OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan

Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

Situation Summary
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On 16 August 2009 at
approximately 03h00,
torrential rains, cloud burst
and flash floods caused
sudden flooding in District
Mardan and Swabi of NWFP.
In Mardan the flash flood that
originated at Ambela in
district Buner caused havoc
in Mardan affecting 13 union
councils resulting in 14
deaths. In Swabi due to
cloud burst flash flood that
originated from Karamar Flood Affected Population
Mountains flooded 3 union
councils of district Swabi.

According to the district governments 14 deaths have been reported so far due to recent floods all of
them in district Mardan.

Two day assessment conducted by OCHA estimates 84,290 individuals affected in 16 union councils
of Mardan and Swabi. Estimated 38,842 (48% of the affected population) populations are severely
affected according to the assessment. 76% percent of the affected
population resides in district Madran and 24% in district Swabi.

The assessment classified the affected union councils in to three

damage categories, severely damage, moderately damage and low
intensity damage. In Mardan there are 2 severely damage, 5
moderately damage and 6 low damaged intensity union councils.

Rapid assessment visited 10 out of 16 union councils and consulted

DCO’s, Nazim’s, elders of affected union councils. Consultations
Flooding % in the affected estimates approximately 2300 houses are partially or minor
population districts damaged due to flooding. 900 houses are estimated to be
completely collapsed, majority of them are mud houses.

It seems the water sources have

also been badly affected with wells
2500 2300 contaminated due to flood waters.
In severely affected union councils,
2000 congested settlements in rural
settings are filled with mud debris
1500 and polluted stagnant water. Most
of the population seemed busy
1000 900 trying to clear debris and retrieve
their belongings. Crops and
livestock are badly affected,
500
however there are no consolidated
figures available to date. Affected
0 population has lost animal feed
Houses Destroyed Houses Partially Damaged
and harvested crop such as
Houses destroyed VS houses partially damaged tobacco and wheat due to flooding.
95% of the affected population that
are interview by the assessment
Page 1/7
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

team confirms that food stocks have been lost or are not useful for consumption. There is growing
anxiety amongst the locals who wait for meaningful relief intervention and identify five basic needs;
however the assessment recommends other time critical interventions in the conclusion and
recommendations section:

1. Dry Food Ration

2. NFI with kitchen sets and bedding
3. Shelter
4. Clean drinking water
5. Health needs focusing water borne diseases, skin diseases and scattered snake bite cases

Even though the flood has only affected very small area in two districts, the situation requires urgent
assistance from humanitarian actors, since the affected communities have hosted large number of
IDP’s in the past and the population has already consumed their resources to host the IDP’s. There
are still small number of IDP’s residing in these districts from areas where the security situation has
not improved such as Mata and Kabal area of district Swat and Chagarzai area of district Buner. There
are reports that the IDP population who have not returned and now moving back due to the floods.

Affected population and damages

Swabi Mardan
Affected Houses Houses Affected Houses Houses Partially
Population Destroyed Partially Population Destroyed Damaged
Damaged

20,232 500 2000 64,059 400 300

Map of the flood affected union councils in district Mardan and Swabi
Detailed map is attached as PDF document
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

Mardan

The assessment team met with the DCO Mardan who pointed out 13 union councils that are flood
affected in the districts. DCO informed that the torrential rains resulted in early morning floods that
originated from Ambela in Buner and entered Mardan through Rustum where the intensity of the flood
increased and played havoc in Garyala union council killing 8 people and destroying substantial area
of Shahbaz Ghari union council.

OCHA has estimated approximately 500 houses have completely destroyed in Mardan district while
2000 are partially or minor damaged. These estimates may vary final figure and are released only for
planning purposes.

Assessment team has observed in almost all villages clean drinking water is an immediate need.
Inadequate clean drinking water and hygiene conditions in the villages can lead to water borne
diseases. There are some cases of snake bites in the villages, however they are not that wide spread
and most in areas which are close to streams and rivers that over flowed. Adequate health coverage
covering skin diseases, water borne diseases and targeted distribution of snake venom to the health
department may be required.

All together 14 deaths have reported in the affected districts all of them in Mardan:

No of Deaths UC
1 Machi, Mardan
2 Charguli, Mardan
8 Garyala, Mardan
1 Mohib Banda, Mardan
1 Garhi Ismailzai, Mardan
1 Garhi Daulatzai, Mardan
14 Total

DCO has indicated immediate needs as food for 5000 families and shelter for 2000 families.

OCHA assessment team visited 8 UC’s in Mardan district.

Thirteen union councils have been identified by the assessment team as flood affected in Mardan
district:
Estimated
projected % of damage in
census the affected
figures of union council UC wise
population as Damage (OCHA team affected
Union Councils of March 2009 Category assessment) population
BALA GARHI UC 16611 Moderate 25% 4153
BAZAR UC 28040 Low 10% 2804
CHARGULI UC 24218 Low 9% 2180
GARHI DAULAT ZAI UC 33541 Moderate 22% 7379
GARHI ISMAIL ZAI UC 16499 Low 8% 1320
GARYALA UC 20130 Severe 58% 11675
KOT DAULAT ZAI UC 16761 Moderate 35% 5866
MACHAI UC 17576 Moderate 20% 3515
MOHIB BANDA UC 25510 Moderate 21% 5357
PALO DHERI UC 26595 Low 7% 1862
RUSTAM UC 34047 Low 6% 2043
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

SHAHBAZ GARHI UC 29048 Severe 49% 14234

BAGHICHA DHERI 16712 Low 10% 1671
Total 305,288 64,059

Worst affected union council Shahbaz Garhi has three affected villages, Tarinabad, Priyankot,
Chanday. Tarinabad is the worst affected village in the union council. According to the Nazim of the
union council 125 houses have been completely destroyed and 350 partially or minor damaged.
Several destroyed houses were witnessed by the team and there were reports of displacement from
Tarinabad village as well, where the women and children have moved to friends and relatives. Men
were seen clearing the debris and cleaning their houses which were inundated almost 4-6 feet
underwater, however there is no water standing in the areas. Clean drinking water, food and shelter
are three main needs of the people in this area. Sanitation is also seen as a big issue in the area
where drainage system is over flowing and mixing with drinking water sources.

Similar to Shahbaz Garhi, Garyala UC has witnessed 500

damaged houses due to floods. There is long list of
villages affected in UC Garyala, Husay, Bai Khan, Arbab
Banda, Man Khel, Mohala Kabur Khel, Siri Galiyara,
Mohala Muli Bagh, Tora Dera, Seray Baba jee and Galay
Bara jee. Affected population of Garyala was struck with
flash flood that killed 8 people. Amongst the dead 5 were
children. There is one mosque which has been collapsed
in Garyala union council as well.

Other moderately affected union councils all seems to be

similar in needs with food, water and shelter as priorities.
Tobacco stocks destroyed due
District Swabi to floods

The assessment estimates that 20,232

individuals are affected in three union councils
of the district. The DCO Swabi has estimated
80,000 individuals only in Swabi that has been
affected by the floods, however visits to the
affected area suggest much smaller number of
affected population. OCHA team visited two
union councils in Swabi and met with wide
range of stake holders to confirm estimates
suggested in this assessment.

OCHA has estimated approximately 400

houses have completely destroyed in Swabi
district while 300 are partially or minor
damaged.
Harvested wheat has been put in the sun to dry
DCO and elders of the community suggest that
cloud burst was witness over the Karamar mountain range that resulted in flooding the streams and
rivers in the area.
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

Three union councils have been identified by the assessment team as flood affected in Swabi district:
% of damage
Estimated in the
projected affected
census union
figures of council UC wise
population as Damage (OCHA team affected
Union Councils of March 2009 Category assessment) population
ADINA UC 16,365 Low 8% 1309
ISMAILA UC 28,116 Severe 46% 12933
KALU KHAN UC 31,523 Moderate 19% 5989
Total 76,004 20,232

Ismaila UC is severely affected union council of Swabi district with approximately 46% of the
population affected. According to elders, UC Nazim and affected population 400 houses have been
damaged and destroyed. Community indicated 6 villages which require urgent assistance,
Mukhtairabad, Naseerabad, Chota Ismaila, Surarah, Sarey Sher Garay and Hajiabad. Team
witnessed dozens of collapsed houses majority of them mud with slash of mud all over the court yards.
Shop keepers in the villages have lost their stock and were busy cleaning the area and drying their
stocks in the sun. Shop keepers indicated loss to their
shops and stocks irreparable. Water sources and wells
are contaminated with flood water and clean drinking
water and food seems to be the priority in this village
followed by shelter and NFIs. It is recommended that
hygiene promotion activities must be introduced in the
community as precautionary measure Sanitation
condition in the area seem to be very poor with gutter
and sewerage over flowing due to floods. One petrol
pump has also been damaged in Islamaila UC. Similar to
other affected UC harvested wheat and standing rice
crop has been destroyed due to the floods and animal
feed stacked in the field has been washed away. Village Destroyed mud house in Ismaila UC
elders and UC Nazim initial estimated suggest that
villagers have lost 48 goats and 82 cows in the union council. Political parties have been seen active
in providing some relief to the affected population and provided cooked food on the first day of the
floods.

In Kalu Khan UC there are three affected villages, Khat Kallay, Manan Khel and Loda Khel. Khat
Bridge destroyed in Kalu Khan UC
disconnecting village Khat
Kalay has been worst affected in the Kalu Khan UC.
The village is situated next to the Narangi Khowan river
stream which flooded and inundated the settlements on
the river bank. The village main route which was
connected through the Kalu Khan Khat Bridge has
been collapsed due to the flooding and alternative route
has to be taken to approach the village. Approximately
50-100 houses in this village have been damaged.
There are apparent destruction to the standing crops
mostly corn and maize. Villagers informed that large
numbers of livestock have been lost in the flash floods;
however there are no immediate estimates available.
Affected population are finding great difficulty in
acquiring clean drinking water and food seems to be
most prioritized need of the affected population.
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

Emergency Response

UNHCR has provided 1000 tents and NFI packages to the DCO’s of the affected districts. 500 tents
and 500 NFI packages have been distributed in Kaghan Camp and affected population in Mardan. 500
tents and 500 NFI’s have been provided to DCO in district Swabi.

UNICEF has started providing 80,000 liter of clean drinking water per day in Swabi. 24,000 liter clean
drinking water is being provided to affected population in affected UC’s of Mardan. UNICEF has
established warehouse in Col Sher Khan village of district Swabi. UNICEF is ready to distribute
hygiene kits to all affected population. UNICEF will be working through Muslim Aid in four UC’s of
Mardan. UNICEF has also started work on de-watering and cleaning of drainage system through line
department. Detail damage assessment is underway through PHED and TMA.

WHO has provided three health kits to Merlin, NCHD and EDO Health as emergency response to the
flood affected population. 10,000 aqua tabs have also been provided to partners in Mardan. Two
Cholera kits have been provided to partners in Swabi. Health Cluster has reported that district health
department, NCHD and Merlin are providing mobile health services in affected areas of Mardan.
Disease Early Warning system is in place in affected districts and trends have been monitored.

WFP is planning to start distribution of food to 2100 families in the affected areas as emergency
response and will continue assess food security situation.

Government of NWFP through ERU has started distribution of 15,000 bags of wheat flour, 15,000
cans of cooking oil and 15,000 bags of pulses. There are reports of distribution of some tents as well
but details are not available.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Funding
1. Current PHRP has envisaged flood response in its cluster specific sections. This emergency is not
a large scale emergency and should be responded through existing resources. It is recommended
that emergency funding such as CERF should be kept on standby for Monsoon, incase there are
further flooding emergencies in the country that affect population in other parts of the country and
on a large scale.

Coordination
2. For coordination purpose it is useful to remind the clusters that even though this is a natural
disaster it still needs to be coordinated through current clusters arrangement in place in NWFP
and cluster lead agencies in conflict setting needs to coordinate their specific sectors keeping
humanitarian principles in mind. It is recommended that ICCM in Peshawar establish flood specific
3W and take lead in coordinating the emergency through clusters and keep close coordination
with the government.

3. There are number of flood assessments took place in the floods affected areas. OCHA has been
coordinating with cluster lead agency in the field to make sure there is no over lap in mandates
while assessing the situation. Other cluster partners have also assessed the areas and have
shared their reports with OCHA. In light of assessments that took place in the affected area OCHA
would recommend not tot activate the Inter agency assessment in the affected areas.

(Continued …)
 OCHA NWFP Floods Mardan
Initial Assessment Report and Swabi 2009

Cluster Specific

4. Health cluster has started response in the affected areas, however close monitoring for trends
through DEWS regarding water borne diseases is crucial and needs to be integrated with WASH
cluster response. Skin diseases are also on the rise and needs to be monitored and responded to.

5. WASH cluster has started water distribution in the area which is critical need, however the
distributed needs to be balanced out between the most affected districts and then severely
affected UC’s identified in this assessment report. Currently more focus is given to Swabi from
WASH Cluster.

6. It is recommended that Protection cluster assess the impact of floods on the IDP’s in the host
families and to verify if the IDP’s have started to head back to their areas of origin due to floods.
Some of the IDP’s in these areas are from those areas of Swat (Mata and Kabal)/Buner
(Chagarzai) which are currently unstable from security point of view.

7. Emergency Shelter and NFI cluster needs to establish separate 3W for the floods distribution
since the area is small and there is a lot of willingness from partners to distribute emergency
shelter and NFI’s in the area and there could be duplication of efforts. It is recommended to reach
agreement with the partners geographically for distributions.

8. Food and Agriculture cluster needs to work together and plan interventions from food security
point of view. Food stocks and seeds for next planting season have been lost and targeted
agriculture response is also recommended. There are humanitarian hubs very close to the
affected areas and in some cases within the affected UC’s which can be used to respond,
however it is recommended that UC based committees should be formed and distribution should
be done in the affected villages through these committees. Assessment has found UC Nazims
quite effective, however there are political inclinations in the area and committees must have
representations of Nazims, Elders, affected population etc. WFP and FAO have a country program
for Food Security in UC Jhangira, Narangi, Tarnoli and Sheva UC’s of Swabi. It is suggested that
these projects change their focus and respond to emergency needs in affected UC’s.

OCHA Assessment team

1. Fawad Hussain – National Humanitarian Affairs Officer – OCHA Islamabad
2. Hussain Ullah - – National Humanitarian Affairs Officer – OCHA Islamabad
GIS Support
1. Kamran Ahmad – UNHABITAT Islamabad
IM Support
1. Asad Ullah – IM Officer – OCHA Peshawar