Fwd: Meeting with NDCC

[SC coordinator - Jan-Willem Wegdam]

Dear shelter supporters,

Attached you will find a message from the protection cluster.

Tomorrow a meeting is scheduled between representatives (not clear who) from the IASC and the NDCC, to address insufficient alternatives offered while closing EC's in NCR and IV-A.

In case I will be invited to that meeting, or if I am asked to give some input. I would like to have some information on your short term capacity. I know that many organizations are waiting or applying for funding, but I am sure with some creativity we would be able to offer some kind of shelter assistance (tents, technical support, repairs, tarps anything)

I did not get any reactions on my 'heads up' last week, therefore I ask you again.

Let's keep eachother informed!

Kind Regards,

Shelter Cluster Coordinator - Jan-Willem Wegdam

sc.ph...@gmail.com

+63 (0)939 629 1670

Website: http://groups.google.com/group/sheltercluster-ph

LKG Tower, 37th Floor, Room 18

6801 Ayala Avenue

Makati, Philippines

 

Begin doorgestuurd bericht:

Van: "Maj Anne-Christine Eriksson" <erik...@unhcr.org>

Datum: 23 november 2009 20:10:50 PHT

Aan: <jacqui....@undp.org>

Kopie: <sc.ph...@gmail.com>,<pbre...@iom.int>, <ann.br...@undp.org>, <heena...@undp.org>, <richard...@undp.org>, "MAY ABOUSLEIMAN ASSELY" <ABOU...@unhcr.org>, "Kate Pooler" <POO...@unhcr.org>, "Rico Y. Salcedo" <SAL...@unhcr.org>, <men...@unicef.org>

Onderwerp: Meeting with NDCC

Dear Jacqui,

Kindly find attached a matrix trying to capture some information on the closure of ECs, as well as the PINGON paper of this morning, as background information for tomorrow's meeting.

The Pingon paper indeed highlights key concerns.

I would though like to add three concerns:

1) the apparent lack of clear communication and lack of consultation with the evacuees, leading not only to rumours of options available but also rumours of possible force by the police recently present in some ECs, in order to move them out of the ECs.

2) as the evacuees are not given adequate time to consider the options offered to them, the option chosen may not be a viable one, whether cash grant for rent support or in-kind support for construction material. Firstly the rent support may only be sufficient for two months and the construction material may be used to build a second floor on a flooded house in an 'at-risk' area or a temporary shelter in an informal settlement. If the assistance is not supportive of a durable solution, will the evacuees be able to benefit from a relocation option or other return assistance at a later stage?

3) in line with our guidance note, the preparations for closure should take into consideration durable solutions, and only exceptionally should the evacuees be offered another temporary solution, be it another evacutation centre or transitory shelter.

We are still working on ideas for how to support the government in balancing the pressure to reopen schools and providing shelter for the evacuees. The guidance note mentions some alternatives for providing both shelter and education (modified school hours, temporary shelter in the yard to free up class room daytime class room,  temporary learning spaces, learning through radio, etc). In our protection cluster meetings particularly with representatives for the CCCM, education and shelter clusters respectively we have flagged the possibility to upgrade/rehabilitate schools during and after being used as ECs, construction/rehabilitation of alternative ECs, temporary housing, premanent housing, provision of shelter kits or reconstruction material, supporting the consultative process by information mechanisms, including organisation of go&see visits to sites/housing alternatives fulfiling the requirement of adequacy.

As to the meeting tomorrow, at 14H00 would you like all relevant cluster coordinators (or heads of agencies?), such as CCCM, early recovery, education, protection and shelter to join in?

best regards
Anki