OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Afghanistan - Earthquake
28 March 2002


This report has been compiled on the basis of information provided by
UNOCHA and other humanitarian actors in Afghanistan, as well as media
reports. For additional background information on the recent earthquakes
in Afghanistan, please refer to our previous Situation Reports No 1-5
(also available on ReliefWeb).


Background and Current Situation

1.  A series of earthquakes hit Baghlan province of Afghanistan in the
evening of 25 March, the early morning 26 March and the afternoon of 27
March. The epicenter of the earthquakes was located southeast of Nahrin
district in Baghlan province. The affected area extends in a radius of
12-15 km around Nahrin. Other affected areas include Burkha, Panshjiri,
Lakankhel and Toli, but these areas have been less affected than the
larger settlement of Nahrin. It is estimated that 78 villages have been
affected by the earthquakes. According to local sources, 7,000 families
have been affected. The latest death toll was reported to range from 800
to 1,000 people. Assessments are ongoing and this number could grow as
further assessments are carried out.


National and International Response

2.  As a result of the coordinated approach and cooperation among the
Afghan authorities, donors, UN agencies and NGOs in responding to the
earthquake, the urgent needs of the affected population have been met,
mostly by in-country stocks. Consequently, when the remaining consignments
of humanitarian supplies, currently at Kabul airport, is taken to the
earthquake zone today, further flights will cease, pending the
identification of additional requirements. Helicopter flights will
continue, however, to transport essential supplies, specialist equipment
and to facilitate the rotation of essential staff. ISAF has provided the
logistical expertise and equipment for the airlift operation.

3.  According to information from the earthquake operations centre in
Nahrin, distributions of non- food items (NFIs) will be completed in the
next few days. Food needs are also covered for the time being. In the
morning of 28 March, there was a food distribution to 4,400 families
(22,000 people) and another distribution was made to 5,000 families
(25,000 people) later today. Each family package includes 50 kg of wheat,
6.7 kg pulses, 5 litres edible oil, 3 kg sugar and Corn Soya Blend (CSB).

4.  Organizations specializing in medical care will shortly convene a
meeting to ensure all needs are covered. In Nahrin, there are a number of
medical personnel on the ground. At the hospital in Pul-i-Kumri, 15
additional tents have been set up which increases the capacity of the
hospital to 250 patients. In addition, kits have been supplied by ICRC to
treat 200 wounded, extra burns dressing have been made available and
surgical sets are en route. Medical evacuation to the hospital, however,
is still problematic. EMERCOM have confirmed that a special field hospital
has left Tajikistan via Dushanbe, and will be in Pul-i-Kumri tonight. This
is a self-sufficient hospital with two weeks supplies. The Swedish
Committee for Afghanistan's (SCA) clinic in Nahrin treated 360 injured.

5.  IOM offices in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kundiz have so far sent 69 trucks
loaded with 40,800 blankets and 4,758 tents. IOM is also transporting
2,000 tents and 20,000 blankets for the NGO International Rescue Committee
and 320 tents for the NGO GOAL. Another 24 IOM trucks have been loaded
with 3,000 tents from warehouses in Hairaton, on the Afghan-Uzbek border.

6.  WHO has dispatched 3 health kits containing medical supplies to treat
30,000 people for 3 months. An additional WHO team consisting of an
epidemiologist and water and sanitation engineer has left to the area.

7.  Five UNICEF trucks carrying high energy biscuits (BP5), blankets,
clothing, jerry cans and baby packages have been dispatched to the area.
Six staff members from UNICEF/Mazar-i-Sharif arrived to Nahrin to support
assessment and distribution of supplies. In addition, trucks are being
dispatched from Mazar-i-Sharif with NFIs including 600 jerry cans, 319
tents and blankets.

8.  On 27 March, UNHCR sent 11.6 MTs of aid, including 56 family tents,
795 plastic tarpaulins and 900 jerry cans aboard of two ISAF helicopters
to the disaster site.

9.  The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and IFRC have dispatched relief
items from Mazar-i-Sharif, including 888 tents, 4,846 blankets, 3,187
plastic sheeting and 193 jerry cans.  The Federation is planning to send a
field assessment coordination team (FACT) to the region in support of the
ARCS in assessing the need of the affected population and immediate
response to priority needs.

10.  The affected area has sufficient water resources from the local
springs and rivers. In addition, jerry cans and water purification tablets
are being provided. The US military have made available a drilling
capacity, to increase the water supply if required.

11.  Canada and Australia will provide US$ 100,000 and AUD 1,000,000
respectively in emergency assistance to the victims of the earthquakes.

12.  A four-person UNDAC team has arrived in Afghanistan today. They will
be deployed according to need, most likely to Nahrin and Pul-i-Kumri.

13.  While there are needs, which still need to be addressed, the focus of
the disaster is now shifting towards planning for the reconstruction.
Donors are being advised that commodities now being sent will be used to
replenish the ear-marked supplies that agencies and organizations had
diverted to the earthquake zone. A contingency planning exercise will be
initiated to decide where the additional stocks should be directed
according to need, but also where to preposition supplies for contingency
stocks.

14.  Over the next few days a small group will be established by UNOCHA,
together with the Afghanistan Interim Administration, to learn lessons
from this operation and to build up the capacity of the authorities in the
area of disaster management and preparedness.

15.  In terms of reconstruction, the main issue is that several thousand
families lost shelter. At the moment, the extent of the damage is not
known precisely, although a joint DFID/ISAF aerial reconnaissance,
confirmed that over a radius of 15km from Nahrin, there was 90% structural
damage to houses with 25% buildings were totally collapsed, 60% had
serious damage (either a collapsed wall or roof). The estimate is that
1,500 homes have been affected. A fuller assessment is required before
designing a strategy for reconstruction. Local expertise and capability
will be sought. In many locations, local residents have already been
observed to be building makeshift shelters of local materials. The current
weather conditions are likely to be conducive to house building. The
various designs for earthquake resistant houses will be examined and a
technical meeting will take place to decide on the approach.

16.  Immediate priorities also include employment generation to inject
cash into this poor community. The impact of the earthquake also means
that there will be no wheat production this year.

17.  Whilst the immediate needs of the affected population on the ground
seem to have been met, donors are alerted to the fact that the Immediate
and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People in 2002 (
ITAP) is severely under-funded.  Adequate funding for the ITAP is of
crucial importance in order to successfully carry out the 2002
humanitarian and transitional programme as well as to replenish emergency
stocks that have been diverted for earthquake response purposes.

18.  Cash contributions to the reconstruction effort and assistance effort
are welcome. There may be a necessity to implement Cash for Work and Food
for Work programmes. The Government of Japan has already made a financial
commitment and the Swiss Government announced today that they will assist
financially.

19.  To consolidate the information on the exact assistance provided to
the earthquake zone and assessment undertaken, all donors, NGOs and UN
Agencies are requested to submit details to UNOCHA (basagic@un.org). In
addition, Donors will be contacted as to future use of additional
commodities.

20.  The next earthquake coordination meeting will be combined with the
regular Emergency Task Force meeting and will take place on Saturday, 30
March at 1400hrs in Kabul.

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

22.  OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assisstance, in coordination with relavent
organizations in the United Nations system. For banking details please
contact the desk officers indicated below. OCHA provides donor governments
with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization
of the funds contributed.

23.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int. Maps relating to the earthquakes can be found on
the Website of the Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS) at
http://www.hic.org.pk. The Virtual OSOCC (accessible through ReliefWeb)
also provides information on the earthquake and can be used for
information sharing.


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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