Hectic efforts to rebuild October 8 earthquake affected areas of NWFP and Kashmir are now underway after Pakistan Government launched the phase of registration for housing reconstruction and livelihood cash grants two weeks ago.
The World Bank press release issued on Monday said that emergency relief was making way for rebuilding damaged houses and restoring livelihoods.
The World Bank approved $870 million for earthquake-related support shortly after the disaster and for the last six months, it has been working with Pakistan government to devise housing reconstruction and livelihood strategies.
The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) is the government's earthquake co-ordination agency in charge of these efforts.
"The World Bank shared with Erra and other key stakeholders knowledge and international good practice in formulating housing reconstruction and livelihood strategies and policies," said Raja Rehan Arshad, World Bank Leader of Bank-funded Emergency Recovery Credit for Pakistan.
Reporting on housing and reconstruction support timeline, the WB announcement said that the housing programme was being simultaneously launched in all nine affected districts.
It added that Erra had mobilised the Housing Assistance and Inspection (AI) teams, which would visit all affected houses to determine the extent of damage. The government's goal is to cover about 4,000 houses per day."
About 600,000 houses were found eligible for the initial Rs 25,000 grant (about $416) for temporary shelter during the winter, a number which includes the 400,000 houses, which had been estimated to be completely destroyed and in need of reconstruction. However, these numbers will change as damages are reassessed and as the Al teams confirm the eligibility of people to receive support.
The World Bank assistance will help to rebuild 87,000 houses. During their visits, the announcement added that the AI teams would also distribute reconstruction guidelines to ensure people rebuild houses in an earthquake-resistant manner and will ask each house owner to sign a document confirming this understanding.
Adhering to these reconstruction guidelines is a prerequisite for house owners to continue receiving phased cash support of IRs 175,000 (about $2,900), given for a completely destroyed house.
The government plans to disburse payments to eligible persons within 10 days of signing of the documents, so that work could begin as soon as possible.
About livelihood support, the World Bank states that by mid-May, the government also plans to start administering monthly livelihood cash grants to households that qualify for such assistance.
Separate survey teams will determine and register vulnerable households eligible to income-generation schemes for the most vulnerable groups.
These NGOs have received their money for reconstruction of houses and the World Bank hopes that persons with disabilities will be included in the injured or disabled in the earthquake.
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