Integrated recovery: Over 75,000 families to start benefitting from PRCS plan in four months

An integrated recovery plan (IRP) being prepared for the recovery of disaster-affected families in the four provinces will be ready by the year’s end.

The IRP for provision of health, shelter, livelihood water and sanitation facilities to 75,000 families in the flood affected areas of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) is being prepared by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in collaboration with International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, said a press release issued by the society after the first meeting of the newly selected managing board members that held at the PRCS head offices here on Tuesday.

PRCS Chairman Major-General (retd) Muhammad Nawaz Khan said now the people have right to pin more expectations from the society for better relief and rehabilitation services.

Khan informed the meeting that the PRCS, being the leading humanitarian organization of the country, in consultation with Movement partners and Partner National Societies has also prepared monsoon contingency plan for 43,000 families all over the country.

He said on the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari, letters have been issued to the provinces for allocation of funds and land for setting up disaster management centres. The PRCS has written letter to Benazir Income Support Programme to get data that will enable PRCS to finalise contingency plans for the areas likely to be affected by rains and floods he further informed the members.

Despite the challenges faced on numerous fronts and colossal task of assistance to millions, PRCS has so far provided assistance worth over Rs9.2 billion, said Khan.

Khan added the society has developed a strategy for the next five years to extend its geographical reach and enhance its capacities in the areas of disaster management, health care, youth and volunteerism, organizational development, image building and financial self reliance, with a number of cross cutting programmes including harmonization of auxiliary role with government departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2012.