IOM has established another Rapid Response Team (RRT) in the
Kohistan Valley, the second largest district of the North West
Frontier Province (NWFP) - home to half a million, mostly poor,
people.

Ten IOM RRTs, supported by American International Group Disaster
Relief Fund (AIG DRF), are already operational in areas devastated
by the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan's northern region,
carrying out urgent needs assessments, giving disaster preparedness
trainings and responding to emergency situations.

In camps for people displaced by the earthquake, fire is a major
hazard and the government Camp Management Organization (CMO) is now
equipping each camp with fire-fighting apparatus. It has also asked
the RRTs to carry out fire safety trainings for the people living
in camps.

Community awareness of the RRTs and their role is also growing.
Round-the-clock public service announcements (PSAs) are being aired
on FM99 Radio across the affected region announcing RRT hotline
numbers and urging the people to seek help in emergency situations.
People are also being encouraged to contact RRTs through newspaper
ads.

A 30-minute live call-in Rapid Response Radio Programme will
begin on FM99 today. The programme, which will be on air every
Friday for six weeks, will feature interviews with local government
officials and community leaders and will help address people's
immediate concerns this winter.

"Despite severe weather conditions, the situation remains stable
in the affected areas as compared to last year. But the information
campaign launched through radio and the press has helped increase
awareness, with more people requesting RRT disaster preparedness
training," says John Sampson, head of IOM sub-office in
Muzaffarabad.

For more information please contact:

Saleem Rehmat

IOM Pakistan

Tel: +92.300.8565967

E-mail: srehmat@iom.int