OCHA Situation Report
South Asia Earthquake
Logistics Bottlenecks as of 9 December 2005
9 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Priorities are to obtain sling nets and de-icing equipment for 
helicopters. The use of nets reduces the turn around times for 
helicopters significantly and therefore allows them to make more 
sorties. De-icing equipment enables helicopters to start flying at the 
break of day. Furthermore, a priority is to clarify the restriction on 
relief items for tax exemption. This is of special importance regarding 
Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheeting.

Current issues

Helicopter Under-Slung Load Equipment

UNHAS has a requirement for 400 nets for sling-load helicopter 
operations. 20 nets are currently available; 70 nets are in the 
pipeline. WFP/UNHAS has ordered 200 nets already, but suppliers are 
currently out of stock. NATO, USAID and DFID have been asked for their 
assistance.

Developments

NATO mission

NATO will leave officially the 1st of February. The Government of 
Pakistan has shown interest in keeping the German helicopters and the 
fuel farm in country past that date.

Helicopter Overview

The amount of helicopters has gone down from 100 last week to 93. There 
is no direct effect on the availability of cargo capacity to the 
humanitarian community as the UNHAS tasked assets and NGO operated 
assets remain constant. The arrangement under which US Chinooks can be 
tasked through UNJLC/UNHAS is still in place.

|---------------------------------|---------|
| UNHAS tasked assets             |      19 |
|---------------------------------+---------|
| Government of Pakistan assets   |      36 |
|---------------------------------+---------|
| Foreign Gov./Military assets in | 25 (-7) |
| support of Gov. of Pakistan     |         |
|---------------------------------+---------|
| NGO operated assets             |      13 |
|---------------------------------+---------|
| Total                           | 93 (-7) |
|---------------------------------+---------|



Teams of Mountaineers

WFP is using teams of experienced mountaineers with knowledge of the 
affected areas to deliver relief goods to isolated communities. 
Helicopters drop the teams in the valleys from where they reach the 
communities by foot.

Weather

Heavy rains are expected to cause more landslides in the coming weeks.

This Logistics Bottlenecks report is a joint product of UNJLC and OCHA. 
For queries or comments please contact Ingrid van Beuzekom 
(vanbeuzekom@un.org). Sources used are: contact with UNJLC staff, 
ReliefWeb, minutes from cluster meetings and sitreps, Pakistan 
Meteorological Department, press briefings.

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