OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Afghanistan - Earthquake
26 March 2002


This situation report is based on initial media reports and verbal
information provided by UNOCHA - Kabul/Mazar-i-Sharif.

Situation

1.  A series of earthquakes with the strongest one measuring 6.0 on the
Richter Scale struck Afghanistan in the evening of 25 and 26 March 2002.
The epicenter of the earthquake was in Nahrin district, Baghlan province,
in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. Damage was reported to the north,
south and in the center of Nahrin. According to initial reports, the
center of Nahrin has incurred serious damage with 200 houses destroyed and
nearly 100 deaths. Damage has also been reported in Burkha, although there
is no detailed information on the scope of the damage in this location.
According to the estimates of the Afghanistan Interim Authority (AIA)
there are approximately 1,500 casualties, 4,000 injured, at least 1,500
homes destroyed and 20,000 people left without shelter. Out of the three
access roads to the affected area, two are currently blocked and the only
access route remains from Kilaghai.


International and National Response

2.  Mr. Hamid Karzai, the Chairman of the AIA has convened an emergency
meeting of all ministries to discuss the ways to deal with the disaster.

3.  The French NGO ACTED based in Pul-i-Khumri has already distributed 500
tents and 1,000 blankets to the population in the affected area and is
currently deploying an assessment team. The ACTED Office itself collapsed
overnight, but radio communication remained intact.

4.  MSF dispatched an assessment mission to the area with emergency
medical assistance.

5.  The UNOCHA Regional Coordinator Officer (RCO) in Mazar is organizing
the dispatch of winter clothing, blankets, tents, food and non-food items,
emergency kits and body begs. The road travel from Mazar-i-Sharif to the
affected area is approximately 4,5 hours and, therefore, possibilities of
using helicopters are being explored.

6.  An assessment team comprised of UNOCHA, IOM, UNHCR, ICRC, ACTED and
MSF is being dispatched to the area from Mazar.

7.  A meeting has been convened at the UN Coordinators Office in Kabul at
02.00 p.m. (local time) to asses the situation. UN agencies, ACTED, Halo
Trust, ICRC and IOM attended the meeting.

8.  OCHA is in close contact with UNOCHA Offices in Afghanistan and will
revert with further information, as it becomes available.

9.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Ivo Freijsen, Mr. Anvar Munavvarov
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1695/1669

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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