IRIN
PAKISTAN: Revitalising quake schools in Pakistani-administered Kashmir
13 March 2006


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
Nations]

ISLAMABAD, 13 March (IRIN) - As part of a cash-for-work programme, the 
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been 
assisting local communities in two earthquake-effected districts of 
Pakistani-administered Kashmir in building and equipping quake-resistant 
classrooms.

"The aim is to restore safe classroom space destroyed by the 8 October 
earthquake and enable students to return to normal routines while 
schools prepare for reconstruction [with permanent structures]," a press 
statement issued on Sunday from USAID, said.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), at least half 
of the estimated 80,000 people who died in the devastating quake in 
northern Pakistan were children. The agency estimates almost 1 million 
school-age survivors need support, of which 450,000 are of primary 
school age.

Under its US $240,000 programme to revitalise educational activities in 
the districts of Bagh and Poonch, USAID has paid local villagers to 
clear rubble from over 250 demolished and damaged school sites, provided 
tents as temporary classroom space, and funded classroom equipment such 
as blackboards, desks, chairs and books.

The programme not only enables students to safely return to classrooms 
but also provides employment for local residents, says the USAID 
statement.

Other efforts are being made to rapidly revive education in the quake 
zone. The 'Welcome to School' initiative is a collective intervention of 
humanitarian partners working in the education sector. It aims to ensure 
that 450,000 primary school children have returned to - or started - 
education by 1 April.

As the education cluster lead agency, UNICEF has established over 910 
tent schools outside relief settlements serving more than 144,000 
students. In addition, the agency plans to provide a further 12,500 tent 
classrooms under the initiative.

Apart from its assistance to rebuild quake-affected schools, USAID has 
also been providing equipment to all 848 government schools in Bagh 
district, with desks, chairs and blackboards for 74,000 students.


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