OCHA Situation Report No. 38
South Asia - Earthquake
24 February 2006


Pakistan

With spontaneous returns already taking place and the Government of 
Pakistan (GoP) planning to close organized camps by 31 March, 
humanitarian agencies continue to focus on strategies for the 
sustainable return of IDPs (there is a difference in opinion as to 
whether the 31 March is an optimistic target date or a tight deadline; 
the UN and NGOs are continuing to advocate for the needs of IDPs to be 
addressed, regardless). During the reporting period, weather conditions 
remained relatively warm with some heavy rainfall in some parts of the 
affected region causing further landslides and road blockages.

The priorities of humanitarian operations are: (i) improving sanitation 
conditions and the availability of safe drinking water; (ii) stepping up 
health surveillance and monitoring systems; (iii) defining appropriate 
return strategies to complement and support the GoP's plans; and (iv) 
planning transition from relief to recovery.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Security

This week's insecurity, mostly related to cartoon-related 
manifestations, further hampered the delivery of assistance and 
services. This slowed down coordination activities, the delivery of 
assistance and transportation of services. Mansehra is particularly 
affected with most of coordination activities being postponed or 
cancelled.

Due to security restrictions, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) 
'Real-Time Evaluation' of the Cluster approach was unable to visit 
Battagram. Agencies were able to feed into the evaluation process by 
sending documents to the team (i.e. the January Battagram "Cluster 
Review", the "Humanitarian Fact Sheet", and the Battagram "Comments on 
the Cluster System").

Return Strategy

The Sustainable Returns Taskforce (SRTF) is now in full force with a 
senior protection advisor (UNHCR), an OCHA IDD expert, a technical 
expert (IOM), an advocacy officer (Oxfam) and a protection officer 
(NRC).  The SRTF will travel to the field for consultations with actors 
on the ground as well as with government officials, who are well into 
their return strategies and policies.

In Mansehra, the Government ? Regional Relief Commissioner (RRC) ? 
provided a detailed presentation to all partners on the return policy 
for the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 23 February. This 
document reiterated the Government's plans to close down all planned 
camps in two phases by 31 March, with assessment and relocation 
prospects to be done on a case-by-case basis. People with 
genuine/legitimate reasons not to return would be considered and 
relocated to the few camps (two to three) that would continue to be run 
by the Government.

The RRC urged humanitarian agencies not to make further investments in 
camps, which are temporary arrangements.

Return and movement of populations

Advocacy with government authorities has continued as the Government 
shared its return strategies with the humanitarian community. In 
Muzaffarabad, the Government accepted that a residual caseload of the 
affected population would remain in Muzaffarabad after others return.

Reports of small-scale spontaneous returns continue: in Muzaffarabad, 
some returns are reportedly due to the upcoming planting season; in 
Battagram, requests from families wishing to leave planned camps 
increase daily.

Information Management

Strategic Information Cell (SIC) update: The information manager 
seconded by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) will 
conclude the assignment on 28 February. After that, data capture and 
collation processes will be handed over to the IOM team made of three 
national staff.

The Integrated Monitoring Matrix (IMM) is improving with clusters 
refining their indicators and data collection.

Transition

Humanitarian actors have been asked to feed into the 'Action Plan from 
Relief to Recovery' with the UN emphasising that this is not a UN 
document, but a document by the IASC as well as by all actors working to 
assist the Government of Pakistan in the post-earthquake efforts. In 
Muzaffarabad and Bagh, the Government authorities have expressed an 
interest to be part of this process. The Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator 
(DHC) and a representative from the Office of the Resident 
Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) have been travelling to the 
field to help drive the process forward.

Existing Cluster arrangements will change in order to reflect new 
structures within the Federal Relief Commission (FRC) and the Earthquake 
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (ERRA) as well as to provide 
temporary settlement solutions for those unable or unwilling to return 
home. It is proposed, for example, that the 'Emergency Shelter Cluster' 
become the 'Shelter Cluster' with two working groups: (i) the Emergency 
Shelter working group (covering the current caseload, and those who will 
evidently be in need of shelter for the next winter); and, (ii) the 
Transitional Shelter working group.

Training

In Bagh, Red-R is doing a 'learning needs assessment' targeting 
different groups. This will serve as a basis for coming up with priority 
training sessions. OCHA is working closely with Red-R to develop 
training modules for local NGOs.

(See health cluster update below)

CLUSTER UPDATES

EMERGENCY SHELTER

1.  Distributions of emergency shelter materials are now in their final 
phase, with inputs expected to finish by early March. Outstanding needs, 
such as sleeping mats for some spontaneous camps in Mansehra, can be met 
from existing resources. Helicopter airlift capacity is required to 
supplement distributions to medium and high elevations by road, with 
ad-hoc aerial distributions required until the end of April as called 
for by the High Altitude Assessment and Monitoring Teams on the ground.

2.  Following a major "de-duplication" exercise with FRC, current data 
now shows that 520,102 tents have been delivered to date (the previous 
figure was 866,304).

3.  425,204 temporary transitional shelters have been constructed to 
date, of which 276,344 by the Pakistan Army (PAKMIL). There are 124,668 
shelter repair kits in the pipeline.

4.  3.4 million CGI sheets have been distributed, with 4.9 million 
expected to have been distributed by 28 February.

5.  The equivalent of 6.4 million blankets is expected to have been 
distributed by 28 February (this equates one quilt as two blankets). 
This figure includes the 3.2 million blankets confirmed in the IO-I/NGO 
pipeline.

6.  2.2 million tarpaulins/plastic sheets will have been distributed by 
28 February.

CAMP MANAGEMENT

7.  The overall situation is relatively stable in both planned and 
spontaneous camps administered by the camp management cluster. Due to 
the fluidity in movements of the population, the number of camps 
fluctuates between 27-31 planned, and 121-127 spontaneous camps in 
Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PAK) and North West Frontier Province 
(MWFP).

8.  In Bagh, UNHCR, CMO and the army agreed to fill-up the Namanpura 
planned camp before opening up the other planned camp, Mang Bajri. 
Namanpura is designated for future consolidation of camps as well as for 
accommodation of residual caseloads, including those with severe 
vulnerabilities. Mang Bajri will be used for contingency purposes. 
UNHCR conducted an assessment of vulnerable people in all camps this 
week.

9.  The registration exercise in Muzaffarabad revealed a higher caseload 
and number of camps: there are 87 camps with a total current registered 
population of 80,171. Newly registered camps still do not meet 
acceptable standards, especially in terms of water and sanitation 
facilities. New camps must be registered by the Camp Management 
Organisation to enable UNHCR to access, assess and provide needs 
accordingly.

WATER AND SANITATION

10.  Agencies continue to tackle water and sanitation concerns in the 
affected areas, with sanitation needs in particular being urgently 
addressed.

11.  Access to water: In Muzaffarabad, 68,000 displaced people in camps 
are receiving water supply, which represents 95% of the target 
population (156,000 people). Outside the camps, 190,000 people have 
access to water supply. Sanitation: 68,400 people in the camps have 
access to latrines while access is provided for 96,160 people outside 
the camps.

12.  Access to water: in Mansehra, 58,696 displaced people in camps have 
access to water supply, which represents 78.7% of the target population 
(74,489). Outside camps, 157,101 people have access to water supply 
against a target of 800,000 people. Sanitation: 43,000 IDPs in the camps 
have access to sanitation facilities.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

13.  WFP operations were severely disrupted due to nationwide protests.

14.  As of 20 February, WFP has distributed food to 873,837 people (out 
of the caseload of 1 million assigned to WFP by the GoP). This figure 
does not include the 110,000 children in tented schools receiving a 
supplementary ration of high-energy biscuits (HEB) and dates, nor does 
it include the 4,000 people in tented hospitals receiving full rations.

HEALTH

15.  Improved weather conditions allow access to previously inaccessible 
areas like Allai, Shangla and Kohistan. Outreach activities are now 
possible and the planned assessments are ongoing.

16.  Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) remain the most common reason 
for consultation among both the population under and above 5 years of 
age (respectively 42% and 29%), followed by injuries (4%), and Acute 
Watery Diarrhoea (6%).

17.  Extensive training of female health supervisors and workers is 
ongoing in health issues varying from family planning to HIV/AIDS. In 
Mansehra alone, almost 60 female health workers, visitors and health 
technicians were trained on effective management of reproductive health 
based on the WHO and UNFPA guidelines. A Training of Trainers (TOT) 
workshop was conducted for 24 female health supervisors supposed to 
train female health workers in Muzaffarabad district. The health 
supervisors were trained on issues such as reproductive health, maternal 
health, family planning, psycho-social issues, HIV/AIDS and other 
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

18.  Almost 3,000 children were vaccinated against measles in Meira 
camp, Battagram in an effort to curtail the ongoing measles outbreak. 
The localized vaccination campaign was organized by the Ministry of 
Health, WHO and UNICEF.

19.  Results of the health survey carried out in Maidan camp in January 
show that two thirds of surveyed patients received medical attention and 
treatment. The lack of female doctors limits female patients to seek 
appropriate medical care. Recommendations focus on the need for lady 
health workers and doctors, but also on the increase of community 
participation, and on the need for targeted services for vulnerable 
groups like pregnant women and young children.

20.  An assessment of the health situation in Kohistan ? a previously 
inaccessible area ? shows that the affected population is 
under-serviced. WHO will send an Emergency Health Kit to the District 
health authorities for immediate coverage of gaps in drug supplies.

EDUCATION

21.  Of the 400,000 primary school-level children in the affected areas, 
127,653 children have been enrolled in 952 schools, with support from UN 
agencies and I/NGOs.

22.  The Welcome-to-School Campaign will start from 6 March 2006 until 
31 March 2007.  Mobilizing additional teachers, especially females, is 
one of the top priorities in light of the expected mass enrollment of 
children, especially girls.  Supplies will be moving at an advanced 
speed in preparation for the Welcome-to-School Campaign. Items include 
tents, plastic mats, School-in-a-Box kits, recreational kits, 
blackboards, fire extinguishers, Meena booklets on earthquake 
trauma/teachers' guides, supplementary reading materials, and textbooks.

23.  In Muzaffarabad, Phase I of the Rapid Assessment by Sungi with 
support from UNICEF covering 1,500 schools was completed.  Phase II is 
ongoing.

24.  UNOPS has undertaken assessment of 20 school sites and rubble 
clearing operations of three damaged schools in Bagh. About 100 local 
labourers have been tapped for rubble clearance work, offering Rs 200 to 
unskilled and Rs 400 to skilled labour.  Ensuring safety during rubble 
clearing operations remains an ongoing concern. Several NGOs have 
started work on reconstruction of educational facilities, which have 
been granted approval by the ERRA.  Plans are underway to erect more 
permanent and semi-permanent educational facilities within Bagh 
District.

PROTECTION

25.  A total number of 11,382 most vulnerable people have been 
registered so far in the five hubs, namely Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, Bagh, 
Battagram and Shangla.

26.  International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Terre des Hommes (TDH) 
have established 16 and 12 Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) respectively in 
the district of Mansehra while Worldvision has a total of 15 functional 
CFSs in the affected regions. In Muzaffarabad, IRC has established 7 
CFSs with the support of UNICEF in the Dhanna Union Council.

27.  In Muzaffarabad, UNICEF has provided 20 tents to the Social Welfare 
Department (SWD) for setting up field offices.

LOGISTICS

28.  From the start of its operations, UNHAS has airlifted 15,078 MT of 
food items, 3,814 MT of non-food items and about 28,000 passengers. The 
deliveries from the hubs to extended delivery points from 13-19 February 
amount to 4,518 MT, out of which 747MT were delivered by air (a 
reduction of some 277 MT by air ?compared to 1024MT last week).

29.  With the cancellation of 2 MI8s and 1 MI26, a reduced number of 
UNHAS helicopters is in operation. UNHAS continues to task 4 US, 2 
Australian 'black hawks', 2 German 'stallions' and 2 NATO helicopters on 
a day-to-day basis.

30.  The lack of necessary additional funds for UNHAS operations has led 
to some cuts in the number of passenger flights (no flights during 
weekends), and serious prioritization of movement of goods into the 
affected areas.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY:

31.  Hindrance in the delivery of assistance was caused by the security 
situation (see situation overview/update above) as well as by rainfall 
in some areas. In Muzaffarabad, air dispatches were disrupted due to bad 
weather conditions on 18 and 19 February and road dispatches were 
affected on the 18 February due to heavy rains.

32.  The affected region continues to experience landslides as a result 
of the earthquake and subsequent rainfall. In Mansehra, the access past 
the Ghanol Bridge on the Balakot-Kaghan road is blocked; the Thakot-Bana 
road in Battagram was closed for UN staff from 17 to 21 February due to 
bad weather, deteriorating road conditions and landslide danger; certain 
routes in the Muzaffarabad region are also cut off by landslides.

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
  Mr. Christophe Schmachtel, direct Tel.  +41-22-9171751

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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