OCHA Situation Report No. 17
South Asia - Earthquake
27 October 2005


Pakistan

SUMMARY OVERVIEW:

Affected Population:

Casualties: 53,000
Injuries: 76,000


Key Priority Needs:

Food: Food assistance (for 1.6 million people)

Shelter: winterised tents (up to 210,000 additional), blankets/sleeping
bags (est. 2 million), warm clothing, generators and diesel, tarpaulins,
ground sheets, stoves, fuel and kitchen sets.

Watsan: sanitation (especially 600,000 latrines), delivery of safe water
(for 1.7 million people).

Medical: Hospital tents and surgeons for remote areas.  Vaccinations
(tetanus).

Logistics: Helicopters (25 helicopters for WFP), shovels ploughs, snow
chains, antifreeze.



SITUATION OVERVIEW:

1. The situation is getting more desperate. It is currently estimated
that as much as 30% of the areas affected have not been reached, which
could translate into at least 200,000 people not getting the assistance
they need.

2. There is in all likelihood only a three-week window of opportunity to
deliver assistance before the snow falls in mountainous areas which
could close off two of the three main valleys where many of the affected
live.

3. In Neelum Valley there are still many injured people in the
surrounding mountainous villages in urgent need of medical assistance.
Nearly 90-100 % of buildings were destroyed and are uninhabitable. The
only health unit existing prior to the earthquake was completely
destroyed by the earthquake. Logistics and delivery of assistance to the
valley is a major challenge as roads are still blocked by landslides and
not likely to be cleared in the next three to four weeks.

4. The northern part of Mansehra (Alai), which is still inaccessible by
road in some of the remote parts, as well as the region of Oghi, are in
urgent need of winterised tents, emergency medical treatment.

5. Many camps are beginning to be established. Muzaffarabad has 3 camps
with capacities for 3,000 to 6,000 people in each, and 3 more camps are
planned with capacities for between 1000 and 1,500 tents. In Mansehra,
approximately 25 tented villages are being established with capacities
between a few tents and 300 tents. The main challenges currently are: to
advise authorities on the setting and management of camps; provision of
site planners and services to the camps.

GEOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS:

6. Muzaffarabad: The present population is now greater than immediately
after the earthquake struck, due to the growing numbers of people in
need of shelter. Some displaced people reportedly plan to migrate to
major cities in search of work, while some are now settling in tented
camps in and around the town.

7. Mansehra: The extent of the needs and impact is still unclear in many
remote parts of Mansehra district. Health service delivery in Mansehra
town has increased. Installation of mobile water treatment plants and
repair of water supply in Batagram and Balakot have started.

8. Bagh: The distribution of aid is still in its initial phases due to
the remoteness of affected villages. Local NGOs report a lower need for
tents than originally estimated, i.e. 35,000 tents at present. Shelter
kits are seen as a better solution, in view of expected early snowfalls.
The main challenges at this stage include: (a) better coordination with
local and military authorities; (b) collaboration between emergency
shelter and camp management clusters on overlapping issues, and (c)
lobby for more local NGOs to be used in programming.

FUNDING:

9. On 26 October, the UN issued a Revised Flash Appeal calling for US$
550 Million.  This coincided with the convening of a Ministerial Meeting
in Geneva, the same day, presided over by the UN Secretary-General.  On
this occasion, member states announced additional pledges totalling USD
580 million. The timing for receipt and purpose (emergency,
rehabilitation, reconstruction,) of pledges has not yet been confirmed.

10. Of the USD 580 million, only USD 15.8 million was specifically
pledged towards the Revised Appeal, and these still remain to be
confirmed. This brings the current total of pledged and committed funds
to the Flash Appeal to USD 111 million (20% of requested amount).
Given that winter is less than 3 weeks away, if pledges are to be
converted into relief assistance in time, they need to be confirmed
without further delay!  The UN system and partner agencies including the
IOM, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGO community are extremely
worried that contributions may not arrive in time. In particular, there
is a most urgent need to evacuate and/or treat the injured not yet
reached, provide shelter, and deliver food, health care, water,
sanitation, and schooling facilities.

MUZAFFARABAD HUB

13. Overview: An inter-agency rapid assessment was conducted in the
Neelum Valley, Patika township, population 40-50,000. Nearly 90-100 % of
buildings were destroyed and are uninhabitable.

14. WATSAN: The water supply systems in the Neelum Valley are completely
dysfunctional and people from foothills and remote villages have to walk
several hours to get water from the river or the springs. The Canadian
DART team is in the process of setting up the water treatment plant.

15. Food and Nutrition: WFP assessment teams visited the Jehlum valley,
where large numbers of people have still not received any food.  Some
minor rice harvesting has been observed. Residents report that trucking
costs have doubled and therefore food costs are expected to increase
also. Muslim Hands International printed ration cards and is
distributing food in the camps. WFP is to begin feeding in an
NGO-managed hospital.

16. Health: There are still many injured people in the surrounding
mountainous villages in urgent need of medical assistance. The only
health unit existing prior to the earthquake was completely destroyed by
the earthquake.

a. Abbas Hospital received 2 trucks of sanitation material through WHO.

b. Russian Mobile Hospital will leave Muzaffarabad on 24 October. The
gap will cause some shortage of referral capacity in the town.

c. ICRC's mobile hospital is operational.

d. The coordination cell in the helicopter landing pad is taken care of
by ICRC and the military, to coordinate evacuations of patients.

e. Canadian Disaster Assistant Response Team (DART) have started working
in Gharri Dupotta for 40 days.

f. Department of Health, informed that they had 294 consultations, 6
evacuations and 34 major operations in Abbas hospital yesterday.

g. 15 EPOI-MOH vaccination teams are currently undertaking immunization
campaign in Muzaffarabad. The mobile teams reached the remote areas and
had 608 cases inoculated with measles, Td and OPV vaccines in addition
to vitamin A administration to the kids.

h. MSF-Holland dispatched mobile medical teams to Therian, Panjkot and
Sarian, to supplement the surgical capacity dispatched by WHO-MOH.

i. UNFPA is planning to strengthen its capacity by sending 5 mobile
teams to remote areas around Muzaffarabad to provide basic medical care
and family health care.

17. Camp Management: A camp for 70 families was set up in Neelum Stadium
by a local NGO (Al-Khidmat). UNHCR will provide 1,000 tents, blankets,
plastic sheeting, kitchen sets and stoves for Thori Park camp. UNHCR is
present and expected to initiate cluster leadership soon.

18. Emergency Shelter: ICRC will assist 10,000 families (60,000 people)
in Jhelum and Neelum Valleys with a full shelter kit and a half food
ration lasting 6 months. An additional 20,000 household will be served
in areas becoming accessible to trucks in the north and south of
Muzaffarabad.

19. Logistics: WFP erected 4 Rub halls in Muzaffarabad and conducted an
assessment of Neelum valley on 23 October. About 20 major landslides and
2 destroyed bridges were identified, which will require months or weeks
to repair.

MANSEHRA HUB

20. Emergency Shelter: Mercy Corps and the SHA/SDC have been leading the
emergency shelter.

21. Camp Management: The local and provincial government, in close
cooperation with the military, is establishing 25 small-tented villages
around Mansehra. Camp size currently ranges from a couple of tents to
300 tents, housing almost 900 persons. The government has also
identified a plot of land where 5,000 tents could be situated. Medium
and long term plans for the camps are under discussion, as is a
compensation scheme for those affected by the earthquake.  A meeting
between the WATSAN and Camp management clusters produced a plan to
ensure rapid supply of water and sanitation in camps with a minimum of
overlap. UNHCR is not yet fully operational on the ground. The main
challenge is the development of cluster coordination and the advise to
the government and military regarding camp management.

22. Logistics: In response to the ever changing scene, military air
resources are being relocated from Mansehra to forward positions,
including Batagram and Balakot ('the frontier'), from where a higher
number of missions can be flown to mountain areas that are still
inaccessible by road.  UNJLC has undertaken an assessment and plans to
station two staff at Mansehra Helipad/Airport. The main challenge is
deployment of suitably sized helicopters to Mansehra district to enhance
dispatch of heavy loads of aid goods. There are no cluster coordination
meetings taking place as yet.

23. Food and Nutrition:  40 MT of fortified biscuits are being handed
out together with the measles and TT vaccinations. The NGO running the
tented village adjacent to the DHQ hospital requires assistance with the
provision of a regular and balanced diet to the patients. This will be
organised jointly by UNICEF, WFP and WHO.

24. Health: WHO is leading the Health cluster and working closely with
the Government and Military Authorities and the cluster is advancing
rapidly in terms of the provision of services. Vaccinations against
measles and TT have started (3,100 vaccinations provided so far) in
cooperation with the local authorities and UNICEF. The main challenges
are: provision of emergency health services to Allai and Oghi regions,
provision of (emergency) health services to the tented villages around
Mansehra and a field hospital for a period of min. 1 year to Batagram.

25. WATSAN: The German Red Cross team has reached Batagram and is
installing a mobile treatment plant, which should provide urban areas
some quantities of clean water. Norwegian refugee Council, UNICEF and
the local authorities are about to start the rehabilitation of water
supply in Batagram. Four water purification plants have been donated by
private firms in Mansehra, to be installed shortly. Repairs of the
networks in Balakot have started.

26. Education: UNICEF has provided two school tents to the tented
village and has undertaken education needs assessment in three camps.

27. Protection: UNICEF has been leading the protection cluster and held
discussions with the military and government concerning procedures to
ensure protection in the tented villages. Pakistan's penal code will
apply to any cases of abuse. Child Protection Units have been set up for
3 tented villages and staff will be paid for by the local government.

28. Telecommunications: According to WFP, an internet cafe with 40
stations will be erected. Mansehra and Batagram are covered by the
mobile phone network. In Allai and Oghi satellite phones should be used.

BAGH HUB

29. Coordination: Agencies present in Bagh include OCHA, WHO, WFP, IOM,
UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA Telecom sans Frontiers, and UNOPS next. Two
potential campsites for the IHP were identified.

30. Logistics: Warehouse capacity is very limited. There are no
buildings considered safe and the ground for larger warehouses or camp
installations is limited.

31. Camp Management: UNHCR is present and is expected to commence the
cluster meeting, pending ongoing assessments, which focus on the
spontaneous campsites. The potential possible camp locations are
limited, as suitable land is scarce and access difficult.

32. Emergency Shelter: IOM requested partners to provide "who does what
where" information. Village assessments indicate that 90% of housing in
the whole district is either totally destroyed or seriously damaged.
According to the local NGOs, the need for tents may be lower than
originally estimated, i.e. 35,000 tents at present. Shelter kits are
seen as a better solution, in view of expected snowfalls.

33. Food and Nutrition: WFP is committed to feeding 152,600 persons over
the next three months, in cooperation with partners such as the
military, Islamic Relief, GOAL, ARC, Oxfam, NRSP (local).  Two rub halls
have arrived, waiting to be erected- possible sites Erja and Rawalkot.
By the beginning of December, certain areas are expected to be snowed-in
and cut off.  The army will map out priority areas in terms of
accessibility during snowfall and share with the cluster.

34. Health: WHO has initiated the early warning system surveys. The
district health officer highlighted priority needs as follows:

a. Adequate stocks of medicine for primary healthcare;

b. Basic medical equipment for small health centers;

c. Tents to replace damaged health clinics;

d. Staff - many had not turned for work as they were busy looking for
shelters; UNFPA indicated that 350 lady health workers, who were trained
to offer primary health care for up to 1,000 women per worker, were
unavailable now;

e. Funding for the hospital was only available for staff salaries, not
equipment or medicines;

f. The district hospital has established a 24-hour blood bank service
with 200 bags of blood available at the moment.

g. Mass vaccinations for measles had commenced with the combined mumps,
measles and rubella (MMR) vaccines being administered by 10 teams in
Bagh and 5 teams outside Bagh, with coverage aimed for at least 50% of
the population.

35. WATSAN: Village assessments from NGOs indicate that only 25% of the
villages in the mountains have running water; remaining villages rely on
springs or rivers for water. There seems to be a limited need for watsan
in those areas. In Bagh city, the needs are larger due to the increased
number of inhabitants seeking shelter and in makeshift campsites. The
two USAID- provided mobile treatment plants, previously delivered to
Muzaffarabad are now being installed in Bagh.

36. Education: Save the Children has been leading the cluster. Local
authorities have emphasized that education is a high priority and there
is a need to get the schools up and running now. The army has opened a
new tent high school in Chitra Topi with 30 students attending. The
Sanghar Primary School was expected to reopen on 24 October 2005. In
addition, GOAL distributed 4 large school tents in the Union Council
Malot and will also distribute 6 more tents in the Union Council Rangla.

ISLAMABAD

37. Logistics: The UNJLC with WFP has developed a strategic logistics
plan, aimed at a joint inter-agency logistical operation for all
clusters. All agencies' individual cargo delivery plans will be
incorporated into an overall logistics strategy to ensure better use of
logistics assets.  Based on the overall strategy, a Joint Logistics
Operations Cell will be established with the Government.

38. Coordination: A plan to synchronize the Government's and HICs
information management processes has been initiated in an effort to
improve tracking of deliveries and identify gaps and needs.
Information management Focal Points will be appointed in each cluster.
The discussion on locations of additional hubs continues: the common
criteria for setting up hubs require further clarification.

39. WATSAN: A weekly-consolidated information sheet has been agreed upon
and distributed to all WATSAN members to obtain a picture of where all
WATSAN materials in the country are. Next week a spreadsheet on supplies
installed/distributed will be added in order to determine where
activities are ongoing on the ground.

40. Education: Too few organizations are working in the education
cluster, despite the fact that more than 90% of the schools are
completely destroyed.

GENERAL INFORMATION

41. All detailed cluster information (meeting minutes, assessments,
contact information etc.) is being posted on www.un.org.pk.

42. The latest information on projects and funding for the Flash Appeal,
and for the emergency overall, can be found on the Financial Tracking
Service
(http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/reports/reportlist.asp?section=CE&record_ID=688).Further
  information on earthquake appeals and funding is available on ReliefWeb
(http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc105?OpenForm&rc=3&emid=EQ-2005-000174-PAK).

43. Contact details of focal points for information on in-kind and cash
contributions can be found at http://www.un.org.pk/earthquake05/

44. OCHA will revert with further information as it becomes available.
This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel.:  +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. Merete Johansson, direct Tel. +41-22-9171694
  Ms. Kirsten Gelsdorf, direct Tel. +41-22 917 1843
  Ms. Rebecca Richards, direct Tel.  +41-22 917 3183

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126


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