November 28, 2005
(ISLAMABAD) : Under a new agreement worth Rs. 493 million, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have partnered to rehabilitate rural water supply systems and improve sanitation in earthquake affected areas of AJK.

The majority of water supply and sanitation systems in AJK (both rural and urban) were badly damaged or destroyed by the October 8 earthquake. This poses serious public health threat to the affected areas in terms of access, quantity and quality of water and access to adequate sanitation facilities.

Continuing 30 years of cooperation, UNICEF will provide supplies, technical assistance and other support to the Local Government and Rural Development Department (LG&RDD) of the Government of AJK for implementing the project, the largest ever partnership in Water Environment and Sanitation (WES) in Pakistan.

Under the agreement, over 100,000 people in rural affected areas will be ensured a safe drinking water supply by making 200 water supply systems operational. Following an assessment to identify and prioritize damaged water supply and sanitation systems in Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Poonch districts, the LG&RDD will repair and reconstruct the damaged infrastructure with technical support and supplies provided by UNICEF. The repaired systems will be handed over to communities for operation and maintenance. In addition, some 50,000 people in Chanari, Hatian Balla, Chikar, Ghari Dopatta, and Authmuqam will benefit when the LG&RDD, PHED and UNICEF rehabilitate and operationalise the water and sanitation systems of these five towns.

Benefiting 150,000 people, LG&RDD with UNICEF support will promote household level water treatment options, including through the distribution of home water purification options and demonstrations on their use, in rural areas where no water supply system is available or water is of poor quality. Awareness will be created on water quality issues, including protection of water sources. Community based water quality testing and sanitary inspection mechanisms will be set up.

Some 50,000 latrines will be constructed by the LG&RDD with supplies provided by UNICEF in schools, mosques, camps, health centres and at household level in rural areas. Another 10,000 pit latrines will be constructed in selected camps, where solid waste management and water delivery and quality in the camps will also be addressed. Hygiene promotion will motivate people in the camps and rural areas to adopt improved sanitation options and hygiene practices. Low cost sanitation options will be promoted in these towns, including in camps, through the construction of 7,500 pit latrines at schools and health centres for demonstrations. A series of trainings will be conducted to build the capacity of field staff to promote these activities.

The LG&RDD suffered severe damages to its office structure, equipment and vehicles. Despite this, it has been rendering services in urban areas and in rural areas with assistance from different agencies. To reactivate the department’s offices and services, UNICEF will also provide temporary office structures, furniture and vehicles.