OCHA Situation Report no. 6
Pakistan: Rains and Snowfall
4 March 2005


This situation report is based on information received from the office 
of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan.

Situation

1.  Heavy rains and flash floods continue to aggravate the situation in 
Balochistan province, affecting the coastal zone as well as the central 
and northern districts. The worst hit districts include Gwadar, Turbat, 
Chaman, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Sibi and Jaffarabad. There has been 
extensive damage to the road network, with the Coastal Highway once 
again closed and a number of main roads rendered temporarily inoperable. 
Gwadar Airport has closed, leaving the region cut-off from the rest of 
the country.

2.  In order to save the Akra Kaur Dam from breaching, the spillways had 
to be opened, causing flooding downstream, however, the downstream 
villages were evacuated timely. Some 15 deaths were reported in Killa 
Abdullah, Quetta, Pishin and Awaran districts. With the addition of the 
new casualties, the death toll has reached to 520 in the aftermath of 
heavy rains, floods, snowfall and avalanches affecting northern and 
western Pakistan since January.

3.  Infrastructure has been seriously affected, with heavy damage to the 
water supply and sanitation systems, electricity and road and 
communication networks. Major damage has been suffered by the 
agricultural infrastructure with destruction of more than 40,000 acres 
of standing crops. In some areas almost 80% of the crops have been lost 
on almost the same percentage of agricultural land. Experts from WHO and 
UNICEF have expressed a fear of outbreak of water borne diseases and 
acute respiratory infections. There is also risk of malaria in the 
coastal districts.

4.  All 24 districts in NWFP and 7 Agencies in Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas (FATA) have suffered heavy rains, unprecedented snowfall 
ranging from 10-26 feet, landslides and avalanches in varying degrees 
during the previous three weeks. There are eight worst affected 
districts: Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, 
Shangla and Battagram, totaling a population of nearly 7 million. Of 
this 7 million affected population, almost 3 million are severely 
affected and 300,000 persons are completely isolated and stranded in 
snowbound villages in Kohistan, upper Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, 
Shangla, Battagram, Kaghan area in Mansehra and Thandiani in Abbottabad.

5.  While the human losses amount to 363 deaths and 450 injuries in 
NWFP, 253 deaths and 123 injuries have taken place in the 8 worst 
affected districts alone. Chitral has suffered 18 casualties with 24 
persons injured and an affected population of 41,000.

6.  In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 65 deaths have been reported. Neelum 
and Leepa Valleys in Muzaffarabad district and Forward Kahuta, Dhirkot 
and central Bagh in Bagh District of AJK have been more severely 
affected, while 25000 persons are affected in Neelum Valley. Road as 
well as aerial access to Neelum and Leepa Valleys is not possible yet. 
Land slides and avalanches have been occurring frequently in various 
parts of AJK.

National Response

7.  The Government of Pakistan has not requested international 
assistance at this stage. However, the Federal Government has welcomed 
help from bilateral / multilateral partners, including the United 
Nations.

8.  According to local authorities, the most urgent requirements are as 
follows: road clearing equipment, food items, shelter and essential 
medical supplies. Rehabilitation of livelihoods and physical, social and 
agricultural infrastructure have been identified as priority 
interventions in the coastal region of Balochistan. Emergency support is 
also recommended for control of possible outbreak of waterborne 
diseases.

9.  The Pakistan Military Forces have been providing logistical support 
for the distribution of relief items, as well as evacuating populations 
from affected areas. Distribution of relief aid is proceeding in the 
affected areas where access is not problematic.

10.  A complete list detailing the national response is attached as 
Annexes A and B to this situation report.

International Response

11.  The Joint Rapid Assessment missions to NWFP and AJK have been 
completed. The Food and Agricultural Organisation is conducting Crop and 
Livestock Damage Assessment Missions to NWFP, Balochistan and AJK.

12.  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has redeployed resources 
to help the affected population living in the vicinity of refugee camps 
in Upper and Lower Dir districts. There is limited access to Upper Dir, 
with roads cut off due to heavy snow, which could take up to 3 weeks to 
clear.

13.  A complete list detailing the national response is attached as 
Annex C to this situation report.

14.  OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident 
Coordinator in Pakistan and will revert with further information as 
required.

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

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 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:
   Ms. Afia Ali Blasco
     Direct Tel. +41-22-917-1179

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs,  direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker,  direct Tel. +1-917-8921679

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