About 10,000 families, badly affected by the devastating October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and North West Frontier Province , have received radio sets to help stay better informed as they rebuild their shattered lives.
Donated free of charge by Internews Network, an international media development NGO operational in over 50 countries, the radio sets were distributed in August 2006 with the logistical assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The massive north Asian earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on the Richter Scale killed upwards of 80,000 people, injured 150,000 and displaced 3.5 million in Pakistan disrupting lives and livelihoods.
As part of the Pakistan Emergency Information Project (PEIP), funded by DFID of UK and SDC of Switzerland and implemented by Internews Pakistan , about 6,500 radio sets were distributed in Kashmir and 3,500 in NWFP.
The sturdy, smart radio sets can be run on battery cells, solar energy, dynamo or electricity. The set also carries a torch, navigation compass, thermometer, an emergency alarm and a storage pocket.
According to Adnan Rehmat, the country director for Internews Network's Pakistan operations, distribution of radio sets will further help people to stay better informed about government compensation policies, health warnings, and learn methods for reconstructions and rehabilitation.
Bashir Ahmed, 44, in Muzaffarabad, said radio had an important role in his life. “I'm keen to listen to news and discussions on radio. Here in the mountains we don't have access to newspapers thus radio is the only source of information.” He said.
Mohammed Nauman, 18, in Balakot, was excited at getting a radio set. “For many days I have been thinking of buying a radio but had no money to spare. Now I am very happy. I love listening to the radio when I go out with my goats and sheep in grazing areas,” he said.
Under the PEIP project, Internews has been helping the seven emergency (ER) response FM stations issued non-commercial licenses by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) within weeks of the disaster to produce and broadcast humanitarian information to a region where the quake destroyed media houses and facilities.
The project included technical assistance to the ER stations, training their journalists and staff in humanitarian reporting and program production; and production of a syndicated radio program, the Jazba-e-Tameer [The Spirit of Reconstruction], a daily one-hour program on humanitarian information.
Snapshots surveys conducted by Internews two weeks after the quake and four months later in the affected regions reveal a growing dependence on radio as a primary and reliable source of information for the affected populations.
In late Oct 2005, a few weeks after the quake, 28% said radio was one of their primary sources of information. In late Feb 2008, the percentage had gone up to 70%. In the second survey, respondents mentioned one or more of all seven emergency response (ER) radio stations and a commercial station on air at the time of the survey as their station of choice.
The follow-up survey also revealed that four months after the quake more people are consuming more media: From 15 per cent respondents watching TV in late Oct 2005 in the quake regions, there were 24% doing it in late Feb 2006. Of these all 24% said TV was one of their primary sources of information. Virtually all watched state-run TV channels). The follow up survey also shows 33.3% (one-third) respondents including newspapers as one of their primary sources of information (up from 21% in Oct 2005).
The findings establish that the new community radio media regime launched by the authorities in the quake region – the first time that private broadcast media was allowed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which had a state monopoly before the quake – has in a short time become a major source of independent, reliable and useful information for the affected populations.
The distribution of radio sets in the quake affected zone was scheduled in February 2006 but was delayed after the government imposed customs duties on the radio sets (costing more than the purchase price of the total consignment) which were imported by Internews for free distribution among quake affected people.
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