OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Afghanistan - Earthquake
12 April 2002


This report has been compiled on the basis of information provided by the
United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) as well as press
reports.


Background and General Information

An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 occurred at 04:00:26 UTC at 35.88N 69.25E
and at a depth of 33km. This point is approximately 150 kilometers north
of Kabul in Nahrin district, Baghlan province. This most recent earthquake
was centered in the same area as the powerful earthquake that struck on 25
March that killed up to 1,000 people and left tens of thousands of people
homeless. The quake of today was felt in Kabul, but there are no reports
of damage and casualties in the capital.

Initial reports indicate that Dawabi and Khojakheder villages, previously
damaged by the 25 March quake, are now completely destroyed. Staff from
NGOs Concern and ACTED have carried out ground assessments and begun
distributing assistance. Through the website of the Afghanistan
Information Management Service (AIMS)  (http://www.hic.org.pk)  more
information is available regarding villages in the vicinity of the
epicentre of the earthquake, that may have been affected by the most
recent tremors.

An aerial assessment team consisting of UNAMA humanitarian and security
staff, IOM, WFP, and MSF has also surveyed the area.

There were reportedly 27 people killed and approximately 120 injured.
Fortunately the quake occurred in a sparsely populated area and at a time
when most people are outside their homes.  Seventeen people have been
transferred to the Pul-E Khumri hospital and an additional 20 are at the
Swedish Committee's clinic in Nahrin.  80 people were treated and
discharged. Most of the injured were from Dawabi.

At the moment the weather in the area is relatively clear and no rain is
expected for at least the next two days. No security problems have been
reported.


National and International Assistance

A coordination center has been established by UNAMA in Nahrin to provide
coordination and communication support to the relief effort.

Assistance provided today has been limited to emergency medical services
and a small number of tents. There are concerns about the possibility of
providing too much assistance to families who received goods after the
last earthquake and a decision has been taken to provide assistance on a
case-by-case basis, as opposed to blanket distributions.

There are substantial supplies of food and non-food items still available
in Nahrin and close by in Taloqan, Kunduz and Pul-E-Khumri. The affected
villages had recently received assistance in the form of food and non-food
items and it is currently believed that no further supplies will be
required, with the possible exception of tents, of which there is a large
supply in the country. Concern is moving 1,500 family non-food kits from
Taloqan and a list of stocks in the area is being created by UNAMA in
Mazar-I Sharif. No request for supplies or equipment is being made at this
time.

Organizations with emergency medical teams have been asked to be on
stand-by, should additional assistance be required.  MSF and PSF have
already mobilized teams to the area.  A judgement on any additional
requirements is expected shortly.

Coordination meetings were held in Mazar-I Sharif and Kabul today to brief
the assistance community and government authorities. In Kabul a second
briefing will take place at 11:30 tomorrow.

Ground assessment teams comprising government officials and aid workers
were organized in Nahrin and deployed in five directions. The five areas
visited include the Shujan, Jelgah, Kokedhai and Shinderak valleys and Old
Nahrin. Approximately 100 families in Shujan and 300 families in Jelgah
had recently received relief assistance.  Road access is limited due to a
landslide, which has cut the main road at Godri.

The aerial assessment team overflew much of the area and found that what
had remained of the two most affected villages, after the 25 March
earthquake were completely destroyed. Tents could be seen near most of the
destroyed compounds.  It is reported that some families had erected their
tents and stored their goods, including food, inside the remains of their
homes, which have subsequently been lost in the damage of today.


Next Steps and Miscellaneous Information

Aerial and ground assessments will continue tomorrow with government
officials, NGOs and the UN participating.  The areas covered will be
expanded to include villages around the town of Burka.

Agencies currently operating in Nahrin include UNAMA, Swedish Committee,
Concern, WHO, MSF, ACTED, FOCUS and government authorities from the
province, district and defense ministry.

There are unconfirmed reports that water sources have been damaged and
emergency water supplies may have to be expanded. This will be
investigated and appropriate action taken. UNAMA is in close contact with
United Nations Offices in Afghanistan and will revert with further
information, as it becomes available.

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.

This  situation  report,  together  with  further  information  on  ongoing
emergencies,   is   also   available   on  the  OCHA  Internet  Website  at
http://www.reliefweb.int.  Maps  and other information relating to the most
recent   earthquake  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 purposes.


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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