OCHA Situation Report
South Asia Earthquake
Logistics Bottlenecks as of 14 December 2005
14 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Current issues:
De-icing equipment

The amount of de-icing equipment currently available is not sufficient. 
Soon, such equipment will become essential to all air operations. NATO 
and the Swiss government have been asked for their assistance (UNJLC, 
14.12.05).

Shelter

A joint survey undertaken by UN Agencies, IOM, the Government of 
Pakistan and NGOs has indicated that 74% of families below 5,000 feet in 
NWFP and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir live in shelter that is deemed 
inadequate. Also, a shortage of blankets remains. Urgent needs are: 2.4 
million blankets, 170,000 plastic sheets and 200,000 tarpaulins.

Security Batagram District

Travel restrictions for UN agencies on the road to Banna remain in 
place. Many local commercial operators are reluctant to use the road as 
well.

Several NGOs have indicated that they will discontinue operations in the 
Batagram district if they are required to travel with an armed police 
escort. (UNJLC Bulletin 24, 13.12.05)

Helicopter Under-Slung Load Equipment

Nets for helicopter sling load operations are still needed. 150 nets are 
being brought in by the U.S. military, about half of these will be 
offered up for use by other organizations. They are also working on 
bringing in further supplies. This will be a valuable help to UNHAS. The 
U.S. military is also looking into alternative delivery methods, such as 
cargo bags and copter boxes, which permit supplies to be parachuted down 
from helicopters. (UNJLC 14.12.05; Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 
12.12.05)

Winterization of helicopter pads

Helicopter landing zones need reinforcing for the winter. This is 
already being done in Abbottabad, Chatterplain and Gari Habibullah. 
UNHAS requests all of its clients to prepare their landing zones. The 
Pakistani military was already approached on the issue. Winter 
reinforcing entails covering the surface of the helicopter pad with 
gravel or stones and digging drainage channels to ensure there is no 
water build-up. (Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05)

Weather

The onset of winter rains may severely hamper road access in most of the 
mountainous areas in the Neelam and Kaghan Valleys within the next two 
weeks. (UNJLC Bulletin 24, 13.12.05)

Developments:

Customs

In general, there appear to be no problems in obtaining a tax exemption 
for importing Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheeting that is clearly 
labelled as 'relief supplies'. Bringing in CGI sheeting of Indian origin 
has proven to be more difficult. (UNJLC, 14.12.05)

Agencies might face problems taking some of their property out of the 
country at the end of the operation if a tax exemption was granted, 
since the Pakistan Government might expect it to remain in country. 
(Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05)

Helicopter fleet

UNHAS will have the following air assets brought in: two additional 
KAMOV32 helicopters which are expected to be operational as of the 14th 
of December and two additional Mi-8s which are expected to be 
operational within two weeks. (Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05) 
This will bring the total of UNHAS tasked assets to 23 (19+4).

NATO mission

NATO will remain operational up to the 1st of February. (Logistics 
Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05) The NATO Air Bridge organised with 
commercial charters is still ongoing. Further plans are being developed 
to deliver national donations from Slovenia, Germany, the Netherlands 
and additional UN relief supplies from Turkey. (EADRCC, 13.12.05)

Cargo movement booking system

NGOs will be informed about the cargo movement booking system provided 
by UNJLC to ensure that they are aware of the system and can use it when 
needed. (Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05)

ATLAS is currently funded through ECHO and scheduled to operate until 
the end of April. However, provided services might have to cease in 
March due to high demand and potential lack of funding. (Logistics 
Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05)

Road access

The road from Muzaffarabad to Lepa is about 90 km long and takes 
approximately three hours. It includes dangerous areas with landslides, 
overhanging rocks, steep drop-offs and melting ice mixing with road 
dirt. This road is reported to be inaccessible from January (or first 
heavy snowfall) to late March. The road from Muzaffarabad to Chakothi in 
the Jhelum valley is generally secure, but contains some areas 
considered risky due to possible landslides or cliffs and poor road 
conditions. These factors are bound to slow up cargo shipments during 
the winter, despite the efforts of the Pakistani military to keep all 
major routes open. (UNJLC Bulletin 24, 13.12.05)

Possible future issues:

Camps for aid workers

The camps for humanitarian workers in field locations in the affected 
areas seem to fill up. If no additional capacity can be made available, 
operations might be hampered.

Information:

WFP Direct Response Teams

WFP's Direct Response Teams of experienced mountaineers are in the 
process of assessing the most remote areas in the upper valleys where 
relief supplies may not have reached. The teams determine population 
figures and requirements and subsequently set up local distribution 
structures and ensure preparation and security of helicopter landing 
zones. The first need is reported to be food. However, if requested, WFP 
will deliver NFI as well as food if it has the available capacity. 
(Logistics Cluster Meeting NFR, 12.12.05)

Operation 'Winter Race'

At least 2,500 families living above 5,000 feet are still in need of 
Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheeting. Sheets are currently being 
shipped and are expected to arrive in the villages within a week. (IOM 
press briefing, 13.12.05)

Logistics hub Chatterplain

Storage capacity was increased by WFP and now stands at 2020 tonnes. The 
hub itself can handle a Mi-26 and multiple Mi-8's. The possibility of 
establishing a fuel farm at the location is being investigated. (UNJLC 
Bulletin 24, 13.12.05

Airfield Saidu Mingora

Saidu Mingora (also known as Saidu Sharif) is an airfield located in the 
Sawt Valley to the west of the affected area. It is closer to several 
key towns than other key airfields. Furthermore, Saidu Mingora has a 
longer and wider runway than Muzaffarabad. A disadvantage might be that 
the road to the nearest main city of Peshawar may be cut by snow in 
winter. For details on the distance of this airfield to key destinations 
in comparison to other airfields, please refer to UNJLC Bulletin 24. 
(UNJLC Bulletin 24, 13.12.05)

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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