Rapid Assessment Report of Buner District, NWFP, Pakistan

Rapid Assessment Report of Buner

District, NWFP, Pakistan

Prepared by:

Farhan Sami Khan

Dr. Ismail Virk

21 July 2009

Buner Rapid Assessment Report - 21 July 2009

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Acknowledgements The assistance provided by the following team members during the assessment is highly appreciated:

Ashfaq Ahmed Wajid Ali Shah Dr. Sohrab Ali Abdus Salam Umar Farooq Taimoor Khankhel

We are grateful to Muhammad Hassan Saadi for preparation of the assessment tools, Arshad Mehmood for assistance in devising the assessment work plan, Allison Zelkowitz for editing support, and William Lynch for providing overall leadership We also sincerely appreciate the time and information provided by the residents of Daggar Kallay, Cheena, Kalpani, Koga, Nawa Gai, Ambela, Rega, Karappa, Sultanwas, and Nar Batwal. Without their participation, this document would not have been possible.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The district of Buner is a small valley surrounded by Shangla, Mansehra, Haripur, Malakand, Swabi and Mardan districts. In April 2009, Buner was occupied by Taliban militants. A month later, the military intervened to oust the militants – this led to the displacement of approximately 66,500 families, predominantly to Mardan and Swabi districts. Some parts of Northern Buner, beyond Daggar, continue to pose threats to local citizens with the continued presence of Taliban hideouts on mountain tops. However, the overall security situation is now safer than it was a few months ago. Save the Children sent an assessment team to Buner on the July 9-10, 2009, to examine the social, economic, and security situation in the district. The assessment team visited 10 villages in 10 Union Councils. The core objectives of the assessment was to: (i) assess the general socioeconomic conditions of returned IDPs, (ii) identify thematic areas to prioritize for development interventions, (iii) examine the present law and order situation and security concerns, and (iv) review possibilities for Save the Children to shift its existing operations to Buner. The methodology of assessment was based on data collection using two tools: an information form for collecting village data, and a household questionnaire for residents and newly returned IDPs. Information gathering also included meetings with district government officials and field observations. A total of 120 randomly selected individuals were interviewed. Women were also deliberately selected and included in the assessment. In our sample, 96 percent of households were male-headed whereas only 4 percent were female-headed. The average age of respondents was 42 years, with an average age of 41 years for males and 57 years for females. Since Buner is a small valley, most of the rural habitations, villages, and towns in the district are easily interconnected by paved roads. The average distance of a village from major towns is around 5 kilometers. The present social conditions in Buner, including commercial activities, appear to be returning to normal. The social environment will likely improve significantly in the coming months when all IDPs have returned to the district. In Buner, most households include a few related families, thus households are quite large. The total number of households in the assessment area is estimated to be 17,760. The great majority of households own their homes (90 percent). Most houses are concrete structures (62 percent) or constructed with mud (31 percent). When the conflict between the military and Taliban began, 83 percent of households fled the district. In six out of the ten assessed communities, all residents reportedly left their villages during the conflict. With a controlled military offensive in most parts of the district, 75 percent of houses avoided any form of damage. Of the remaining 25 percent, the majority (59 percent) of houses were partially damaged. The estimated cost of damages suffered by houses in the

This destroyed truck was spotted on the Swabi – Buner road


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assessment area is Rs. 7.11 million (US $87,778). With peace returning to the area, around 70 percent of the displaced population has returned back. In a few months time, it is expected that nearly all displaced people will return to their villages. Similar to the limited scale of damage to houses, public services have not been as severely affected by the conflict as was anticipated. With the exception of telecommunications, most of the public facilities remain intact. Those which did suffer damage have primarily been restored. Agriculture is the primary source of employment and means of livelihood in the district. Around 75 percent of people are engaged in this sector, mostly in crop cultivation. This sector has suffered significant losses, both because of the conflict and the ensuing unavailability of water. Due to the ongoing conflict, 58 percent of farming households could not harvest crops. This resulted in an estimated loss of around Rs. 5.96 million (US$73,654). Horticulture also suffered, but to a lesser extent than crops. This phenomenon has negatively affected the incomes and livelihoods of residents in the district, which is a major source of concern. Prior to the conflict, family businesses (36 percent of households) were relatively limited in the district compared to other sectors. Post-conflict, most of these businesses are still functional (56 percent). However, the average monthly income from these businesses has declined significantly from roughly US$257 (pre-conflict) to US$66 (post-conflict). The majority of households owned livestock prior to the conflict (67 percent); 36 percent of households lost or sold livestock during the displacement period, and around 84 percent of households lost or sold poultry during the displacement period. These were key household assets, particularly for lower and middle income groups. Due to the disruption of family livelihoods, the majority of households (nearly 57 percent) who used to purchase goods and services using personal incomes are presently highly dependent on borrowing to cover their household expenditures. Therefore, with no savings (for the majority of households), the incidence of debt is high. Around 72 percent of these households have taken loans from family and friends in order to meet household expenditures and needs. Only 8 percent have begun repaying their loans; the remaining households intend to repay their loans using anticipated future incomes and/or selling assets. In terms of social services, healthcare and health facilities in most areas of the district are inadequate. Although there has been no significant damage to health infrastructure, the availability of medicines and health professionals is a serious source of concern. Only 30 percent of the basic health facilities have male doctors, while availability of female doctors is significantly lower. Likewise, the education sector also presents a bleak picture. The estimated literacy rates for both males and females are significantly low in the district, with significant disparity between the two (41 and 12 percent respectively). In addition, large-scale education disparities also exist in the number of schools available for boys and girls. Besides limited education facilities for girls, traditional and cultural factors also limit girls’ access to education. The number of orphan and/or unaccompanied children living with surveyed households was found to be low (occurring in only 3.4 percent of households). There is, however, a great need to develop child-friendly and safe areas for children. During the displacement period, household needs for food were largely met by aid organizations (82 percent) followed by cash assistance (38 percent) from the government, provision of NFIs (35 percent), and others. Households assessed now prioritize livelihood, health and education interventions, followed by food distribution and reconstruction.


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1. BACKGROUND Buner district is a small valley surrounded by rugged mountains. It is comprised of six tehsils1 consisting of 27 union councils (UCs)2 with a total geographic area of 1,865 square kilometers. Based on the 1998 Population Census, its population was 506,048 individuals with a density of 271 people per square kilometer. The district is predominantly inhabited by the Yousufzai clan, with multiple sub-clans, namely Hassan Khels, Kaka Khels, Essa Khels, and others. In addition, the district’s population is also comprised of Gujjars who mostly inhabit the mountains. Around 95.5 percent of the district’s population speaks Pushto whereas 2.9 percent of inhabitants speak Hindko. In April 2009, Taliban militants from the neighboring district of Swat seized control of Buner after a fiercely fought conflict with local residents. Almost a month later, the army intervened to oust the militants from the district. This led to the displacement of nearly 66,500 families, predominantly to neighboring Mardan and Swabi districts3. Occupation by the militants ended at the end of May 2009 when approximately 80-90 percent of the geographical area was freed from their control. Although militants were pushed back from most parts of Buner (predominantly the plains and the mountains, as well as adjoining Swabi and Mardan districts), they continue to reside in some mountain tops north of Daggar, the district headquarter. These areas continue to pose security risks to the local population as well as outsiders visiting the district4. With gradual improvements in the security situation in Buner, and the approaching return of IDPs, Save the Children sent its team to the district on the 9th and 10th of July 2009 to conduct a rapid assessment of the area. The eight-person team visited 10 villages in the union councils of Daggar, Kalpani, Rega, Karappa, Sultanwas, Cheena, Gagra, Ambela, Koga, and Nawa Gai. The villages selected for assessment included Daggar Kallay, Cheena, Kalpani, Koga, Nawa Gai, Ambela, Rega, Karappa, Sultanwas, and Nar Batwal. The team’s primary focus was to evaluate the existing social, economic, and security situation so as to assist the organization in planning, identifying program interventions in the district, and determine opportunities for establishing a field office in the district5. This document details the findings of that assessment in order to provide a “snapshot” of the situation in the district, within specific parameters. These parameters are: (i) demographic information, (ii) residential information and infrastructure damage, (iii) household expenditures and coping mechanisms, (iv) means of livelihoods, (v) sources of employment, (vi) possession of assets, (vii) household debt, (viii) health, (ix) education, (x) assistance received by affected families, and others. Besides providing statistics and simple analysis, this document also presents key issues related to rehabilitation and needs and expectations of local residents and other stakeholders.

1 A tehsil is the second-lowest tier of local government in Pakistan; each tehsil is part of a larger district. Each tehsil is subdivided into a number of union councils. 2 A union council is the first level of government administration in Pakistan. Each union council includes 8-15 villages and an average population of about 15,000-25,000. 3 Source: Provincial Relief Commissioner Emergency Response Unit, Government of NWFP, Pakistan. Website: http://www.helpidp.org/idps_figures.php 4 There are certain UCs where military operation is in progress including Chagarzai, Nadra Chamla, and Dewana Baba. 5 As of July 2009, Save the Children is implementing six multifaceted interventions in Mardan and Swabi for IDPs from Buner and Swat districts: food distribution, distribution of non-food items, education, health and nutrition, child protection, and livelihoods.


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2. OBJECTIVES OF ASSESSMENT The core objectives of the assessment were:

• To comprehend and assess the general socioeconomic conditions of the population in Buner since their return to the district

• To identify thematic areas which should be prioritized for Save the Children’s rehabilitation interventions organizations

• To assess the prevailing security situation in the district

• To identify opportunities for the organization to shift operations to the district 3. METHODOLOGY The assessment methodology was based on data collection from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data sources were given prime consideration in the assessment process. Various data collection tools were used for information gathering, including both quantitative and qualitative tools. These include:

• Information form for collection of village data

• Detailed household questionnaire for residents/IDPs who have returned to the district

• Structured and focused meetings with community elders/residents of the district

• Meetings with various district government officials of Buner

• Field observations of the current situation with collection of photographic evidence The total sample size for the household questionnaire was 120 individuals. To provide equal representation to a village (and the UCs), 12 interviews were conducted in each village. The respondents were randomly selected from the village population. Recognizing the traditional and conservative culture in the district, the team made sure to incorporate interviews with female-headed households in the assessment process. Therefore, the team tried to interview such households through ‘deliberate sample selection’ wherever possible. It is important to note that no respondent was forced to provide information against his or her will. General discussions with district officials were an important component of the assessment. The team’s work plan included interviews with the District Coordination Officer (DCO), District Revenue Officer (DRO), and Executive District Officers (Education and Health). 4. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The limitations of the assessment are as follows:

• This was a rapid assessment which was carried out by a small team over two days – thus, the number of community respondents was restricted to 120. Although a greater number would need to be surveyed in order to meet commonly-accepted statistical standards, results from this assessment remain good indicators of the situation faced by returnees to Buner.


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• The continued presence of Taliban militants in high mountain areas of the district compelled the team to avoid conducting assessments in certain villages, including Dewana Baba and Pir Baba Ziarat.

• Due to time limitations and the busy schedules of government officials, the District Coordination Officer and Executive District Officer for Health could not be interviewed during the assessment.

5. SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS During the two-day assessment, both male and female heads of households were interviewed (see Chart I, below, for respondent distribution). Despite information gathered from local community members, only a small number of female-headed households were identified. Within this small sample size, the team found no evidence that interviewed women had been widowed during the conflict. However, because of the low number of female-headed households, this may require further investigation. The age range of interviewees was between 15-80 years, with an average age of 42 years. The average age of male respondents was 41 years, compared to 57 years for females.

Chart I: Distribution of Respondents by Household Type

96%

4%

Male Headed Households

Female Headed Households

6. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT AREA 6.1. Distance The majority of villages are located on the plain areas of the district, which are also easily accessible by paved roads. On average, paved main roads are accessible within 1 km from the village centre. With a range between 0.5-15 kilometers, the average distance of a village from the main town was also noted to be short (around 5 kilometers). Most villages in the district have a market (either small or medium-sized), and the distance to the market from suburban villages is also around 5 kilometers (see Table I on following page for details). Likewise, the distance of a village from the main cities (either Swari or Daggar) on average is estimated to be 9 kilometers. Small habitations located in the mountains, among relatively difficult geographical terrain, also have access to the main paved roads. Therefore, these habitations are not severely disconnected from other towns and cities within the district. Despite the recent conflict, the paved roads in the district did not appear to suffer significant damage. In the bazaars and markets in most parts of the district, social life seems to be returning to normal. The markets were relatively crowded – not deserted – with local residents. However,


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the usual “hustle and bustle” of the markets seemed, instead, restrained. It may require a couple of months for the situation to normalize completely. Importantly, most of the retail shops and businesses in the markets were open and filled with goods, which is another positive indication that the social situation is improving. Commercial activities in Buner will likely gain further momentum once the transition phase is complete and more IDPs have returned. Table I: Distance of villages from nearest towns, markets, and cities (in km.)

Village Distance to Town Distance to Market Distance to City 1 Koga 15 15 15 2 Ambela 14 14 14 3 Kalpani 05 05 08 4 Nawa Gai 05 02 10 5 Cheena 04 04 04 6 Daggar Kallay 02 04 02 7 Karappa 02 02 02 8 Rega 01 01 05 9 Sultanwas 01 01 16 10 Nar Batwal 0.5 0.5 12

6.2. Family Structures and Residence Status In Buner, the family structure is predominantly ‘joint’ meaning that multiple extended families live together in a single residence. Household sizes, therefore, are significantly large and comprise men, women, children and the elderly. In the assessment area, the average household size is estimated to be 12 individuals, of which adult males and females (18 years and above) comprise the majority of household members (see Chart II below).

Chart II: Demographic Composition of Household Members in

Assessment Area - District Buner

22%

23%

17%

17%

9%

9%3%

Adult Women

Adult Men

Girls (5-18 Years)

Boys (5-18 Years)

Girls (1-5 Years)

Boys (1-5 Years)

Children (<1

Year)

Approximately 90 percent of the households owned their home, with most being owned by the head of the household. Around 62 percent of houses were concrete structures (constructed with bricks and cement), 31 percent were Katcha (constructed with mud), and the remaining 7 percent were semi-concrete.


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6.3. Displacement, Household Damage, and Return of IDPs The estimated number of households in the assessment area is around 17,760. Before initiation of the military operation against the Taliban, 14,720 households (83 percent) fled the district. As Table II (below) indicates, nearly all residents of Koga, Ambela, Sultanwas, Kalpani, Nawagai, and Daggar Kallay left their villages for safer locations during the conflict. In some villages, a few individuals initially stayed back to protect their property and assets from theft, though many finally left after the military operation began.

Table II: Number of Households Displaced and Returned

Village

Estimated No. of

Households

Households

Displaced due to Conflict

Post Conflict No. of Households

(including returned families)*

1 Koga 2.000 2,000(100 %) 1,800 (80 %) 2 Ambela 750 750 (100 %) 700 (93 %) 3 Kalpani 600 600(100 %) 60 (10 %) 4 Nawa Gai 1,500 1,500(100 %) 1,200 (80 %) 5 Cheena 660 600 (91 %) 580 (97 %) 6 Daggar Kallay 850 850 (100 %) 200 (24 %) 7 Karappa 3,000 900 (30%) 2,850 (95 %) 8 Rega 3,500 2800 (80%) 3,325 (95 %) 9 Sultanwas 4,000 4,000(100%) 1,600 (40 %) 10 Nar Batwal 900 720 (80%) 180 (20 %) TOTAL 17,760 14,720 (83 %) 12,495 (70 %)

* Number of households including those which have returned to the village as per July 10, 2009.

In general, about 75 percent of the houses escaped any kind of damage during the conflict and are now reasonably safe for accommodation. Of the 25 percent which were damaged, 59 percent were partially damaged, 24 percent were completely damaged, and the remaining 17 percent sustained minor damage. Except for Sultanwas, the majority of residences are intact. Sultanwas, a militant stronghold, is the exception. In this village, all houses were damaged – 55 percent of the houses were completely damaged while the remaining

45 percent suffered from partial damage. The extent of damage to houses and property (in order) is rooms (at least 1 to 6 rooms), boundary walls, toilets, and household items. The total cost of damage to residences in the assessment area is estimated to be around Rs. 8.45 million (US$104,3206). Table III (below) provides rough estimates of the total cost of damage to houses, by categories.

6 Rate of Rs. 81 = US$1 used throughout report.

Damaged house in Nawa Gai - this house is considered partially damaged


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Table III: Estimated Cost of Damage to Houses

Estimated Loss (in PKR) 1 Rooms 7.11 million 2 Boundary Walls 0.71 million 3 Toilets 0.63 million TOTAL 8.45 million

Presently, amidst a relatively peaceful situation, the IDPs have started to return to their villages. It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of the displaced population has returned back to Buner from Mardan and Swabi as of the first week of July 20097. In the coming days, the number of returning IDPs to Buner is anticipated to increase; the completion of the return process is expected within two months’ time. 6.4. Availability of Public Services Similar to the condition of houses, there is no concrete indication of any large-scale damage to public services which were available prior to the conflict. Table IV below summarizes the availability of services prior to conflict, damage to services during the conflict, current functionality of services, and percentage of households presently having access to services.

Table IV: Availability and Access of Households to General Services (percentage)

Services Pre-Conflict

Access Damage to

Services during

Conflict

Present Functionality

Household Access to Services

1 Electricity 100 30 80 80

2 Post Office 50 10 30 30

3 Police Station 40 20 20 26

4 Drinking Water 100 10 90 73

5 Sewerage 40 0 40 10

6 Telephone 100 70 30 20

7 Cell Phone 100 50 50 50

8 Road 100 0 100 100

9 Ambulance 20 10 10 1

10 Public Transport 100 10 100 100

As the table indicates, most of the essential services, such as electricity, drinking water, telecommunications, roads, and public transport, were available to all the population. Except for telecommunications (including land lines and cellular phones), the extent of damage and unavailability of services is not highly noticeable compared to their pre-conflict access. Damage to electricity supplies during the conflict is relatively sizable. However, in most of the assessment areas, electricity has been restored significantly. It is anticipated that, as life in the district returns to normal over the next couple months, access to these general services will also improve. 7. EMPLOYMENT, LIVELIHOODS, AND PRESENT COPING MECHANISMS 7.1. Agriculture

7 The estimates of returnees provided by the District Revenue Officer are slightly higher, at 80 percent.


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In Buner, agriculture is the major source of employment for the majority of households and an important means of family livelihood. This sector is predominantly comprised of crop cultivation, while horticulture and livestock are minor components. The major summer crop cultivated in the area includes maize, whereas the major winter crops are wheat, tobacco, and barley. Approximately 74 percent of households are involved in agriculture, either through land ownership or working as tenants for landowners (called Khans). Comparatively, in the assessed villages of Ambela, Daggar Kallay and Narbatwal, involvement in agriculture was significantly higher than Karappa and Koga. Contrary to crop cultivation, only 12 percent of households were found to be involved in horticulture, and this was predominantly in the northern parts of the district8. Prior to the displacement period, 5,753 Kanals of agriculture land was cultivated in the assessment area, with land holdings ranging from 0.35 to 1,000 Kanals. Prior to and/or during the displacement phase, around 42 percent of farmers either fully or partially harvested the crop whereas 58 percent were not able to harvest. In total, this resulted in an estimated loss of around Rs. 5.96 million (or US$73,654) with an average loss of Rs. 121,755 (or US$ 1,503) per farmer9. Farmers with large land holdings suffered more than medium and small-scale farmers with high degrees of wastage. Compared to crop losses, horticulture suffered relatively lower losses. Prior to the military conflict, horticulture provided farmers an average monthly income of approximately Rs. 120,500 (US$1488) mostly in northern parts of the district. During the displacement phase, each farmer suffered from wastage of fruits, which on average is estimated to be Rs. 47,280 (US$584) per month. In total, farmers who harvested crops managed to store around 40,000-45,000 kilograms of their produce. However, due to the unavailability of transportation and severe restrictions in travelling during the conflict due to curfews, only 13.5 percent of farmers managed to sell the produce. An estimated 7,818 kilograms of produce was kept for consumption, with a mean value of 355 kilograms per household. There were no reported losses of agricultural machinery. This is due to the fact that most farmers do not own agricultural machines (such as tractors and thrashers) but rent them for leveling land, cultivation, harvesting, and transportation. Therefore, the ownership of agricultural machinery by farming households is miniscule. Significant crop losses have severely affected the livelihoods and incomes of most households, particularly those which are exclusively or majorly dependent on the agriculture sector. Unfortunately, this constitutes the majority of households. To make things worse, the government has banned production of maize (which is cultivated in the summer), citing security concerns10 – this has worried the farming community in the district. The restriction on maize cultivation will further reduce the incomes of farmers this year. It will also limit the fodder available for feeding livestock. Besides agriculture, employment with the government, small-scale businesses and retail, employment in the marble industry, self-employment, and unskilled labor are other minor employment sectors in the district. Due to significant losses suffered by the marble industry

8 The major fruits produced in the area include peach, plum, and oranges. 9 One of the major reasons for agriculture losses was the unavailability of water due to power shortages that affected the functioning of tube wells, the major source of water for agriculture in the district. 10 Government is of the view that maize fields provide an easy and accessible hideout for militants to avoid capture by the military.


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during the military conflict, a large number of people employed by the industry are presently without work. In contrast, around 19 percent of household members are employed by the government – this is currently a secure source of income and livelihoods for households. 7.2. Damage to Family Businesses Around 36 percent of the households owned businesses prior to the conflict. The majority of these businesses were small shops (40 percent), various kinds of businesses11 (33 percent), trading stores (23 percent), and others (4 percent). For certain families in urban settings, these businesses were an important source of sustaining family livelihoods. The average monthly income from these businesses was an estimated Rs. 20,828 (US$257). During the survey, 44 percent of households stated they had lost business during the displacement, thus depriving

them of income. However, 56 percent of households still continue to own functioning businesses, though income from them has declined considerably. The average monthly income is now roughly Rs. 5,375 (US$66). Damage to business establishments due to the conflict was limited (28 percent) – 45 of these businesses were partially damaged, 36 percent were completely damaged, and 18 percent suffered minor damages. With costs of damage ranging widely from Rs. 250 – 1.1 million, the average cost of damage comes to Rs. 261,325 (US$3,226). 7.3. Livestock and Poultry According to the assessment, 67 percent of households owned livestock prior to the conflict. The most common animals owned were cows and buffaloes, followed by sheep or goats, and horses or donkeys (see Chart III on following page). Of the households which owned livestock, 36 percent either lost or sold animals during the military operation and period of displacement. This mostly affected middle and lower-income groups for whom animals are an important asset. Besides livestock, 93 percent of households owned poultry (predominantly hens) with an average ownership of 9 hens per household. During the conflict, 84 percent of households lost poultry.

11 Repair shops, hotels, cafes, etc.

This gas station, on the main road to Buner from Swabi, is partially damaged


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Chart III: Households having Livestock prior to Military

Conflict

69%

8%

23%

Cows/Buffaloes

Goats/Sheep

Horses/Donkeys

7.4. Household Expenditures There have been notable changes in how households pay for expenses in the pre and post-conflict periods. Prior to the conflict, most households surveyed covered their family expenditures with personal income sources. However, in the post-displacement phase, borrowing money to finance family expenditures has become prevalent. Prior to the conflict, 96 percent of households covered food expenses with their personal incomes. However, after the conflict, this percentage has reduced significantly to 66 percent. Accordingly, paying for food expenditures with borrowed funds has increased enormously from less than 1 percent (pre-displacement) to 20 percent (post-displacement). Similarly, there have been major changes in how households pay for utilities, healthcare, and other expenditures (including clothing, shoes, transportation, and supplies). During the post-displacement phase, 93 percent of households paid for miscellaneous expenditures through personal incomes; post-displacement, this number has decreased to 69 percent. Likewise, 96 percent of the households paid utility bills with earned incomes; this has number has decreased to 76 percent. In order to pay utility bills, 23 percent of households presently borrow money, whereas previously less than 0.5 percent did so. Before the conflict, around 97 percent of households had sufficient resources to pay for healthcare – this number has declined to 78 percent, with 18.5 percent of households borrowing money to pay medical bills. These figures indicate the severe financial shortfalls most households have been facing during this transition period – these shortfalls are causing many households in the district to fall into debt. 7.5. Household Savings, Loans, and Debts Of the households surveyed, only 8 percent mentioned having savings for any contingency. With savings ranging from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 2.1 million, the median savings per household comes to Rs. 52,500 (US$648). As detailed above, most of the families in the assessment area are facing financial pressures, primarily due to loss of livelihoods. Accordingly, approximately 58 percent of surveyed households are in debt. Among the various loan providers, family and friends are the major source, followed by shopkeepers/moneylenders, and banks (see Chart IV on following page).


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Chart IV: Sources of Loans Taken by Households

72%

20%

8%

Banks

Family and Friends

Money Lender/Shopkeeper

The lower loan amounts incurred from family and friends may suggest that these loans have predominantly been taken to cover household expenses and needs during and after the conflict. On the contrary, higher loan amounts borrowed from banks may indicate that these loans had been taken prior to the conflict. However, no household had taken loans from more than one source. The estimated amount of loans taken from these sources is presented in Table V below.

Table V: Estimated Loans Borrowed by Returning IDPs (in PKR)

Source of Loans Total Estimated Amount Average Loan/Household

1 Family/Friends 3.82 million 76,380 2 Banks 0.66 million 110,200 3 Moneylender/Shopkeeper 0.48 million 34,429

How much of these loans have been repaid? The data indicates that only 8 percent of indebted households have started repaying their loans. For those who have begun repaying their loans, on average, they still have to pay 83 percent of the borrowed amount. These figures signify the present severity of indebtedness among households. The majority of respondents planned to clear their debts with future earnings or by selling their assets (41 percent). Around 23 percent aim to repay their debt in installments, whereas 12.5 percent intend to delay payments until they are more financially secure. 8. INFORMATION ON SOCIAL SECTORS AND PROTECTION 8.1 Health Facilities The health infrastructure in district is very poor. Prior to the conflict, 50 percent of the villages assessed had direct access to some form of health facility, in most cases a Basic Health Unit (BHU). However, the conditions in these units are historically abysmal due to the unavailability of doctors, health staff, and medicines. Although there was no large-scale damage to health facilities during the conflict, most of the BHUs are not functioning due to unavailability of qualified health professionals and medicines. In the assessed villages which have BHUs, only 30 percent of them have doctors, of which only 10 percent (1 village) have a female doctor. Likewise, only one health facility has a pediatrician. Barring Ambela12, villages in which healthcare facilities are not available are, on average, around

12 The nearest health facility to Ambela is approximately 14 kilometers away.


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2 km. from the nearest health facility. These facilities are not, however, equipped to treat patients for serious illnesses. Serious cases are taken to Mardan or Peshawar for treatment (an approximately 2-3 hour journey). 8.2. Literacy, Education Facilities and Enrolment According to our assessment village profiles, the level of literacy in the assessment area is estimated to be 30 percent, with significant variation among males and females (41 and 12 percent respectively). This is primarily explained by the limited educational opportunities for women due to cultural and social norms. Likewise, there are significant variations in school enrolment among boys and girls (5-18 years). Nearly 41 percent of girls have been enrolled in school, since their families’ return, compared to over 59 percent of boys. Besides cultural norms, the disparity in enrolment is also explained by provision of education services by gender. Although there is no indication of large-scale damage to education infrastructure in the district (only 5 schools were destroyed during the conflict), the disparity in education provision is high: there are 433 primary schools for boys compared to 157 for girls, 48 middle schools for boys and 22 for girls, and 41 high schools for boys and 16 for girls13. 8.3. Protection According to assessment results, the incidence of orphans living with extended or foster families does not appear to be high (3.4 percent). Of this percentage, around 2.5 percent of families had at least three orphans residing within their household. Most orphans are related to the head of the household, although there were a few cases of families who had informally taken custody of orphans in their area. A crucial need which has emerged is the absence of child playing spaces in the district. A staggering 83 percent of neighborhoods do not have playing areas which are friendly and safe. 9. SUPPORT RECEIVED BY HOUSEHOLDS DURING DISPLACEMENT During the displacement phase, IDPs received various forms of assistance from the donor community, the government, and non-governmental organizations (both international and national). The percentage of surveyed households which received this assistance is presented in Table VI below.

Table VI: Households Receiving Support (in percentage)

Support Percentage of Households 1 Food 82 2 Non-Food Items 35 3 Health 24 4 Education 3.4 5 Protection 12.4 6 Cash Assistance 38 7 Livelihoods 0.84 8 Water and Sanitation 13 9 Others 13

13 Source: Executive District Officer (Education), Buner.


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10. COMMUNITY PRIORITIES During the assessment, the team asked residents to identify three priority support areas, in order of importance. Households prioritized initiation of livelihoods, health and education interventions, followed by food distribution and reconstruction. Table VII (below) details the results.

Table VII: Household Priorities for Support (in numbers) Priority

I HHs Priority

II HHs Priority III HHs

1 Livelihoods 43 Health 21 Health 28 2 Food 21 Livelihoods 20 Education 20 3 Reconstruction 13 Education 20 Others 15 4 Education 12 Food 19 Livelihoods 14 5 Health 9 Protection 10 Food 12 6 Protection 7 Water/Sanitation 9 Water/Sanitation 11 7 Water/Sanitation 7 Shelter 8 Reconstruction 6 8 Others 4 Others 4 Protection 4 9 Shelter 2 Reconstruction 3 Shelter 3 10 NFIs 0 NFIs 3 NFI 2

11. CONCLUSION In opposition to the general perception that conflicts often result in large-scale destruction, the evidence from Buner suggests that the area did not suffer large scale collateral damage. Most of the physical infrastructure, public utilities, houses, and markets are intact. However, the most severe repercussion of the conflict has been on the disruption of livelihoods. Since agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the majority of households in the district, significant losses, particularly in crops, have pushed the majority of the agriculture-dependent households to the financial brink. Besides agriculture, other livelihood sectors have also been affected, including businesses, skilled labor, and unskilled labor. Incomes from these sources have declined noticeably in the post-displacement period. Therefore, sources of employment and livelihoods are presently the fundamental concern for most returnees. In terms of social services, most of the physical education and health infrastructure is intact. However, the quality of services being provided is limited. Existing public health facilities in the district do not have enough medical professionals, medicines, or equipment to provide even satisfactory healthcare services. In most instances, local residents prefer to seek private treatment instead of going to public healthcare facilities. Likewise, education services are inadequate. The education department is highly under-funded and public sector schools offer low quality of education. In addition, gender disparities in service provision are excessively high, as cultural and social factors generally prohibit girls from receiving education. Child protection is also a key area which requires attention. There is a growing need for developing more child friendly spaces, particularly in a time when most residents are under enormous psychosocial stress.

Rapid Assessment Report of Buner District, NWFP, Pakistan

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