OCHA Situation Report No. 31
South Asia - Earthquake
6 January 2006


Pakistan

Heavy snow and rain in the earthquake-effected areas grounded helicopter 
operations and seriously hampered relief operations over the past week. 
According to the latest logistics report, most of the major routes 
around Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, Bagh and Batagram with the major 
exception of the Neelum Valley road have now reopened. Helicopters began 
operations again as of January 3rd, but more bad weather is expected. 
UNJLC will be posting daily road updates and a corresponding map on a 
daily basis over periods of inclement weather conditions.

All sub-offices reported severely limited operations for the last few 
days, with operations slowly picking up on Tuesday. The cold and harsh 
weather conditions may trigger migration from the upper mountains to 
lower area, and will most likely stall air and land transportations, 
which may have multiple implications for the relief operations.

Situation Overview

During the reporting period, there was a significant change of weather 
conditions with an increase in the rain and the snow. Heavy rain began 
in Batagram in the morning of 1st January, continuing on the 2nd with 
snow on the adjacent hills above 5000 feet. According to the Pakistan 
army there were 6-8 inches of snow in Bana town (Allai valley), and 4 
feet of snow in the higher elevation of the Allai valley. Additionally 
reports of an avalanche in Gunta valley, although no confirmation of 
casualties was made.

The UN camp in Batagram was flooded due to the rains which damaged the 
tents of around one hundred families- who were then given the option by 
WFP to re-allocate victims to storage tents if necessary. The flooding 
also caused a reverse in the transition of camp management from military 
to civilian authorities. The military has returned to manage the Medan 
camp in Battagram after the rain-induced floods.

The decrease of the ongoing migration of people from higher elevations 
into camps in Batagram changed because of the difficult weather 
condition, with around 100 families reportedly entering Maira camp on 
1st January.

At a meeting of all agencies, NGOs and the Pakistani Army in Batagram, 
it was decided to immediately distribute food and warm clothing. 
Participants also agreed to assess the feasibility of relocating the 
affected camp population. Several options, such as vacant offices, WFP 
rubbhalls, buildings and madressa's had been identified.

According to reports from the Mansehra Hub, the heavy rains created 
flooding in the camp and in the transitional settlements. Although the 
flooding has now subsided, the deteriorating weather conditions have 
triggered many representatives of camp communities to approach the camp 
management cluster for assistance.

NRC reports also indicate that many affected people have complained of 
their tents being blown away due to heavy winds. There is concern that 
shelter may be required for 5,000 ft and above to replace non-winterized 
tents.

Based on the Pakistani Military's information, the Mansehra Hub reports 
that no camp relocations or population movements have been observed. 
There is speculation however that the recent weather improvement may see 
some IDPs seek to relocate their tents and may also see some 
earthquake-affected persons descend from the mountains. On average a 
total of 245 persons are arriving in areas under the Mansehra Hub's 
responsibility on a daily basis with some going to stay with relatives 
and friends; a few arriving in transitional settlements; and many 
engaging in 'look see' visits and then returning to higher altitudes.

Mansehra reports that all spontaneous camps (more than 400 according to 
the Pakistani Army) require immediate assistance. The Regional Relief 
Commissioner (RRC) is now responsible for these camps and the Pakistani 
Army and UNHCR have a list of spontaneous camps that need to be 
serviced.

According to WFP, rain, snow, sleet and hail have resulted in numerous 
landslides and fallen rocks throughout the area of operations and in 
Muzaffarabad. Road conditions in Muzaffarabad town have also 
deteriorated. There are fallen rocks and debris on the roads throughout 
the city.

The latest Camp Management figures show the following (due to the 
refined definition of what constitutes a camp, the number of camps has 
reduced significantly):

- Mansehra has 7 planned camps and 21 spontaneous camps with a total 
population of 17,302;

- Abbotabad has 1 planned camp and 2 spontaneous camps with a total 
population of 6,703;

- Balakot has 4 planned camps and 16 spontaneous camps with a total 
population of 16,863,

- Batagram has 5 planned camps with a total population of 21,127. There 
are no spontaneous camps in Batagram;

- Muzaffarabad has 9 planned camps and 49 spontaneous camps with a total 
population of 65,756;

- Bagh has 25 spontaneous camps with a total population of 9,257.

Camp heating is now essential in large and spontaneous camps where 
people are suffering from the cold. As a Government policy, no naked 
flames are allowed in individual tents. Instead candles, gas cylinders 
and kerosene heaters should be located in community warming places, 
including communal kitchens.

It was initially decided that the Regional Relief Commissioner as part 
of NWFP Government will take over the management of planned camp sites 
but the policy has been changed and the Army is continuing to manage 
planned camp sites where they are already established and RRC will focus 
on spontaneous establishment as phase one of the hand over.

NRC has been invited by the Army and UNHCR to support camp management. 
As part of the effort NRC is planning to set up three camp management 
mobile support teams (Balakot, Batagram, Muzaffarabad). These teams 
would contain technical staff that can do quick impact technical 
interventions in camps.

Food Distribution

The primary concern is that the deteriorating weather conditions and the 
resultant loss in delivery time may disrupt supply of foods to the 
remote campsites.

WFP provided ready-to-eat rations (High Energy Biscuits and Dates) to 
families unable to cook due to loss of firewood and shelter.

The caseload for general food distribution to Mansehra has been revised 
and raised from 45,000 to 83,000 from January 06. More than 127 MT of 
food was dispatched to three Union Councils in last week by WFP.

According to the Logistics report, NRSP has completed the distribution 
of 198 MT of food for 9,171 beneficiaries living in 23-tented camps for 
one month in Bagh. The ration distribution before the rains was very 
helpful to avert food shortages at household level. Distribution in 
schools is suspended due to winter vacations.

According to the Mansehra Hub report, following the 1 December 2005 
NWFP-WFP Food Agreement the NWFP Government has now delivered wheat 
(only) in the Mansehra District and Abbottabad District. No other food 
items have been delivered in these districts.

In Bagh, the bad weather condition adversely effected the entire 
population living in the tents. Dispatches of food for distribution 
halted for three days. The weather situation on 3rd January improved a 
bit; however, all roads leading to Final Delivery Points (FDPs) are 
blocked which will further hamper the transport of relief goods.

Spontaneous and official camps requiring WFP food support are now 
agreed. WFP has received a list of spontaneous and official camps, 
including caseloads from the Regional Relief Commissioner (RRC). WFP has 
also received the RRC's recommendations on local implementing partners 
and UNAP, SRSP and BEST have been asked to draft proposals for WFP's 
review and action. Food deliveries will proceed once proposals have been 
reviewed and accepted by WFP.

Road Access

Currently, all the roads to Mera, Behsam, Shang, Alpuri, Bana and 
Kohistan are blocked.

All major roads leading to Batagram (Batagram-Mansehra, Batagram-Besham 
and Thakot-Bana road) were closed at one point and the helicopter 
flights only resumed on 3rd January.

All roads into the Kaghan and Siran Valleys are closed due to 9ft of 
snow. Two (2) landslides have occurred in the Kaghan Valley and the army 
is waiting to clear these slides, as they are still active. 2ft of snow 
in Chatter Plains has closed the Karakorum Highway between Mansehra and 
Batagram.

Due to the heavy snowfall in some parts of Mansehra District, the 
Balakot-Kaghan valley road was reported closed and the Mansehra-Chatter 
Plane?Battagram was reported to be closed at Battal Valley.

In Muzaffarabad, the latest update of road conditions received from 
UNDSS and UNJLC is as follows:

- Neelum Valley Road - CLOSED. The first landslide is located 6.23KM 
from the UN base;

- Jhelum Valley Road - CLOSED. The first landslide is located just over 
4Km from UN base;

- Leepa Valley Road - CLOSED. This Road is closed from January through 
March/April;

- Muzaffarabad ? Muree - Islamabad Road ? CLOSED.

Security

According to DSS, missions beyond Balakot are no longer allowed.

Dozens of quake survivors forced their way onto two U.N. helicopters 
involved in the relief effort. Under threats, the helicopters carried 
approximately twenty people to Muzaffarabad and Abbotabad. A Pakistani 
Air Safety officer was hit by villagers. As a result, UNHAS has 
cancelled all planned flights into Banamula and Lepa. Full 
investigations are under way on the incidents, including on the existing 
options for villagers to relocate to prevent future incidents of this 
nature.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

2. 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).

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

4. 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
  Mr. Guido Galli, direct Tel. +41-22-9173171

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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