The Social Welfare & Women Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government with technical and financial assistance of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) launched the first "Protection Referral and Outreach Centre for Flood Affected Population" near Pabbi (district Nowshera) on Wednesday.
The centre will provide legal and psychosocial protection to the needy flood victims in addition to sensitise them about their rights and obligations in the rehabilitation process. The Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz and Special UN Envoy Rauf-Engin Sayisal formally inaugurated the facility. UN Deputy Special Envoy Kalian Kheinschmidt, Humanitarian Co-ordinator Martin Magwinja, Head of UNHCR Sub Office, Peshawar, Ahmad Warsame, Secretary SW&WDD Sahibzada Fazal Amin and other concerned officials were also present.
Briefly speaking at the opening ceremony, the Provincial Minister Sitara Ayaz said that the protection centre was a pivotal need to ensure social rehabilitation of the flood affected in a smooth and effective manner. He underlined the need to set up also such centers in the northern affected areas of the province.
Hopeful of co-operation and assistance from other foreign humanitarian agencies in this regard she believed that establishment of the protection centre and other such rehabilitation programmes were an outcome of a regular coordination as well as effective working relationship between the provincial government and different aid agencies.
Appreciating UNHCR support in the relief and aid-assistance activities, the provincial minister also asked the other aid agencies to come forward and join hands with the government to discharge this noble obligation.
Talking to media on this occasion, Sitara Ayaz said that following guidance and identification, being made by her department, certain other organisations were also striving to undertake such arrangements in the affected areas adding that social welfare department has already set up women protection centres in D.I.Khan and Bannu.
To a question, she made it clear that the protection centre of Nowshera has been started as a pilot project which would be extended to other areas, while after one year, the centre will be fully handed over to the social welfare department, she added. She told that a monitoring system has also been evolved to assess progress and effectiveness of the centre under a monitoring committee.
Expressing his comments on this occasion, the Special UN Envoy expressed his satisfaction over support and assistance being provided to the flood affected population by collaboration of the social welfare department and UNHCR and assured further co-operation from the UN agencies. The program Manager of the centre, in his briefing, highlighted aims and objectives, benefits and expected results of the centre as well as other features of the project.
Comments
Comments are closed.