FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED AREAS

1. Introduction

Recent assessment carried out by inter-agencies collaboration confirmed the serious food-security situation especially in rural areas, most house holds lost their purchasing power as crops, herds and food and seed stock were destroyed. The assessment estimated that 2.3 million people were in need of food aid. Nutritional survey carried out by inter-agencies collaboration identified serious health and nutritional risks and highlighted the importance of maintaining general food rations, supplementary feeding and school feeding until food self-sufficiency could be restored.The situation reaffirmed the need for food assistance in rural areas especially in remote mountainous locations accessible only through helicopters, four wheel drive vehicles and pack mules.

2. Project Objectives

To provide food aid to the most affected and vulnerable population living in the most mountainous locations of earth quake affected areas of District Battagram of NWFP Province.

3. Project Implementation

The project is being implemented in three rural union councils of Tehsil Allai, which are as fallows:

1. Union council Pashto
2. Union council Sakargah
3. Union council Bateela
   
   In these union councils identified several most affected and vulnerable groups with the fallowing characteristics.

• Food insecure communities.
• Widow-headed households.
• Household headed by disabled individuals.
• Elder-headed households.
• Tenant farmers having lost, or lacking large livestock.
• Households with less cultivated land.
• Houses completely destroyed.
• Houses partially damaged.
• Schools completely destroyed which consequently left teachers unemployed.
• Destroyed almost all local cottage industries.

BEST is providing food assistance to the identified 1756 most affected families (9785 beneficiaries) in Union Council of Pashto, 2351 most affected families (10898 beneficiaries) in Union council of Sakargah and 1591 most affected families (11369 beneficiaries) in Union Council of Bateela constitute approximately 60% of the total estimated population.
 
BEST is doing target supplementary feeding in Pashto, Sakargah and Bateela Union Councils on a monthly/bimonthly basis from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008.

1. In conjunction with WFP, The Military and local Government, BEST has prepared a distribution calendar as per the requirement, according to an updated list our team gathered and verifies prior to the distribution.
2. After collection and analysis of the list ration card have been remitted to the beneficiaries prior or at the time of distribution.
3. Distribution to the beneficiaries has taken place on a monthly or bimonthly basis.
4. Post distribution monitoring occurred 10 to 20 days after distribution by our teams on the field.

 4. Executing Arrangements

WFP supply commodities for the beneficiaries on monthly/bi-monthly basis according to the requested caseload by BEST and transport it to the EDP of Pashto, Sakargah and Bateela.BEST has recruited and trained personal to ensure supervision, reception and storage of food items, distribution of food items, and program monitoring and evaluation in the field in accordance to BEST procedures.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

10 to 20 days after each distribution, BEST monitoring teams conducts post distribution monitoring with the beneficiary population to ensure success of program and food security for the most affected and vulnerable households. This is particularly critical in April as IDP’s begin to returns to their homes.

Emergency & Relief Operations by BEST in Earthquake affected areas

BEST Projects in
Afghanistan