A Refugee International team will return to Pakistan to follow up on two previous missions to assess the response to the October 2005 earthquake. RI Director of Operations Michael McIntyre and Tim Connolly, a consultant, will focus on the transition from relief to reconstruction, with special attention to the role of civil society organizations. They leave for Pakistan on April 11 and return to Washington on April 28.

According to the Pakistan government’s recovery plan, April 1 marks the end of the relief stage and the start of the reconstruction stage. On missions to Pakistan last November and December, RI concluded that for many displaced and marginalized populations, relief efforts may have to continue long after the rebuilding phase has begun. A key goal of the mission is assess whether relief activities are still necessary as well as assessing the support to earthquake survivors as they return to their home communities after the winter months.

In addition to this issue, the RI team will focus on the role of the government of Pakistan, especially in the context of the withdrawal of external emergency relief agencies and foreign military forces, which provided substantial support in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. The team will also assess the role of local non-governmental organizations and the extent to which they are being integrated into the plans of the government and international agencies. As people begin the rebuilding process, access to land and legal support for land titling will be critical, as well the proper design of new homes, schools, clinics, and other buildings.