OCHA Situation Report No. 20
South Asia - Earthquake
Pakistan


Situation Overview

1. The latest government casualty estimates continue to rise: as of 3 
November, the death toll has reached 73,276 and the number of injured 
69,260.

2. To date the confirmed contributions to the Flash Appeal stand at USD 
84 million out of the USD 550 million requested (15% funded). An 
additional USD 48 million has been pledged. The lack of funding is 
affecting helicopter operations, and WFP now has to borrow money to keep 
relief operations running.

3. The "Operation Winter Race" teams, during the first-week pilot phase 
of their operation, have placed mixed-gender teams in mountain villages 
and have assisted in erecting 160 shelters to date. The goal is to 
increase their number to 20 five-persons teams, able to assist 20-30 
families per day/per team with shelter kits and non-food items.

4. An increasing number of people from Allai Valley are arriving at 
various locations along the Karakorum Highway and around Batagram city, 
and more are expected to descend to the lower grounds in the coming 
weeks.

5. Throughout affected areas especially near Muzaffarabad, population 
movements need to be carefully monitored in view of possible different 
scenarios with people remaining in their villages or migrating to other 
locations.

6. The response of the international humanitarian community in Mansehra 
remains constrained as agencies lack funding and capacity on the ground. 
In addition there is a lack of accurate qualitative data on possible 
population movements from the valleys. Inaccessibility continues to 
restrict interventions in the more remote mountainous areas.

7. Government has announced it will commence compensation payments to 
families of Rps 25,000 for loss of houses.

8. To date NATO has operated/coordinated 56 relief flights to Pakistan 
with 1150 tons of assistance. On 3 November five C-130s are scheduled to 
leave from Turkey with 60 tons of UNHCR relief items plus additional 
Romanian donations.

9. While international and national relief efforts are ongoing, the 
people of Pakistan have begun Eid al-Fitr celebrations on Thursday 
evening, which will continue until Monday.

National Coordination Overview

10. On 2 November, the international relief actors were met by the 
President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf. The President stressed 
the continued readiness of the government to coordinate closely with the 
international efforts. In an informal and inter-active exchange with the 
NGOs and UN agencies, the President outlined the government's position 
regarding different aspects of relief operation and subsequent 
reconstruction plans.

11. The President reiterated the gratitude of the government of Pakistan 
to all international relief actors for their efforts. He urged them to 
continue engaging actively in partnerships with government-led relief 
and reconstruction efforts by providing assistance in their areas of 
expertise. The President pledged that Pakistan was determined to convert 
the challenge of the earthquake disaster into an opportunity for the 
future.

12. The UN Country Team has been preparing a document reflecting the 
priority activities to be undertaken by the principal UN Agencies on the 
ground during November before winter sets in, focusing on activities 
requiring particular attention at this time. The priority plan is in 
line with the overall strategy for the humanitarian operation that has 
been developed through the clusters and complements the efforts of the 
government.

Muzaffarabad Coordination Overview

13. A humanitarian planning cell has been established, focusing on (1) 
coordination of relief operations between humanitarian partners and the 
military, (2) information on the deployment and activities of the 
domestic military forces, (3) the presence and activities of 
international military contingents, (4) the operational environment and 
(5) evolving needs of people.

Mansehra Coordination Overview

14. According to the military, the unofficial death toll in the Manserha 
district is 20,000-30,000.

Bagh Coordination Overview

15. Priority activities for November are being developed, focusing on 
emergency shelter kits for the high-risk areas.

Batagram Coordination Overview

Four cluster groups have been established: Health, Emergency Shelter, 
Water and Sanitation, Food and Nutrition.


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