be broken through access to education and health care.

A similar programme for vulnerable young and youth with physical disabilities was also established in Mansehra. This programme offers a range of disability services to 3,000 young victims including physical and vocational support, prosthetic limbs, orthopaedic braces, wheelchairs and physiotherapy and psychosocial care. It is the first facility of its kind in the region and helps its clients access state offered services in addition to its own provision.

This programme is sustainable long-term as it does not simply give out equipment but trains volunteers and harnesses government provision. After the 12 month period the government is expected to take on ownership of the project.

In addition to the very physical assistance offered directly to individuals, WJR has provided funds to Practical Action to offer technical expertise to ERRA, appointed by the government to manage house rebuilding post earthquake.