OCHA Situation Report No. 40
South Asia - Earthquake
24 March 2006


Pakistan

Assisting earthquake-affected populations to return voluntarily, safely 
and in a dignified manner to their villages and towns of origin is at 
the heart of current relief activities. To facilitate the IDP returns 
process, agencies in cooperation with federal, provincial and local 
authorities have set up an integrated protection and monitoring system. 
The first draft of the Pakistan Action Plan from Relief to Recovery has 
been finalized. It aims to support the longer-term road to recovery by 
improving standards of living of the stricken population in both rural 
and urban areas. The Action Plan is currently under review with the 
Government of Pakistan and within the humanitarian community. It is 
scheduled to be launched on 8 April to mark six months on after the 8 
October earthquake.

The priorities of humanitarian operations are: (i) Assisting voluntary 
IDP returns to areas of origin; (ii) Reviewing the Pakistan Action Plan 
from Relief to Recovery; (iii) Providing food and Non-Food Items (NFI) 
assistance in IDP residual camps; (iv) Ensuring increased access to 
health services, health education, and teacher training.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Security

The security situation is calm and stable in earthquake-affected areas and 
relief operations continue as normal.

Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA)

ERRA is in the process of establishing Technical Working Groups at the federal 
and provincial level with the aim to coordinate and monitor reconstruction 
activities.

On 20 March, ERRA held a food and health focus group meeting in Islamabad, 
chaired by General Nadeem. He stated that no transitional Basic Health Units 
(BHU) should be constructed within the premises of permanent BHUs. ERRA 
provides construction specifications for permanent buildings and approves the 
designs. In Balakot and Muzaffarabad city and certain areas of Muzaffarabad 
district all reconstructions are on hold for the time being. ERRA further 
informed about the need to map food, agriculture and livestock activities.

IDP Returns Process

The Returns Task Force (RTF) presented the "Framework and Operational Process 
for the Return or Resettlement of Persons Displaced by the October Earthquake" 
on 11 March. The framework is based on international standards and provides 
policy guidelines to the operational process at Hub level. It aims to 
facilitate a voluntary, safe and dignified return of IDPs to areas of origin. 
Provincial Returns Task Forces have been established in each humanitarian Hub 
and joint Task Force meetings are held to streamline the returns process and 
clarify operational issues.

In line with the IDP Returns Framework, the Protection Cluster takes the lead 
in monitoring and reporting on protection issues. A questionnaire was prepared 
to enquire about the voluntary and informed nature of the return and a 
reporting mechanism was established. In Mansehra, the protection monitoring 
mechanism is implemented by a team of 80 UN and NGO personnel. Government and 
UN agencies visited areas of return to assess the conditions of water systems, 
irrigation channels, schools, health posts, and roads.

The returns process is supported by a public information campaign. The Federal 
Relief Commission (FRC) widely disseminated key messages in English and Urdu.

On 10 March, assisted returns of IDPs officially started. IOM is providing 
transportation assistance. In Mansehra, a total of 6,700 IDPs (1,156 families) 
had returned as of 15 March. In Batagram, nearly half of the camp population 
had left within two weeks of return. As of 22 March, a total of 9,813 
individuals (1,574 families) had left Batagram camps. In Muzaffarabad, an 
estimated 223 families had returned supported by Camp Management Organisation 
(CMO). In Bagh, UNOPS assessed 14 remote villages in Behdi Union Council in 
preparation of IDP returns.

Pakistan Action Plan from Relief to Recovery

UN Agencies and Cluster Heads reviewed the first draft of the Pakistan Action 
Plan. The document is being presented to the Government of Pakistan this week. 
The Action Plan aims to bridge the transition period from relief to recovery by 
outlining a set of operational programmes for early recovery in the sectors of 
education, health, livelihoods, water and sanitation, shelter and housing, camp 
management, support to vulnerable groups, governance, coordination and common 
services. The Action Plan covers a 12-month period from April 2006 to March 
2007 and is the product of extensive consultations. It is expected to launch 
the Action Plan locally on 8 April to mark 6 months on after the earthquake.

Government Liaison

In Bagh, further efforts are made to strengthen Government's leadership role in 
recovery. The District Commissioner assisted by Line Government counterparts is 
going to co-chair Head of Clusters meetings. A similar arrangement has been 
proposed to Poonch authorities.

Dr. Mihar Bashir Hussein has been appointed General Director / Focal Point for 
ERRA in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PAK). Dr. Hussein has expressed his 
concerns about INGOs activities in PAK and has asked for consultations with 
local authorities prior to project implementation.

CLUSTER UPDATES

WATER AND SANITATION

1. Access to safe drinking water: In Muzaffarabad, 87% of the target population 
in camps and 97% of the target population outside camps have access to safe 
drinking water. In Bagh, 100% of the population in camps and 10% of the 
population outside camps have access to safe drinking water. In Shangla, 100% 
of the target population in camps and 33% outside camps have access to safe 
drinking water. In Mansehra, the ratio is 81% versus 21%. In Battagram, 31% of 
the target population outside camps have access to safe drinking water.

2. Access to sanitation facilities: In Muzaffarabad, 96% of the target 
population in camps and 55% of the target population outside camps have access 
to sanitation facilities. In Bagh, 100% of the population in camps and 25% of 
the population outside camps have access to sanitation facilities. In Shangla, 
100% of the target population outside camps have access to sanitation 
facilities. In Mansehra, 70% of the target population in camps have access to 
proper sanitation facilities. In Battagram, 89% of the target population 
outside camps have access to sanitation facilities.

CAMP MANAGEMENT

3. A total of 156 camps with a population of 142,940 people are in the 
earthquake-affected area. Out of this, 96 camps with 86,264 people are located 
in PAK and 60 camps with 56,676 people are located in NWFP.

4. UNHCR and its implementing partners play a key role in the assisted IDP 
returns process. The process includes check-out procedures in camps, 
monitoring, assessing conditions in areas of return and preparing for camp 
closure. In Bagh, Camp Management Organization has announced its three-phased 
camp-closure programme starting in late March and leading into April. The 
assumption is that in both NWFP and PAK vulnerable people who are unable to 
return will require continued assistance.

SHELTER

5. Data collection for tracking of shelter-related non-food items will cease on 
31 March, after which time it will be handled by UNJLC.

6. The assessment component of rural housing reconstruction will be conducted 
by qualified Pakistan Army engineers on a house-by-house basis at Union Council 
level, commencing on 25 March and continuing until mid-April. Seismic survey 
maps should become available to implementing agencies by 25 March.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

7. The general IDP camp feeding will end on 31 March. Only targeted camp 
feeding of vulnerable persons will take place on the basis of requests by 
Provincial Governments and endorsed by ERRA. General food distribution is also 
ending on 31 March. Only targeted 'Food-for-Work' and 'Food-for-Training' will 
continue at a much-reduced level. General hospital feeding will end on 31 
March.

8. Bagh: Airlift operations for delivery of food to 11,350 beneficiaries in 
Bedhi Union Council were completed on 16 March. A total of 194 MT of mixed food 
was dispatched and distributed. Food distribution for March has been completed 
in 5 Union Councils: Budhal (13,429 beneficiaries), Degwar (14,489 
beneficiaries), Chanjal (16,511 beneficiaries), Thub (23,177 beneficiaries) and 
Mallot (18,344 beneficiaries) with the exception of Sangal (20,939) where some 
15 MT of wheat flour is pending distribution. Distribution was further 
completed in Bir Pani (22,417 beneficiaries) and Rangla (22,467 beneficiaries).

9. Ghari Habibullah: 415.75 MT of food was dispatched. General food 
distribution for March was completed with the exception of Kaghan Union 
Council. March food distribution to camps has been completed.

10. Battagram: 1,025 MT of mixed food commodities were distributed to 62,600 
beneficiaries in Battagram (Allai), Mansehra (Kala Daka), Shangla, Kohistan and 
planned camps.

11. Muzaffarabad: 84% of March food commodities have been dispatched out of 
which 77% was done by road. March food distributions in camps are completed.

HEALTH

12. WHO is looking into alternatives to field hospitals, primary health care 
clinics and mobile clinics that are gradually phasing out. The Ministry of 
Health supported by WHO is planning to set up a disaster preparedness programme 
with the aim of strengthening the health response in future disasters.

13. In Bagh and Rawalakot, training on reproductive health was conducted, while 
in Muzaffarabad a refresher-training course for primary health care took place. 
Training of lady health workers and supervisors further aims to increase women 
access to health care services. A training course in hygiene promotion in 
participatory health and sanitation transformation methodology was conducted in 
Balakot. A total of 200 health facilitators have received training and are 
reporting on a weekly basis to the Disease Early Warning System. 160 disease 
outbreak alerts have been investigated and responded to so far. Training of 
Ministry of Health and WHO warehouse staff in logistic support system was 
conducted in Battagram.

14. To emphasize the importance of hygiene, use of safe drinking water, and 
vaccination among children, health education activities are currently focusing 
on schools. Local health education committees have been established to ensure 
ownership.

15. Two prefabricated Basic Health Units in Sanger and Jabri Kalish are now 
functional.

EDUCATION

16. Of the 449,138 primary school-level children in the affected areas, 186,580 
have been enrolled in 1,357 schools with support of UN agencies and NGOs.

17. As of 17 March, some 400 children who were enrolled in Maira camp school 
have returned to their home villages as part of the IDP returns process. The 
Ministry of Education and UNICEF issued departing students with school 
certificates.

18. About 700 teachers have received training in Mansehra. In Shangla, 119 
schools have been identified to receive UNICEF school materials, including 
tents, 'school-in-a-box' kits, plastic mats and recreational kits. In Batagram, 
tents for 74 primary schools were erected, bringing the total number of tent 
schools to 114 and serving a maximum of 8,000 school children under the 
welcome-to-school programme. The distribution of 869 tents and 513 
'school-in-a-box' kits is ongoing in Haveli, Bagh and Dhir Kot, enabling safe 
and appropriate learning space for over 40,000 children.

19. UNICEF and the Department of Education in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir 
(PAK), are discussing the support required for some private schools that were 
badly affected by the earthquake.

PROTECTION

20. The Protection Cluster actively supports the IDP returns process. A UNHCR / 
World Vision / UNICEF working group has been established to draft an 'Aide 
Memoir' for IDP returns. Its aim is to guide and standardize the Hub role in 
the IDP returns process.

21. A two-day workshop for finalizing the national strategy and plan of action 
for the most vulnerable population, organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare 
with support of UNICEF, was held in Islamabad on 21 and 22 March.

22. In Mansehra, UNICEF and its implementing partner Maqsad conducted an 
awareness campaign using puppets and theatre in ten camps from 13 to 17 March. 
In addition, UNICEF handed over 9 early childhood development kits, 200 
posters, and 1,492 cartons for 1,789 small children to implementing partners in 
28 child-friendly spaces.

LOGISTICS

23. UNHAS funding is coming to an end very soon and US$ 24 million is urgently 
needed to maintain the helicopter "lifeline" operation until August 2006.

24. As a consequence of the lack of funds, a rapid reduction of the helicopter 
fleet is now taking place. The military air support will end on 31 March, 
leaving UNHAS with a total fleet of 13 aircrafts as of 1 April. This is a total 
reduction of 50%.

25. Since the start of the air operations, UNHAS has airlifted 18,099 MT of 
food items, 4,901 MT of non-food items and 30,513 passengers.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS

26. Ghari Habibullah Inter-Agency radio room will be closed by the end of 
March. Telecoms installations are ongoing with deployments to Batagram and 
Banna. The first round of radio training for Islamabad staff is completed. 
Field-based radio training is ongoing with 67 staff trained this week.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY

27. Heavy rains and landslides continue to hamper relief efforts in 
earthquake-affected areas. Road closures due to landslides are delaying food 
dispatches and IDP returns. The spring snowmelt is expected to result in 
further landslides with even more landslides foreseen during the July monsoon 
season. It could take several months to repair and open primary and secondary 
roads.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

29. 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).


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

31. 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.

32. Regular news on Pakistan is available from IRIN via the website 
www.IRINnews.org and direct e-mail subscription. Agencies wishing to contribute 
news article suggestions, press releases and reports with IRIN should send them 
to the IRIN Asia office: IRINasia@IRINnews.org, Tel +90-312 454 1177.

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
  Mr. Guido Galli, direct Tel. +41-22-9173171
  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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