LAHORE: The exclusion of quake survivors from decision-making, the
concentration of policy planning in military hands, the lack of
transparency in distributing aid and the rapidly worsening conditions in
all affected areas due to cold weather are matters of grave concern to HRCP.
HRCP has completed a detailed report on the post-earthquake situation,
based on the assessments of four teams led by HRCP council members,
which visited earthquake-affected areas including Mansehra district,
Battagram district, Muzzafrabad district, Bagh district, Rawlakot
district, Shangla district and Kohistan district from November 18th to
November 20th.
The report will be released within a few days. A summary of some of its
findings follow:
Background: Since the earthquake of October 8th hit northern Pakistan,
HRCP has been engaged in a sustained process of monitoring and needs
assessment in terms of protection issues. Before this mission, HRCP
office-holders, staff and members had within the first two weeks of the
quake visited some of the worst affected areas to gain first-hand
knowledge of the situation. HRCP has remained engaged in very limited
relief work and on behalf of SAHR has organized the delivery of drugs
worth Rs 25 lakh from India. A set of guidelines on safeguarding rights
in disaster situations have been published, while HRCP base offices have
been operating in Muzzafrabad and Mansehra for the past few weeks to
monitor the protection needs of people and advise HRCP on its future
actions.
During its fact-finding mission, HRCP has been greatly encouraged to
find some improvement in terms of coordination and relief delivery as
compared to the chaos seen in the early days of the quake. However, the
onset of winter and reports of new deaths give rise to acute concerns
regarding the welfare of survivors over the coming weeks and months.
In terms of relief, the efforts of ordinary people and civil society
organizations were particularly commendable in the immediate aftermath
of the catastrophe. HRCP can also only express admiration for the
remarkable fortitude of people that have survived, despite the extremely
trying conditions they have faced since the quake.
It is however obvious that there are many problems linked to
compensation policies. The exclusion of people from decision-making and
the sidelining of local administrations have added to these. These
difficulties can only become worse as winter closes in, making the very
task of survival a still bigger challenge in all quake affected areas.
Conclusions: On the basis of its assessments and meetings in affected
areas, HRCP noted there were several important factors, relevant to the
conduct of the relief effort and to future policy planning.
In the first place, it is clear that the delayed start to rescue efforts
by the military had caused the loss of many lives that could have been
saved. This has meant that people are understandably extremely bitter
against the military, and also the government. The credibility of
authorities has as such suffered, and they lack the trust and support of
local people.
HRCP fears the situation may worsen further in the coming days due to
the winter conditions now prevailing in all quake-hit areas. The
increased hardships, sickness and new deaths caused by this are
unforgivable given that winter was never an unforeseen event, and quite
obviously, planning for it needed to be put in place well before the
first snows and rains of the season.
During its visit, HRCP noted that while relief efforts have improved
considerably over the early days of the quake, and planning by the
military in some locations at least is impressive in terms of
organization, people themselves are not being involved in
decision-making. They also have little information about the policies
being put in place or on future plans for affected areas.
No where is this more obvious than in the issue of the sum set as
compensation. The Rs. 25,000 initially allocated has been increased to
Rs 200,000, but, as with the previous sum, it is unclear on what
criteria this amount has been determined. The views of local people, who
believe allocation per roof is unjust as several families often live
under a single shelter, have not been taken into account. The rules set
for the grant of compensation are also unfair, with the amount given
only in cases where the roof has fallen. This excludes people living in
badly damaged houses, which will need to be pulled down - and creates a
deep sense of unfair play among victims. Local people have been neither
consulted nor informed about the decisions regarding compensation, while
a lack of transparency adds to the problems.
The lack of accountability and transparency means people are not
confident about the fairness of the relief work. The new donations
announced for the quake relief effort for the international community
after the donor’s conference on November 19th, during HRCP’s mission to
affected areas, makes the need for transparency doubly irrefutable.
There is also a need to streamline and standardize data collection.
Local people have refuted figures compiled by the military in various
cases, while different NGOs and relief agencies have sometimes come up
with contradictory statistics.
Recommendations:
HRCP has made a set of recommendations, based on its findings, which are
intended for the international community including the UN, donors,
regional neighbours and relief organizations; the government of
Pakistan; the government of Azad Kashmir, NGOs; the population of
affected areas and military teams engaged in relief.
1. The widespread allegations of corruption, pilferage and hoarding
are extremely worrying. It is essential to put in place an independent
system to track distribution of aid and compensation. The government of
Pakistan, in cooperation with donor countries, must find a monitoring
mechanism which is not solely in the hands of the military but
representative of the people of affected areas. Placing all data on a
web-site would also be enormously beneficial, making relief more
transparent and enabling errors to be pointed out quickly.
2. The local community must not be excluded from processes of
decision making, and must be kept informed about the steps being taken.
While international relief agencies are attempting to ensure this
happens, through regular meetings and discussions, the effort needs to
be improved and made more effective. Information centres must be set up
in affected areas along with monitoring cells where complaints can be
reviewed by persons not affiliated to a state agency. Many survivors are
unaware about free medical services, schools or tent camps available
just a few kilometers away from their area. Setting up community-managed
FM radio stations would be one way to decimate information widely and
quickly.
3. Given the almost uniform perception among both affected people
and agencies working on the ground that the distribution of compensation
on a per roof is deeply flawed given ground realities, the policy in
this regard needs to be urgently reviewed. [The compensation amount has
been raised to Rs 200,000 from the original sum of Rs 25,000 since the
fact-finding mission]. Several affected families frequently live under a
single roof, and per family distribution of the amount would be more
equitable. Compensation payments should not be restricted only to men.
Longer-term schemes, including loans, initially without interest, and
then with nominal interest, may be considered. Tenants, and other
affected people who do not own property, must not be excluded from
compensation. In some cases landlords are not willing to rebuild houses
occupied by tenants. Pending payments need to be made immediately, so
people can begin reconstructing homes.
4. Registration and documentation of parentless children, single
women and others who have become vulnerable to abuse is urgently
required. Rehabilitation centres for orphans and women left on their own
should be located near their home areas. The government should
facilitate victims in the replacement of personal documents that have
been lost. Greater efforts must be made to reunite displaced people,
especially children, with their families. The media can be utilized for
this to a greater extent than is currently happening. Children who have
lost families in the disaster must have full rights to claim inheritable
property and receive compensation.
5. The government must ensure free movement of people in affected
areas. People must not be put on the ECL, or intimidated through other
means, because of their political views. The freedom to express opinions
of all shades must be available to everyone.
6. The State must initiate public work schemes and other projects
aimed at creating unemployment. Compensation for destroyed shops, lost
livestock and agricultural land must be a part of any package. Enabling
people to resume work and earn income is crucial to the rehabilitation
effort.
7. It is essential aid be taken to women, the injured and the
elderly who are unable to themselves reach distribution centres or make
their needs known. Arrangements also need to be made to take aid to
people living away from main roads, and distribution must be equitable
and adequate.
8. Information about human rights violations must be widely
circulated, so all organizations can plan efforts to alleviate the
situation. The information must not be restricted only to the Government
of Pakistan. When incidents are reported, they must not be covered up.
Police and other agencies must be sensitized to existing issues,
particularly those of women and children. They must also be trained to
cooperate with local administrations.
9. Human rights bodies need to be urgently established in Azad Jammu
and Kashmir and in the NWFP, with the participation of local people.
10. A policy must be put in place to ensure new construction is
safer, and does not use the same technologies that caused so many deaths
in the first place. The reason for the collapse of a large number of
public buildings, especially schools, must be ascertained and anyone
responsible for corruption penalized under the law.
11. International standards must be adhered to by all groups in the
running of camps. Where possible, communities should be housed together.
12. Coercion must not be used to force people down from high altitude
areas. This is all the more crucial in situations where there are
apprehensions land is being cleared to serve vested military or
political interests. The opinions of local communities must be sought
regarding all resettlement and housing issues, and given due respect by
decision-makers.
13. Trauma centres are needed in affected areas, as well as more
female doctors to address the needs of women.
14. Donations coming in for the quake relief effort must also be
utilized to strengthen civil society organizations, the physical
infrastructure and services such as health, education and sanitation in
all affected areas.
Asma Jahangir, Chairperson
Iqbal Haider, Secretary General