"Emergencies
can arise from any number of natural causes hurricanes, floods
or earthquakes – or be human-induced, such as civil
conflicts and war. Rural populations in the developing world
are often the most vulnerable survivors. With most communities
dependent on agriculture and related enterprises for their
food security and livelihoods, FAO’s expertise in farming,
livestock, fisheries and forestry is crucial in emergency
response and rehabilitation efforts. By restoring rural livelihoods
and helping vulnerable people look after their own nutritional
needs, FAO helps create the conditions for a quick and lasting
recovery". |
| The
October 8th 2005 earthquake resulted in great loss to human
life and devastated the livelihoods of many rural communities
in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistan Administered
Kashmir (PAK). The total loss, including direct damages and
indirect losses to the farming system, is estimated at 24.5
billion Pak rupees (409 million US dollars).
In November 2005 the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations provided
the initial assessment of earthquake damage to the agricultural
sector in the earthquake-affected areas of NWFP and PAK. The
report contained detailed information regarding damage and
losses to crops, irrigation and livestock as well as providing
key guiding principles and strategies for the rehabilitation
of these sub-sectors. FAO also completed an analysis of livestock
production systems, including an assessment on animal feed
supply and demand of the earthquake-affected areas. The information
in the report enabled FAO to assist the Ministry Food, Agriculture
and Livestock (MINFAL) line departments and ERRA to develop
programs to restore livestock production.
In addition to the assessment,
within days following the earthquake FAO provided 200 MT of
wheat seeds to restore rabi wheat production for 4,000 households
in Battagram, Mansehra and Bagh districts; covering an area
of 1,600 hectares.
Helping to Re-build
Livelihoods
On the 17th of January 2007,
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations and the Government of Sweden signed an agreement for
the funding and implementation of a “Project to Assist
Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA)
and its Implementing Partners in Restoring Livelihoods in
the Earthquake- Affected Areas of Pakistan.”
FAO provided technical assistance to ERRA in the formulation
of it“Livelihood Rehabilitation Strategy”, which
included three stakeholder workshops held in Islamabad, Mansehra
and Muzaffarabad. The workshops and subsequent meetings of
working groups provided a consensus for the development of
the strategy. The total contribution to the Project from the
Government of Sweden is US $ 6.5 million.
Key outcomes of
the Project will include;
• Capacity building
within ERRA, enabling it to implement its Livelihood Rehabilitation
Strategy
• Strengthening implementing
partners of ERRA, enabling them provide efficient and effective
rural support services to earthquake affected areas under
the Strategy and beyond the three year lifetime of ERRA
• Introducing stakeholders
of selected hillsides degraded by deforestation, over-grazing,
soil erosion and landslips to adopt the integrated and collaborative
watershed management approaches to environmental protection
and poverty reduction
The Project will also strengthen
the capacity of ERRA and its implementing partners to address
cross-cutting themes such as gender mainstreaming, protection
and promotion of nutrition, and disaster risk reduction in
the execution of their livelihood rehabilitation interventions.
|
