A Housing Reconstruction Centre (HRC) established by IOM in the
North West Frontier Province (NWFP) town of Abbottabad to train
owners of houses destroyed or damaged in the 2005 earthquake in
improved building techniques may close at the end of May due to
lack of funds.

The Abbottabad HRC, one of several set up at the instigation of
Pakistan's Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority
(ERRA), was launched in May 2007 and initially funded by UN-HABITAT
and Ireland.

"We provide multiple forms of assistance through training of
home owners in earthquake-resistant construction standards and we
raise public awareness. But much more still needs to be done," says
IOM Abbottabad head of sub-office, Fida Hussain.

In Abbottabad, more than 13,442 houses were completely destroyed
by the October 2005 earthquake. Countless others were damaged.

IOM's programme builds on existing partnerships with district
and provincial government authorities to support their efforts and
those of ERRA to identify the needs and priorities of the local
communities.

"The established relationship between IOM and DRU (District
Reconstruction Unit)-ERRA has certainly been strengthened as a
result of our cooperation at the district level and centre," says
Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, Abbottabad's District Housing Coordinator.

Locally recruited IOM staff also work at the HRC to motivate
local stakeholders to bring about change within their community.
HRC staff include two locally recruited engineers who have trained
four master artisans, who in turn provide outreach to help
homeowners to rebuild to ERRA-approved standards.

For further information, please contact:

Maha Qazi

IOM Islamabad

Tel: +92.300.8526599

E-mail: "mailto:mqazi@iom.int">mqazi@iom.int