OCHA Situation Report No. 18
Pakistan - Earthquake
31 October 2005


Pakistan

SUMMARY OVERVIEW:

Affected Population:

Casualties: 55,000
Injuries: 78,880

Key Priority Needs:

Food: Food assistance (for 2.3 million people)

Shelter: winterised tents (200,000), blankets/sleeping bags (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: Shovels, ploughs, snow chains, antifreeze.

Urgent funding so that agencies can continue their operations.

Situation Overview:

1. The prospect of a secondary humanitarian disaster continues to loom 
as thousands of injured remain stranded in isolated mountainous areas, 
without food, shelter or sanitation.

2. The outcome of the ministerial pledging conference in Geneva is seen 
as disappointing in country, in terms of amounts pledged for the most 
immediately required life saving operations.

3. The relief agencies' presence on the ground still falls short of 
requirements. Funding shortages are thought to be responsible for 
inadequate number of implementing partners. Many agencies fear that 
operations will come to a halt if no additional funding is received in 
the coming days.

4. The present situation defies the traditional earthquake response 
thinking, where search and rescue operations are immediately followed by 
rehabilitation and reconstruction. The current reality is marked by the 
ongoing life-saving operations, a fact which has not been fully grasped 
by the outside world.

5. While most inhabitants of the affected region are still believed to 
prefer to remain on their land, it is envisaged that the worsening 
conditions may provoke voluntary movements to areas where aid can be 
delivered more easily.

6. The number of operating helicopters has reached 117 and more are 
expected. However, as more aircraft operate, the lack of ground space 
for parking and loading as well as air traffic control issues increase 
the coordination challenges between different air assets.

7. The emergency response operation has become more de-centralized with 
the set up of cluster groups in each of the hubs. The role of the 
Islamabad Head of Clusters group will thus be to deal more with the 
overall planning of the operation. All clusters are currently finalizing 
strategic response plans, addressing current situation and possible 
contingencies.

8. Approximately 140,000 tents have been provided and 200,000 are in the 
pipeline. The combined total expected supply of winterised tents, to be 
delivered by 30 November, will not be sufficient to meet expected needs, 
with an estimated shortfall of 100,000 to 200,000 foreseen. Other 
shelter options are therefore being urgently explored to meet emergency 
and transitional shelter needs

9. The shelter cluster is increasingly focusing on "non-tent" options 
and urgently exploring all potential winter-resistant shelter 
alternatives. In addition to winterised tents it explores partially 
repaired accommodation, staying with host families, in camps, or locally 
procured emergency shelter systems such as tunnel tents using plastic 
sheeting.

10. WATSAN cluster's is currently focusing on providing sanitation to 
the spontaneously erected camps. Construction of gender-sensitive 
latrines is also seen as a priority so as to avoid exposure of women.

11. An agreement has been reached on the establishment of the Logistics 
Tasking Group, jointly with the government.

12. The initial findings of the rapid Food and Nutrition assessment 
indicate that in rural areas food consumption has been drastically 
reduced and up to 2.3 million require food assistance.

OVERVIEW

13. A donor briefing took place in Islamabad on 27 October, to present 
the Flash Appeal issued the previous day in Geneva, with the particular 
emphasis on the current overriding priorities: the strategic logistic 
coordination plan, elaborated in cooperation with the Government, and 
the shelter situation.

14. Pakistan NGOs have elected representatives who will henceforth 
represent them in all cluster meetings.

15. The three existing hubs (Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Bagh) 
increasingly feed into the federal level coordination structures, as 
more networks are being developed with the authorities and the military 
on the ground. Batagram hub is in the process of being established since 
27 October.

Geographic Highlights:

Muzaffarabad

16. The civil administration has been severely impacted by the 
earthquake. There is an urgent need to improve capacities of the civil 
administration, including provision of expertise and financial support 
to provide services to the affected.

17. The main priorities in the lower Jehlum valley, Bagh and Rawlakot 
are winterized tents, as only 5% of the shelter requirements have been 
met. The large majority of the tents erected on the mountainsides are 
not winterized and will need to be replaced in the coming weeks.

18. Building material from collapsed buildings can be used for 
construction of makeshift shelter, but the majority of populations are 
severely traumatized and unable to undertake rebuilding of houses.

Mansehra

19. The military signal a possible 'rush' of affected people coming from 
the Kaghan and Allai Valleys. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 
120,000 people could move voluntarily into lower areas and major towns 
of Mansehra district. Access roads will be cleared in the coming two to 
three weeks. A site has been identified for 20,000 between Mansehra and 
Jabba and another one, for 30,000 at Maira.

20. The government is urgently looking for assistance with the camp 
management of the tented villages around Mansehra and an urgent plea for 
more assistance such as tents and alternative shelter is being made.

Bagh:

21. There is a need to continue assessment of the 230 villages around 
Bagh to identify the numbers and needs of the affected people. A more 
intense cooperation with the army is required. Another major challenge 
is the need to strengthen the leadership of the cluster process.

EMERGENCY SHELTER CLUSTER

22. In Muzaffarabad, the figure of 100,000 tents needed remains 
unchanged. 190 tents, 2,386 blankets and 100 mattresses were delivered 
in 7 villages under Kumi Kot Union Council under Hattian Tehsil in 
Muzaffarabad.

The current challenge is to identify the most vulnerable locations based 
on the information available from terrain maps in order to prioritise 
accordingly.

23. In Mansehra, as it is apparent that tents do not provide a 
sustainable winter solution, discussions are ongoing on a 'winterisation 
programme', using natural materials from the ruins.

24. In Bagh, regular shelter meetings will now be held in conjunction 
with the Camp Management Cluster.

LOGISTICS CLUSTER

25. In Muzaffarabad, land clearing for warehousing space at the airport 
began on 27 October. The military have requested one RubbHall and have 
provided space for it. The US military offered assistance of to erect 
tents or shelter. 1,000 personnel would be available for this task.

26. In Mansehra, logistics cluster meetings have not yet begun.

27. In Bagh, UNHAS daily air services to Islamabad have begun.

FOOD AND NUTRITION CLUSTER

28. In Muzaffarabad, an increasing number of agencies have signed 
partnership agreements with WFP. A food/NFI humanitarian hub is being 
established. NGOs are beginning to identify their areas of operation, 
which will facilitate coordination and enable identification of gaps. 
WFP has distributed a total of 86 MTs of mixed food commodities to 1,335 
families.

29. In Mansehra, UNICEF and WFP have divided this cluster into two 
sub-clusters, nutrition and food. Female health workers of Mansehra will 
be able to cover approximately 60% of the community for outreach 
activities.

30. In Bagh WFP has set up 2 Rubb Halls. The distribution will be 
divided among the implementing partners with each partner assigned to 
different Tehsils to avoid duplication.

HEALTH CLUSTER

31. In Muzaffarabad, there are reportedly many cases of infected wounds 
or neglected fractures among the people stricken by the earthquake. WHO 
facilitated an agreement between ICRC and WFP for the distribution of 
food packages in the ICRC hospital.

ICRC is planning to expand the hospital to 150 beds to meet the current 
need of the people. ICRC has established two fixed medical teams in 
Patikka and Chinari in Neelum valley. EPI- MOH: 20 mobile vaccination 
teams are currently undertaking immunization campaign in 
Muzaffarabad:1,456 were vaccinated against measles, 642 against TT, 334 
against OPV and 334 children were given vitamin A supplements. USAID is 
assessing the situation to provide funds to potential agencies active in 
revitalization of the health services in Muzaffarabad. The 
maxillo-facial, plastic and neurosurgery are the urgently required 
specialized treatment.

32. In Mansehra, IFRC has set up a 200-bed field hospital at the Ayub 
teaching hospital in Abottabad. WHO will assist the government in 
setting up a warehouse for medical supplies, including a database and 
tracking system. Pneumonia and diarrhoea cases are reportedly rising. 
The health cluster is developing a geographical division of labour for 
its partners. Next Monday, a medium-term strategy (9 months) will be 
presented outlining the transition from urgent relief to early 
reconstruction.

33. In Bagh, the District Headquarters Hospital has collapsed and the 
tents in the front of the hospital have been moved to the adjacent area. 
There are no local staff members available. Health care for women is now 
provided by female medical staff from MERCY Malaysia and Canadian 
Relief. A blood bank is now available 24/24.

Current priorities include the establishment of district teams for 
possible outbreaks and Disease Early Warning Systems, cold chains, 
medical supplies for rural health facilities, psycho-trauma support, 
oxygen, ambulance, clean water, sterilizing equipment as well as medical 
staff, especially radiologists.

WATER AND SANITATION CLUSTER

34.In Muzaffarabad, four water treatment plants have been installed. 
Approximately 90% of the water service is back in operation. Water 
storage tanks have been distributed in the camps and health facilities. 
Approximately 297 latrines have been installed in camps at health 
facilities. Hospitals' compounds have been cleaned and solid waste is 
being collected and removed from the city and camps.

The current priorities include the repair work on the treatment plant 
and pipeline, development of a regular water distribution schedule for 
tankers, increase in latrine installation, opening of roads to waste 
disposal, and water supply in the camps. The number of implementing 
partners need to increase rapidly; no information is available on 
partners working in rural areas.

35. In Bagh, 70% of the water systems have been restored. Two areas in 
Tehsil Bagh: Mohala Bagrole (Chumm)and Hassanabad Imania have been 
supplied with piped water by Islamic Relief. There is extensive damage 
to existing sanitation system (septic tanks). Discussions are ongoing on 
waste management systems for the city area. Medical waste will be 
handled by MSF-B, vector control will be monitored by WHO.

EDUCATION CLUSTER

36. In Muzaffarabad, education has been interrupted in the four affected 
districts as most schools are severely damaged. Over the last days, tent 
schools have been opened in some camps.

A number of private schools have also re-launched courses. UNICEF has 
provided support to the Directorate of Education in setting up of 
temporary primary school facilities in 9 camps and 10 villages where 
schools were completely destroyed. A rapid assessment has shown that in 
each camp there are approximately 300 children of primary school age 
between ages of 4-12.

The Directorate of Education is setting up a new camp office in Narole 
Stadium to coordinate the reopening of schools. Current objectives 
include setting up of up tent schools and schools in prefabricated 
houses and provision of textbooks, bags, pens, notebooks and uniforms.

37. In Mansehra, the cluster group has set the 'teachers in the tented 
village' as a first priority. UNICEF reported that schoolbags and 
utensils have been distributed. One school has been opened and three 
more will follow.

38. In Bagh, cluster leadership needs to be initiated. GOAL has offered 
30 large tents (80ft x 25ft) to any organization/government to be used 
as schools or shelter.

PROTECTION CLUSTER

39. In Muzaffarabad, the cluster is focusing on the populations in 6 
priority areas (out of 19 total). In collaboration with Social Welfare 
and Women Development Department (SWD), child protection units have been 
established to identify and register unaccompanied and separated 
children.

Severely depleted human resources pose huge challenges for mobilization 
of government support. INGOs and national NGOs are encouraged to build 
the capacities of local NGOs/ CBOs for implementation of protection 
projects.

40. In Mansehra, the cluster recommends to develop a referral system for 
unaccompanied children and for closer cooperation with ICRC who has also 
undertaken registration of unaccompanied and vulnerable children.

CAMP MANAGEMENT CLUSTER

41. In Muzaffarabad, two new campsites have been identified: one at 
Sarran (25 km from Muzaffarabad) and one at Hattian Bala (Langala camp), 
with the capacity for 200 and 500 families respectively. A third site 
(400 families) has been identified in Hattian Bala town. Tents, blankets 
and stoves were distributed in these camps on 27 October. There is an 
urgent need for partners for the provision of watsan, health and food.

42. In Mansehra, UNHCR will not undertake camp management activities but 
will provide assistance and expertise.

43. In Bagh, UNHCR will set up camps at Chatta, 25 acres in size and in 
Bani Pasari, 15 acres in size. Two additional sites have been located in 
Gella and Noman Pura and are awaiting approval from local authorities. 
Finding local partners and international NGOs to look into water and 
sanitation for the camp, suitable land and getting people from the 
highlands to come down to the camps before snowfall constitute the main 
challenges at this stage.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

45. 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).

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

47. 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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