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| | GEO Pakistan | | IDPs’ rehabilitation govt. top priority: President | Updated at: 0748 PST, Wednesday, June 10, 2009
 ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said the focus of humanitarian response to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) should not be limited to the provision of relief in camps only but should be extended to those living off camps and also to the restoration of infrastructure and reconstruction in the affected areas of Malakand division.
He said this during a briefing today by the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) on the proposed plan for relief and rehabilitation. The briefing was given by Deputy Chairman ERRA Lt. Gen. Sajjad Akram.
The President said that relief and reconstruction work needed to be done in a transparent manner that invoked the confidence of not only the victims and the people but also of the donor agencies and countries.
Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farahatullah Babar said that the Deputy Chairman ERRA briefed the President on various aspects of the proposed plan.
The first phase of planning involved damage assessment, early recovery plan, formulation of re-settlement plan, reconstruction strategy and short-listing of contractors and consultants.
The second phase involved restoration of civil administration, provision of transitional facilities (like shelters, mobile hospitals), minesweeping, infrastructure repair, house damage compensation and commercial property compensation.
The President said that the IDPs’ rehabilitation was the top most priority of the government.
He said that the damaged houses and commercial buildings should be rebuilt with materials that were environment friendly and the structures were resistant to earthquakes.
The President said that the international community was willing to help and to solicit a favourable and generous response, a comprehensive, credible and doable rehabilitation plan must be finalized at the earliest. |  |
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