OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Pakistan - Earthquake
06 December 2002


Please find below OCHA Situation Report number 3 on Earthquake in
Pakistan.


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the UN
Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International NGOs, as well as
media reports.


I.  SITUATION

1.  On Thursday 21 November 2002, at 2:32 a.m. local time (21:32 hrs GMT,
20 November) a strong earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit
the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Two weeks after the earthquake, the area
is still experiencing aftershocks.

2.  Six villages in the Astore Valley, Diamer District, namely Dashkin,
Doyan, Harchu, Khudkasht, Mushkin and Turbuling are the most severely
affected. Damage to roads, infrastructure and electricity has been
massive. The quake cut off roadways leading into the Astore Valley, which
is the worst affected region. Two weeks after the earthquake the main road
is still blocked. Emergency repairs to the access road currently being
made by the army engineers will take at least 3 weeks. Electric lines in
almost all the villages have been damaged, cutting off the electricity
supply to these areas. Telephone lines and water channels have also been
damaged in most areas.

3.  According to the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Islamabad, the
total population of the affected zone is 140,742. A total of 19 people
have been confirmed dead as against previous reports of 23, and around 40
injured were reported in 9 villages of Astore Sub-Division. The earthquake
has destroyed 100 houses while 1,256 are damaged. Three successive
earthquakes had already shaken the same area on 2 and 3 November 2002,
killing 17 people, injuring 65 and rendering 4,000 homeless. To date, it
is estimated that 15,000 persons, whose homes collapsed during the quakes,
have been rendered completely shelter less. Furthermore, thousands of
people fearing to sleep indoors because of the cracks that have developed
in their houses, and who have not yet been provided with provisional
shelters are spending the night under the open sky in temperatures
reaching minus 8 degrees centigrade.  On 4 December 2002, the region has
experienced heavy snowfalls.


II.  NATIONAL RESPONSE

4.  The relief operations are being supervised directly by the Northern
Areas administration. Since the main access road to the affected area
remains blocked, the army continues to airlift the relief supplies, as
well as medical and assessment teams.

5.  The Government of Pakistan, UN agencies, the Red Crescent, as well as
several international and national NGOs, such as Islamic Relief (which
established a base 45 kilometres from Gilgit) Oxfam International, Concern
and others have contributed relief supplies, such as medicines, tents,
blankets, clothes and other essential items.


III.  INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6.  Between 26 November and 1 December 2002, a joint UN and Ministry of
Health team, under the leadership of WHO, was deployed to the affected
area to assess the situation and the needs. With the assistance of the
army, the team, which included two members each from UNICEF and WHO and
one from UNDP, was able to visit the affected areas and perform a
situation analysis and rapid assessments. The team also visited the Gonner
Farm area, situated 30 kilometres away from Chilas City, where 3 tented
villages had been established for the 2 November 2002 earthquake victims.
The camp hosts a total population of 2,506.

7.  In response to the findings of the interim assessment mission, OCHA
has provided through the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator a USD
70,000 Emergency Grant for the purchase and transportation of 1,000 tents
to assist the population affected by the successive earthquakes. The
amount consists of USD 35,000 drawn from funds pre-positioned with OCHA by
the Government of Norway and USD 37,200 from its own reserves.

8.  UNHCR has donated 500 tents from its reserves in Afghanistan. The
donation was valued at USD 40,000.

9.  The Swiss Government made a contribution of USD 67,114, channelled
through Oxfam International which works in close conjunction with Islamic
Relief UK. The emergency activities include the purchase, transport and
distribution of relief items (shelter material, food, non-food items,
clothing and water/sanitation).

10.  Action by Churches Together International forwarded a contribution of
USD 25,000 from their Rapid Response Fund to their implementing partner in
Pakistan, Church World Service. Each household will be provided with 4
quilts, 4 sweatshirts and 2 shawls.

11.  Although a fairly large number of relief items have reached the
affected villages, the situation remains critical. Approximately 1,000
isolating sheets and 3,000 quilts are still needed. In addition, essential
medicines are required as well as 75,000 water purification tablets for
1,256 households for a period of 30 days.

12.  Although it has not officially requested international assistance,
the Government of Pakistan has indicated that it would appreciate any help
provided.

13.  OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator and will revert with further information if the situation
warrants it.

14.  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. Rudolf Müller / Ms. Héloïse Ruaudel
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131/17 28/1769

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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