25th August – Pir Sabaq Survey

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Created on Sunday, 29 August 2010 14:52

Last Updated on Monday, 01 April 2013 14:46

Written by Khalid Shoaib AP2MKS

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Situation:

* The flood waters have receded and the Kabul river is mildly above the normal summer level now.
* Almost 40-60% of the houses are severely damaged. These include both mud (nearly all totally destroyed) and cemented houses
* 20-30% of houses are moderately damaged leaving them too dangerous to live in
* Nearly the whole of the population has moved out either to Risalpur or to camps around Pir Sabaq
* People come to their homes in the morning and a few have started clearing up the rubble themselves
* Stagnant puddles are abound have become the breeding ground for mosquitoes
* The Galis and streets are littered with rotting and pungent smelling wheet grain. These are the stored grains that had been washed away in the floods.
* People are left with no furniture, no beddings, no kitchen utensils. All has been buried under the rubble of houses that have totally collapsed.The wells are filled to the brim with dirty, foul smelling and algae infested water. People are drinking from the hand-pumps which they know is not clean.
* Diseases like malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, eye and skin infections, allergies etc. are spreading at an alarming rate.

Recomendations:

1. Shift focus from food distribution to health and sanitation
2. Organize medical camps at this site
3. Arrange for spraying the puddles with insecticide sprays to kill all the mosquitoes.
4. Pump out, if needed the infected water from puddles and wells
5. Start a campaign to get the streets and galis cleaned up. Ensure involvement of the local community.
6. Talk with the health department about possible mass immunizations and prophylactic treatments
7. Identify infants and pregnant women and register them for follow up on a priority basis.

Courtesy : IJC