Balochistan Rapid Community Assessment

Rapid Assessment

Name of villageGamak Tank

Union CouncilHoshab

DistrictKetch

Methodology:

Select 1 village ; 2 hamlets /settlements and complete the following:

  1. Community level rapid assessment form
  2. Focus group discussions: (these need to be small groups in a private / enclosed space)
  3. 1 with group of 4-6 men
  4. 1 with group of 10-12 women

INTRODUCTORY / OBSERVATION QUESTIONS (10-15 mins only)

Village is located on the edge of a dam. The cyclone and heavy rain broke the dam and a wall of water swept into the village. Damage is extensive, particularly closest to the dam where few houses remain standing. Mud everywhere, now drying. Very hot, few trees, remaining standing walls give tiny patches of shade.

FOCUS GROUP GUIDING QUESTIONS (BOTH MEN AND WOMEN) [1 hour]:

  1. What are the main sources of income in the community?

► Identify predominant livelihoods; variety of income sources in the community; and asset and landownership structures. Discuss livelihood losses, if any. Check whether they expect any changes (or sale) of assets post cyclone.

Families had cattle. Many were killed in the cyclone. Also chickens and ducks. Many male members of the family are working abroad, in the Gulf states and sending home remittances. Some women did embroidery or weaving and earned a little income by selling their goods.

  1. Who are the most vulnerable in this hamlet, in your opinion? Why? Give specific examples.
    ►Try to identify whether they think this is the same as always, or different after the Cyclones and in what ways. Would they be able to identify more vulnerable families for a more selective targeting strategy?

The elderly, particularly those without children working abroad.

One family has a handicapped daughter, who needs to be cared for at home, but now their home is damaged.

  1. What are the priorities needs in this location, in your opinion?

We need new homes, shelter from the sun, shelter from the rains when they come.

We need drinking water. We are drinking mud.

  1. How arefamilies managing to meet their immediate needs (for water , food , shelter , clothing, blankets, quilts)?

►Determine what initiatives they have taken. Probe to see whether their ability to meet their needs is different for different households within the hamlet.

The government brought us food. We don’t know if they will bring us more.

  1. What is the status of animals?

►Check what losses (if any) they incurred with respect to animals. This could include losses of cattle sheds, fodder, etc. Identify plans for sale, consumption and care.

Very few animals in this village survived. There is a shortage of fodder. Normally families kept dried grass in their homesteads, but this has been destroyed. Without food soon the cows will die.

Women’s group:

  1. How are the issues different for women and young girls than for men? What specific challenges are you facing post cyclone?
    ► Probe to check whether responses are the same during normal times as compared to now.

It is very shocking for the women to be out of doors. They are afraid that their honour will be compromised. But they say they have nowhere to go. Their village is on a plain, with no natural protection or shelter. They say it is too hot under the sun. Some have used clothes and bits of broken houses to make temporary shelters, but they are small and inadequate. Cooking space is out of doors, and children sit on the ground or play outside.

Men’s group:

  1. Shelter questions

What is the predominant type of house? Do people typically build on their own?

If not, is labor available?

What type of materials (if any) are available in the village or nearby?

What is salvageable from the houses? Are they willing to reuse these materials for transitional shelter?

When and how do they plan to rebuild their houses?

Houses were made of baked mud walls, with thatch + timber or metal sheeting roofs. People build their own mud walls, masons help with the roof. Men have salvaged wood and metal roofing. They can start building with mud bricks and salvaged materials but the government has said the village may be relocated away from the dam. Reconstruction has to wait for government decision on relocation.

Rapid Community Assessment

Instruction: This form is intended as a rapid 15 minutes questionnaire to be completed with key (non-government) informants, such as village leaders.

Union Council:Hoshab Name of village : Gamak Tank

Demographics

Total #
Total number of nuclearfamilies / 76
Total individuals or persons / average family size 5
# Female-headed households
(widows, deserted, divorcees) / 2

Level of damage:

Total number of houses: / 60-70
Total number not usable: / 20
Other infrastructure damage:
- School / 0 total ___ partial ___ no damage
- Mosque / ___ total 1 partial ___ no damage
- Observation – scale of damage / 4 1 to 5 (with 5 = 90%)

Water Infrastructure:

What sources of water existed before? (Tick all that apply / What is the main source of drinking water? / Damage
Handpumps / ( )Y ( ) N
Water supply scheme (PHE) / ( )Y ( ) N
Hand dug well / √ / √ / ( √)Y ( ) N
Tubewell (with electrical pump) / ( )Y ( ) N
Comments: (on secondary sources)
Water is dirty. Before and now, people not using any system to clean their drinking water.
Women spending an hour to collect water, taking vessels to nearest clean tube well.

What is the quality of water available? ____ Clean √Turbid

Comments:

Sanitation

Did families have latrines before?Y ( ) N (√ )

If yes, what type? ____ dry pit latrine _____ pour flush latrine

Are there bathing facilities after?Y ( ) N (√ )

If yes, are they separate for women and men? Y ( ) N ( )

Health / Hygiene

Following the cyclone, has there been:

an increase in number of cases of diarrhea amongst children? Y (√ ) N ( )

an increase in number of cases of chest infections? Y (√ ) N ( )

an increase in number of cases of eye infection?Y ( ) N (√ )

Other ______

Settlement / shelter:

What is the predominant type of shelter? ____ cement __√__ mud

Have households received any tents? Y( ) N (√ )

Are they sufficient? Y( ) N ( )

Have households received any other shelter materials? Y( ) N (√ )

If yes, what? ______

Relief Received

Have families received relief? Y( √ ) N ( )

If, not, why? _____ No ID card ___ Level of Isolation _____ Other (Specify______)

What kind of relief has been received in this village? (tick all that apply)

___√_food ____water containers ___ tents ___ plastic sheets ___ bedding

____kitchen sets ___ clothes ___other:______

Have they received any tokens for shelter? Y( ) N (√ )

Who distributed this?

______NGO (name: ______)

______Government

OBSERVATIONS:

Women complain about lack of electricity – no light at night.

Cooking is difficult as wood is scarce.

Zakare ethnic minority appears to be poorest, lives on margins of the village. Did not participate in focus groups.

Form Completed by: Mohammed Islam

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