Partnership Asia Edition May 2013

ASIA EDITION - May, 2013

Dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the world’s poorest people

BenefitingBenefiting the most marginalisedthe most marginalisedand at-risk communitiesand at-risk communitiesBenefiting the most marginalisedand at-risk communities

ARTNERSHIPP

Promo�ng gender equalityin Afghanistan

Health screening benefits school‐goingchildren in Sri Lanka

Clean water forKabul Province

IR Afghanistan elected Co‐chairfor FSAC

IR Bangladesh strengtheningdisaster response

Lessons learnedworkshop held

Enhancing livelihood opportuni�esin Indonesia

Emergency relief a�er Balochistanearthquake

What’s Inside ...Editorial

By Muhammad Haseeb [email protected]

Responding to emergencies, strengthening disaster response systems, improving food security, empowering women, provision of clean water, healthcare, boos�ng self‐esteem of orphans, making people self‐sufficient, finding durable solu�ons to benefit the less priviliged, mobilising the resources, knowledge management and leading the humanitarian aid actors are a few glimpses from Islamic Reliefs' Asia chapter. Over the years, Islamic Relief (IR) has been working in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and responded to the immediate needs of the most deserving communi�es. The frequent disasters, changes in climate pa�ern and man‐made altera�on of natural se�ngs have contributed to horrendous situa�ons and challenges are becoming more threatening day‐by‐day. These challenges are making poor communi�es more marginalised than before. Islamic Relief has chalked out its plans and strategies not only to provide relief to the poor but we are more focused towards making the communi�es resilient and working in partnership with the marginalised groups to make this world a be�er place to live. Islamic Relief Asia Newsle�er is an opportunity to capture our successes and voice the unheard of those to whom we serve. A few of our news items from the field are showcased here presen�ng the opinion of IR right holders about its interven�ons.

Photography: Islamic ReliefGraphics: Haseeb Khalid & Hamid HashmiCover: Nasir and Sabarullah get relief items at a distribu�on point in village Tachaap, Mashkel district of Pakistani Balochistan which was badly hit by the earthquake in April, 2013.

Partnership ‐ Asia Edi�on ‐ May, 2013

Promoting gender equality in Afghanistan

Islamic Relief is working with local and interna�onal organisa�ons through cluster groups to share and promote gender equality ini�a�ves, providing necessary support and working to empower the women in Afghanistan. Based on a project in central Bamyan which provided 900 women with basic literacy and numeracy, Islamic Relief has expanded its interven�on to the remote and mountainous Waras district where 900 women are ge�ng home‐based educa�on. Over the next two years another 900 women will be enrolled each year bringing the total to 2,700. In addi�on to being taught reading, wri�ng and mathema�cal skills, the par�cipants learn about health and environmental issues, HIV preven�on, substance abuse, hygiene and running a business. The project also raises awareness about women's rights and the dangers of child marriage.The women selected for this programme had no formal educa�on and were illiterate. Islamic Relief has also established a women's community organisa�on to offer long‐term support for home‐based educa�on.

Last year, Islamic Relief ran this project in the Bamyan province. Previous par�cipants are now able to read, write and do basic calcula�ons. These skills have a direct impact on their lives, enabling them to read bus signs (some women had ended up in the wrong village when travelling), read their child's medicine instruc�ons, and count their change at the local market. One woman said that before this course when I went to the market I was like a blind person. One of the key successes of this project is realising the importance of educa�on and right holders of the project are commi�ed to ensure their children – boys and especially girls ‐‐ go to school.Last year, 40‐year‐old mother Momina took part in our home educa�on project in Bamyan. She explained, this was the first chance women in my area have had the chance to receive an educa�on. It will allow us to improve our lives, calculate our family income and expenses and help our children at school.

On 28th April at the Food and Agriculture Organisa�on (FAO) office, the NGOs and INGOs working in Afghanistan elected Islamic Relief as a co‐chair for the Na�onal Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC). Based on its contribu�ons and its ac�ve par�cipa�on in the seasonal livelihood assessments, cash transfer mechanisms, gender issues, integrated food security phase classifica�on (IPC) and its commitment to agriculture, IR was elected for this posi�on. Islamic Relief has been working on food security and agriculture for over two decades and has helped farmers improve their livelihoods by impar�ng various training, distribu�on of seeds, construc�ng irriga�on channels and retaining walls to prevent flooding. Fadlullah Wilmot, Country Director IRA said as Co‐chair FSAC, Islamic Relief will contribute in effec�ve humanitarian coordina�on of food security and agriculture response in Afghanistan to benefit the vulnerable communi�es and bridge the gap between the relief organisa�ons

IRA elected Co-chair for FSAC

Fadlullah Wilmot, Country Director IRA. Photo IRP

“IRA will contribute in effec�ve humanitariancoordina�on to benefit the vulnerable”

Islamic Relief has finished installa�on of 58 tube wells in Kabul province, bringing clean water in one of the most densely‐populated areas of Afghanistan.According to UNICEF, diarrheal diseases account for more than half of all child deaths in Afghanistan. Huge numbers of these diseases are reported every week, most of which are caused by contaminated water sources. Access to safe drinking water in Afghanistan is very poor, in both urban and rural areas. Around 68 per cent of people in Kabul province don't have access to drinking water, partly due to cyclical droughts that keep hi�ng the country.Worst‐hit are rain‐dependent communi�es, whose only source of water is rain. These communi�es rely on rain to water their crops and collect it for drinking and domes�c purposes. Most rural Afghani villages have never had access to a water network. The 58 wells and pumps which Islamic Relief constructed are benefi�ng a total of 5,00 local families, who are trained how to use the hand pump correctly, in order to preserve the well, maintain the pump, keep it free of contamina�on and to prevent water waste.“There was no well before Islamic Relief came here and we had no access to the clean water. We used to drink water from unsafe wells as there was no other water source available. Now Alhamdulillah by digging wells provided with hand pumps by Islamic Relief, we have access to safe drinking water. This is one of the biggest achievements for us and for this area, says Fazila‐ one of the right holders of IRA water projects in Kabul.

Clean water for Kabul province

“We had no access to the clean water.IR has provided us with hand pump and

now we have access to safe drinking water.“


Islamic Relief Indonesia has trained farmers in West Sumatera to grow mushrooms sustainably, enabling them to con�nue harves�ng independently. In total, 175 people from the districts of Padang Pariaman and Pesisir Selatan par�cipated in this project, including women.

A�ending field‐based schools and mushroom nurseries, par�cipants were taught how to cul�vate mushrooms, harvest mushroom seeds and make mushroom‐based products. They also received training on marke�ng, branding and distribu�ng their products.

Islamic Relief Indonesia is also implemen�ng fishery project and suppor�ng fishing communi�es through improving tradi�onal fishing, training and introducing sustainable fishing. According to local government and other key beneficiaries, IR‐Indonesia project is the only successful fishery project in Simeulu and Singkil district. The project has resulted in the capacity building of fishing community and improvement of good prac�ce of fishing ac�vi�es. These achievements gained through various approaches such as close consulta�on and coordina�on with local government, ac�ve par�cipa�on of community, extensive and con�nued technical assistances provided to community.

Kasniawa� was involved in all processes of the mushroom project‐ from cul�va�on, sow paren�ng seeds, to selling the mushroom‐based products, such as chips.

She is 40‐year‐old and the sole provider for three children. Kasniawa� explained that this makes the project invaluable to her, “It was an opportunity for me to learn something, such as marke�ng mushroom products such as chips, ice cream, and shredded mushrooms.

“Seeing the public's high demand for our products, especially to the fresh mushrooms has given me this dream to have my own mushroom plot. Even if it is small, it will be enough to support my children's living cost and school fees.”

Story of Kasniawa�

Islamic Relief is focusing on livelihood through WAQF dona�ons and use the profit, suppor�ng poor communi�es and single parents to enable them become skilled and feed their families.

Enhancing livelihood opportunities in Indonesia

IR Bangladesh strengthening disaster response

Eight‐story commercial building was collapsed in Dhaka on 24th April 2013. More than 2,838 people were rescued from the ruins of the collapsed building, and death toll went beyond 1,000. Islamic Relief Bangladesh (IRB) provided protec�ve safety and excava�on equipment to support the intensive search‐and‐rescue opera�on at the collapsed building. Besides taking part in rescue opera�on, Islamic Relief stressed the need to strengthen the disaster response system as the country had seen a string of such accidents in the past few years.

Meanwhile, Islamic Relief has provided technical support to the Department of Disaster Management for developing training module on Disaster Management Act 2012. The Department of Disaster Management will be provided training for strengthening their capacity and knowledge on newly enacted disaster management act.

Lessons learned workshop held

A three‐day workshop was conducted on 18‐20th February, 2013 by Programme Development Monitoring Evalua�on and Research Department (PDMER) on Flood‐resistant Shelter and Sanita�on for South‐West Region of Bangladesh (FRESH) project at Satkhira.

The project staff and core team members of Islamic Relief Bangladesh par�cipated in the workshop to accumulate the learning.

The PDMER conducted final evalua�on on Integrated Community Ac�on Project (ICAP) to assess the overall achievements and impact of the project. The ICAP project was successfully completed, benefi�ng the most vulnerable communi�es.

“The mushroom cul�va�on project is really useful and mo�vates me to ensure my family's future.It is an opportunity for me to learn something new with other women in the farming group.”


The earthquake of magnitude 7.8, which struck the south‐eastern border in April 2013, severely affected the Mashkhel area of Washuk district, Balochistan ‐ Pakistan. Government authori�es and relief agencies responded to the humanitarian needs of an es�mated 30,000 people. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), a total of 2,250 houses and shops were damaged. Of those 1,500 were completely destroyed.Islamic Relief (IR) provided immediate relief assistance to the affected people in Mashkhel area, District Washuk and benefi�ed 530 families (more than 3200 individuals). An assessment group formed by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan to iden�fy a be�er overview of support needs and also included Islamic Relief.The government authori�es and IR took the lead in providing food, tents, blankets, hygiene kits, and other relief items in the affected areas, supported in their response by humanitarian partners locally. The response has been affected by the inaccessibility of the affected area due to the poor condi�on of roads, a tough mountainous terrain and safety concerns in what is a difficult area to reach.

In the worst affected areas of Mashkel, 85 per cent of families suffered from the quake, with half of these losing their homes.Muhammad Omer, a 70‐year‐old is blind person and a resident of East Zawag, Mashkel's two‐room mud house was ravaged in the earthquake and the family had no choice but to live in the open.

Emergency relief afterBalochistan earthquake

He has six daughters and the family has no source of income. Islamic Relief emergency response team provided help within a few days following the disaster and Muhammad Omer received a family‐sized tent for shelter, kitchen kits and household items at a distribu�on point in East Zawag.Muhammad Omer was not born blind, losing his vision 20 years ago. He said: “I was a mason and I could earn my living with respect and dignity. But now, I have no other source of income and I have to depend on the help of community, and my two daughters who work in the fields.”He added: “It is quite difficult to me build back my home especially when you have a small income. In this �me of trial, I am very happy to have received essen�al household items and a tent in which to live.”

“In this �me of trial, I am happy to receive household items and a tent in which to live”

M Omer

IR relief consignment on its way to Mashkhel, Balochistan.


Islamic Relief Sri Lanka is implemen�ng a health screening project benefi�ng 470 school‐going children. Under the healthcare interven�ons, children in the targeted schools were screened. Eye, blood test, urine and general medical checkup were conducted by IR teams in various schools. 199 students were referred to special consulta�ons and out of 199 children, 92 children were offered special treatment.

Health screening benefits school-going childrenin Sri Lanka

Alexander Dilani, a 15‐year‐old studies in Grade 10 at Sri Korakkar Tamil Mahavidyalayam in Sammanthurai, Eastern Sri Lanka. She lives with her grandmother who is her guardian as Dilani's mother went to a Middle‐Eastern country to work as a house maid. Dilani suffers for vision impairment since her childhood. The school principal and teachers informed the guardian and emphasised to provide be�er care to Dilani and cure her eyesight problem however, the guardian was unable to take adequate care due to prevailed poverty condi�on.

Dilani says “I have been suffering from my young age. I never underwent any eye test. I experienced difficul�es in my day‐to‐day life. As a result, learning abili�es and courage was reduced; I could not concentrate on reading books, wri�ng and learning related ac�vi�es hence I have less opportunity to enjoy facili�es available at the school due to impaired vision. My future was looking bleak and I couldn't concentrate on my studies. Islamic Relief team visited our school and I was comprehensively screened. IR recommended me to undergo a special test in a nearby hospital.

“I was provided a pair of spectacles by Islamic Relief which has given perfect sight back to me. Now I am able to see clearly. I can read books and write even at night �me. I am confident that, I can study well. My sincere gra�tude goes to Islamic Relief Waqf Programme. I thank them for providing me quality health treatment. Islamic Relief also helped my other fellows, Dilani added.

IR team visits Dilani during an assessment.

“Ge�ng proper treatment was a great challengeand I am thankful to donors for their �mely support”

Shazia (a girl in a red dress) stands at her ravaged house in village Dazzi, Mashkel. IRP provided emergency relief to 536 quake‐struck families. The children seen in the photo are right holder of IR emergency response in Balochistan. Photo IR Pakistan

Emergency Relief after Balochistan Earthquake

536 quake-hit families get relief in Pakistan

Sr # Villages HouseholdsHouseholdsBenefitted

No of beneficiaries get relief

TentsKitchen

KitsHousehold

Kits

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Dazi

RahiHajiabad

Baraki

Dam Dam

MashriqiZawag

Techaap

Chakkul

39

27

12

20

1,000

120

80

37

17

03

12

313

80

74

298

0

37

17

03

12

37

17

03

12

08

313

80

38

37

17

03

12

313

80

38


Documents

Partnership Asia Edition May 2013