Case studies: August 2008

Case study from heavy snow & freezing weather emergency, January 2008

Ay-Gul, 50, lives with her disabled daughter and is one of many women in Murdeyan who lost her husband in the civil conflict 20 years ago. She is the main breadwinner for her family and has worked as a maid, washing clothes, taking care of children, and collecting fire wood to feed her family.

Ay-Gul said that she used to cope with working hard as it meant she had food for her family, but she has never faced such severe weather as that currently sweeping the country.

"I could not find work for about three weeks and didn’t have much reserves to fall back on. I was really concerned, because no one was ready to give me work to do or give me food. I was just praying for Allah to save us from the hunger and harsh cold weather. ActionAid team reached our village and gave me flour, oil, beans and a blanket, which I was really in need of. May Allah bless ActionAid"

Case studies from Cyclone Sidr, November 2007

Case Study 1: School in the cyclone affected area

Cyclone SIDR not only took many lives in the coastal belt but also destroyed a huge number of houses and other properties. Many school buildings were destroyed and education materials washed away by the surge, preventing students who had survived from continuing with their education.

Under the Cyclone SIDR Recovery Program, educational materials were provided to all students at the school. These included; school clothes, bags, library books, note books, pens and pencils, water pots, geometric sets, umbrellas, books, shelves, games and lanterns.

"Schooling has become more enjoyable and fun as we all are well equipped with educational materials now, which we did not have before the cyclone hit" said one student.

When it was asked which materials they were most pleased with, Zahid, Bushra and Salma decided upon the lanterns. Previously, they didn’t have lanterns which left them unable to do any school work after dusk. The lanterns have enabled them to continue their studies during the evening.

Case Study 2: Lamia Akter, aged 7

Having participated in ActionAid’s Disaster Risk Reduction through School programme, seven year old Lamiya Akter knew what to do in the event of a cyclone. Her bravery and awareness helped to protect her family during Cyclone Sidr.

"When the teacher announced in class that there would be a cyclone, and released us at 2pm, my 5 friends and I went back to our village and moved from door to door spreading the message that people should store their valuables and go to the cyclone shelter. Whereas other villagers listened to us, mine refused, saying that we had earlier on in May been warned of the Tsunami and nothing happened. I was so worried that I grabbed my fathers hand and crying, pulled him to go to the cyclone shelter. He reluctantly agreed"

Lamiya’s father admits "I don’t want to imagine what would have happened had I completely refused to go to the shelter"

Case studies from the earthquake of May 2008

Case study 1: Pengzhou in Cifeng township

As one of the areas worst-hit by the earthquake, local rural villagers in the vicinity of Pengzhou are desperate to get help from outside world. "We need shelter dry blanket, food, medicine, and everything", said Wang Shunfu, the village head Huangcheng Village in Pengzhou area.

As the main focus of the government is on the life-saving rescue work in bigger towns, the rural villages have been somewhat neglected. To meet the immediate needs of the rural villagers, AA China’s emergency team immediately sent hundreds of tilts, food, water, and flashlights to Huangcheng Village and Yonghua Village.

"We have lost everything. Everything is buried down there" said Zhou, a female villager,

"we don’t even have a cooking pot and villagers were injured when they tried to pull out stuff from the shattered house."

AA China allocated 40,000 RMB for tents, the first of which arrived on May 23rd. However this number is not even enough to provide for one village. To address this urgent situation, AA relief workers sent 3,000 square metres of waterproof materials, scissors and ropes to the villagers, in order for them to make temporary shelter while they await proper tents.

Case study 2: Liu Yaling

Liu Yaling is 13 years old and a second year student at the junior high school at Nanbu township, Sichuan province. When the earthquake hit, she was in the dormitory building. The building survived the earthquake, but her father was killed. She is now very afraid of earthquakes and fears that even the refugee camp will crumble to ground when the next earthquake hits. She said she is glad that she can still stay in a school with other children. But she’s sad that she cannot go home.

"In the tent school, sometimes there are up to more than 70 students staying in a single tent (3 by 4.5 meters)" Yaling said.

"It is very crowded and the temperature can easily reach 40 celsius degree on a sunny day."

Case study from the floods of August 2007

Cash for work, Hathivar tal, Siddarthnagar

Ambrish, 27 years old, lives in Tiwari tola hamlet of village Hathivar tal, an area that was severely affected by the floods of August 2007. Ambrish belongs to the Chamar community. His livelihood is dependent on wage labour from agriculture. He also owns a small piece of agricultural land. The single crop he harvests during the agricultural season is barely sufficient to support his family of three.

One year ago, Ambrish’s leg was seriously injured in an accident, which left him inactive. As a result, the entire family burden shifted to his wife Bhanmati. The economic condition of the family gradually deteriorated. The floods brought further suffering, wiping out all the standing crops that would have given the family some wage work. ActionAid provided the family with a food kit containing rations for 15- 20 days. The family also received a polythene sheet to provide temporary shelter, and were enrolled in a Cash For Work programme.

Ambrish and his wife Bhanmati told ActionAid "If we didn’t get work under the cash for work programme, our family would have got into a serious hunger situation".

Case studies from Cyclone Nargis May 2008

Case Study 1: From Mezali Village, north of Bogale

The village of Mezali has a total population of 672 people living in 145 households. PACT Myanmar (an AA Myanmar partner) assessed that the most effective and efficient way to provide food to those most in need in this village, was to supply them with cash rather than buying food and distributing to them directly. From interviews with food item beneficiaries, it was found that they were very happy with the assistance provided. This was expressed by Daw Aye Han (40); mother of 3 daughters aged 14, 10, 1 and her husband U Khin Soe (39), a boat-man whose boat was also badly damaged.

"The morning after the storm, we couldn’t find anything to eat. No water to drink. We survived on coconut juice and coconut flesh. We were starving. We are so grateful for support coming from kind hearted people. We are glad we got cash to buy food. It is only a few minutes to go to Bogale market and buy whatever food items we are used to eating. As soon as we got the food support money K35,000, we all went to Bogale the same day and bought food. At least we have enough to eat for 15 to 30 days. We are hoping things get better before we run out of our food support items."

The village’s main road, which measures 2500 feet long and 10 feet wide, was totally cleared of all fallen trees and debris through the cash for work project. (photos P020 & P021.)

The cash for Safe Water scheme succeeded in draining out all polluted water from the village pond, cleaning the bed of the pond and removing fallen trees and debris from inside and around it. The pond is now full of fresh rainwater. (photos P022 & P023.)

Case Study 2: From Ywa Thit Village, north of Bogale

Storm victim Daw Aye Sann (39) was interviewed inside the cave pagoda on 29th May. She was in the cave with her mother, husband and two children (another son is a novice monk).

"When the storm hit it uprooted all of the house posts and flattened our house, but thanks to Buddha our whole family survived without being seriously hurt and only had minor bruises here and there. In order to get to safe areas my mother, myself and the two young daughters climbed onto the boat and my husband dragged us with a rope tied in front of the boat as far as his feet could touch the ground underneath. We also helped to paddle from the boat. It was really frightening. We kept praying and yelling at the same time."

The family stayed at the monastery for 3 days before returning to the village. It took 2 days for them to clean up the debris in the compound and rebuild a small hut, reusing material left from their previous house. PACT Myanmar gave the family K40,000 ($35) with which they bought thatched roofs bundles, bamboo posts, roofing support and nails. It is small and when the wind blows our thatch roofs started vibrating but they are still in place.

DRRS case study from early 2008

A week long, school earthquake preparedness training was conducted in Balkumari Secondary School in Kathmandu valley. The training aimed to train students and teachers how to evacuate in the event of an earthquake. A total of twenty five people took part in the training, after which a simulation exercise was demonstrated. This training was successful in teaching how lives can be protected during an earthquake. Teachers and students are now able to play a vital role as agents for change in Disaster Risk Management and increase the Disaster Preparedness capacity of communities. The schools have made an evacuation plan as part of their preparedness for future earthquakes.

A further week long training was conducted on first aid techniques which would be useful in an earthquake situation. A total of 42 students including 20 girls, attending the training. The training focused mainly upon dealing with bleeding, shock, burns, drowning, artificial respiration, carrying people and making slings and stretchers. The training was conducted with the District Red Cross and built vital first aid skills that will be invaluable in future disasters.

Case studies from typhoon and flooding, late 2007

Case Study 1: Nguyen Thi Tuyet, aged 43, from Hamlet number 1, Huong Pho, Duc Huong commune, Vu Quang district

"During the last floods, in late 2007, the water came very strong and very quickly. The house was 1.5m under water. All our chickens and our two pigs were swept away by the water.

"We managed to take shelter on a shelf on the roof of our house. We stayed there for two days. We had only 20 litres of water and no food during that time. We ate what we could find, mainly dry sweet potato. When we came back to the house and the land I saw that we had lost 200kgs of our rice crop, 40kgs of peanuts, and 100kgs of beans. I was very sad to see all the damage."

As part of ECHO Phase 1, implemented through ActionAid Vietnam’s local partner Ha Tinh Centre for Community Development (HCCD) from October 2007 – April 2008, Tuyet received 35kgs of peanuts and 25kgs of rice to help rebuild her livelihood. She also received a blanket and some new cooking pots.

"I was very happy when I received help from the ECHO project. Thanks to the support I have been given, life is better. The peanut seed is of good quality and very productive. The crop produces 2-3 times more peanuts than the crop I had before the flood. I use the money I make from selling my crops to support my children’s study in school. Now I am less worried about the future."

Case Study 2: Phan Thi Huyen, aged 40, from Hamlet 2, Huong Minh, Vu Quang District

"The floods destroyed all our crops and the strong winds from the typhoon blew the roof of our house off. Our house wasn’t flooded because it is on higher ground, but we were very sad to see all our crops washed away. I felt very vulnerable and thought we would face more hardship as a result of losing our crops. I was worried about the future and how we would make a living.”

Following the floods, Huyen and Thuy were provided with a pig as part of a livelihoods initiative constituting part of the DIPECHO project. “The pig has helped us raise our living standard,” Huyen explained. “We use the pig for breeding. She has two litters of piglets every year, and we sell the piglets to make money. We use the money to pay school fees for our two children and to buy books so they can study."

Case study from the droughts May 2008

Case Study 1: From Kombolcha

ActionAid Ethiopia has supplied 400 kgs of potato seed to the Egu peasants who are most affected by drought and army worm infestation. The first group of 100 peasants who couldn’t afford to buy seeds to re-sow their fields received 100 kgs of potato each, on 24th June 2008. A further 792 farmers are seeking similar support according to assessment of the Woreda Agriculture Office.

"God willing and we get bumper harvest from this potato seed, our families will have food for the first three to four months after harvest," said Ibrahim Oumer, a father of seven.

Egu is one of the rural kebeles in Kombolcha Woreda, ActionAid’s direct intervention area, 540 kms east of the capital.

AAE, in collaboration with the Woreda agriculture office, supplied potato seed which is fast growing and compatible with the season.

Sofia Yusuf, a single mother of five said that the potato supply would keep her and her children alive over the next few months. "My grain reserve had already dwindled due to the failure of the 'Belg' rains, February to April. Later, early May, army worm broke out and consumed my only maize grain that I sow on my plot of half hectare. I believed this would feed my family the coming year. ” she said.

Case Studies from the floods of September 2007

Case Study 1: Julie Tii Doapok

Ms. Julie Tii Doapok is a sixteen year old schoolgirl living in Baare, a community in the Upper East region. Julie is physically disabled and in 2nd year of Baare Junior High School. Julie and her family live in one of the most seriously affected households in Baare. She recounts the hardships her family went through as a result of the collapse of the rooms in their house and loss of their farms during the recent floods:

"As the rains poured, five rooms collapsed including the one I, and my mother and two other siblings were sleeping in. We were lucky not to have serious injuries but we lost most of our clothes as well as my books. We also lost my mother’s one-acre groundnut and maize farms.

There was very little food left in the house and we had to resort to eating only once a day. My academic was at risk as there was no school and no time and place to study at home in the evening. Every place was wet and there was virtually no place to sleep. I was very happy when my mother asked me to accompany her to receive relief items provided by ActionAid. Indeed it was life saving! I couldn’t hide my joy as I signed on the beneficiary list and received the relief items, which included a blanket, mattress, bowls of maize, cowpea, blended food and salt on behalf of my family.

"We found the food relief very appropriate because it came to relieve us from hunger. We could now eat twice a day! I now have a blanket and mattress to sleep on. My wish is for ActionAid to bring in more of the relief and also consider supporting households to reconstruct the collapsed rooms. Thank you very much ActionAid"

Case study 2: Amina Abdulai, Banu, Upper West Region

Amina Abdulai, a 65 year old, married woman, with 12 children, has lived in Banu community for all her life and recounts the night when her home was inundated by the disaster.

"At midnight, whilst we slept, I heard a strange noise that immediately woke me up. I realised the rain was entering the room and an entire section of the back wall was almost falling down. I therefore rushed outside into the compound and started shouting for help. My son and others living in the same compound came to our rescue and helped to move my sick husband and our few belongings out of the water. We therefore had to spend the rest of the night in the room of our eldest son and his wife.

"Early the next morning, I noticed the collapse of the whole back of my house! We depended on our elderly son for food and other basic needs until ActionAid brought food and other items to our community. The community relief teams did a good job by giving us our share of food: 5kg of maize, 2kg of cowpea, 55gm of salt, one each of blankets, bednets and mattresses. The items came just at the time we were dying.

"I am indeed grateful to ActionAid for the food relief support received and propose that in future, ActionAid as well as other agencies, consider supporting communities to reconstruct collapsed homes. Thank You ActionAid."

Case studies from IDP camps following the post-election violence, March 2008

Nyawira is an IDP who sought refuge in St Kizito Catholic Church. Together with her parents and siblings, they were displaced when post election violence broke out. She scored 349 marks in the KCPE despite the hurdles she had survived as a daughter of peasant farmers.

She says "darkness engulfed me when I realized that despite my performance and aspirations my parents who together with us could not raise the school to take me to the school I was admitted. I could not share my ideas in the camp with anyone and life in the camp was difficult because food and other basic necessities were scarce". Nyawira says there is nothing to develop her in the camp because they have very limited forums for young people.

ActionAid looked for another school since Nyawira had lost her chance in the initial school she was admitted to. Fortunately, Fr. Martin secured an admission for Nyawira in Londiani girls’ secondary School’s region will pay Nyawira’s school fees of Kshs 33,500. This amount includes 5,500 that will support Nyawira’s personal items needed as she reports to school. On learning this, Nyawira’s joy was palpable.

"I feel so happy that my school fee is paid for. Thank you so much" she said.

"This will help shape my life, which looked difficult when my parents could not raise the school fee. Through my education, I will get a job and live a better life. I will assist my younger siblings by paying for their school fees. Even now if it was within my abilities, I would have shifted my Mum from the camp to somewhere else"

Case study from the floods of August 2007

Tabawa:

My name is Tabawa, I am 20 years old. This is my second baby, who was born eight days ago.

My family and I live in Lariski, a street in Misau (Lafia North Local Government Area of Bauchi State). We have to come here because of the flood. Many houses have been demolished by the rain. We were afraid and so the ward head reported the matter to the chairman who said all of us should be evacuated to this place. Water is coming out from the walls of the building which means any time it will collapse. The rain was terrifying we had to sleep with relatives before we got this place to stay.

My baby was born here in this camp, not in hospital. It was in the night. I was only supported by my sister and a neighbour. I was not attending any anti-natal classes before I gave birth.

I am a tailor and my husband is only a subsistent farmer. I thank God for ActionAid support – now my children can sleep inside the mosquito net provided to us.

Case study from the drought and food insecurity, August 2007

Me 'Makhotso Shao

Me`Makhotso Shao is 56 yrs-old. She lives with her husband and two grandchildren in their small house at Linokong in the Thaba Tseka DI. Me`Makhotso is also the elected leader on the Farmers Movement being nurtured by AA Lesotho, from her cluster of communities named Linokong Location. She has been able to support her grandchildren by selling farm produce including wool and mohair. At the beginning of the farming season she hires young men to plough and sow her field using her 2 cows. The bad weather of the past two years has resulted in the exhaustion of the food stocks that she usually keeps from previous harvests.

"Until the past year we never bought grain from the market. I had enough grain and only spent money on clothes, school and medicine for my grandchildren" she explained.

"This year we have all become vulnerable even though we are not sick or that old. We desperately need some support this year. Usually we plant seeds specially selected and stored from previous harvests, however some of this 'seed' stored for the year’s cropping season had to be eaten because of the drought of 2006. The little that I could plant also failed due to a worse snow and drought situation during the 2007 cropping season.

"Now, like everybody, I need to find other sources of food and seed this year. Even if I find them where is the money to buy? I could have sold one of my 2 cows but the drought killed one and the other one left is the sick one standing there. When government and other organisations are giving support they target the sick and elderly. We are happy and grateful to them for that but that has been fine when the bad season is for one season. This year’s situation is a result of 2 continuous years of crop failure. I think our government and friends should support everybody who is willing to farm this year with tools and seeds most of all."

Case study from the drought emergency, March 2008

Fatima Mohammed has benefited from the water trucking activities in Sanaag by AAS and SCBO.

Fatima is 22 years old and has four children. She lives in Dagaar area near Yufle village. Having lost 15 goats in this drought, she is left with forty sheep and five goats.

She said that they drink brackish hard water which she fetches from a shallow well which is 1.5km away. Fatima received 2 barrels of soft water from AAS which provided for her family for seven days. Fatima no longer has any soft water as there has been no rain.

 

All Images © ActionAid