OCHA Situation Report No. 39
South Asia - Earthquake
10 March 2006


Pakistan

Current relief efforts focus on sustainable returns strategic planning 
for IDPs living in camps and host communities and preparing the Action 
Plan for Relief and Recovery. The Sustainable Returns Task Force has 
identified a number of critical issues. They include development of a 
concise information campaign, engagement with federal and provincial 
government authorities to address the issue of spontaneous camps.  The 
Task Force will focus on establishing a mechanism for protection 
monitoring and reporting from point of departure, en route, and at 
places of origin, welfare of residual caseload, ensuring safe transport, 
and food assistance. Humanitarian Hubs, Clusters and Agencies are 
further engaged in finalizing the Action Plan from Relief to Recovery, 
which is a key policy and strategy document for the recovery phase.

The priorities of humanitarian operations are: Developing the Returns 
Strategy and Action Plan, food and NFI assistance in IDP residual camps, 
measures for the decommissioning of pit latrines in IDP camps, 
revitalization of primary health care services, increased access to 
health care for affected communities, and disease surveillance.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

A moderate earthquake, of magnitude-5.2 struck east Pakistan on the 
morning of Friday 10 March. The quake's epicentre was located about 300 
kilometres (180 miles) east of Peshawar, the capital of North West 
Frontier Province. There are no immediate reports of damage or 
casualties. According to government reports the quake was felt in 
Islamabad, the cities of Lahore, Jehlum, Peshawar, and in parts of 
Kashmir.

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed the crash of one 
of its Puma helicopters crashed near the Muzaffarabad heliport in 
Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Thursday 9 March. Two crew members were 
injured in the crash. There were no fatalities.

Security

The security situation has stabilized in the earthquake-affected area 
and relief operations are back to normal. Relief activities, food and 
NFI movements were temporarily disrupted due to countrywide strikes and 
demonstrations. Rain and landslides continue to affect road safety and 
relief operations. Humanitarian workers have been requested to follow 
standard security procedures and maintain rigorous tracking of staff 
movements.

Returns Strategy

The Sustainable Returns Taskforce has completed its field visits and is 
finalising its strategy. Humanitarian Hubs have established operational 
Returns Taskforces to discuss public information campaigns, compensation 
payments, protection monitoring and tracking, transport, camp support, 
and return packages.

In Bagh, the Returns Taskforce met with the Bagh CMO and the CMO 
Additional Commissioner from Muzaffarabad to discuss the PAK Returns 
Plan. The plan was presented to the PAK Chief Secretary on 8 March and 
will subsequently be presented to FRC for final approval and 
implementation.

Reports of families moving back to their areas of origin continue. In 
Muzaffarabad, 28 families planning to return home requested 
transportation assistance.

Action Plan

Preparations are under way to finalize the Action Plan from Relief to 
Recovery. The Plan is being prepared in collaboration with the 
Government of Pakistan and Humanitarian Hubs and Clusters, and will 
cover the period April 2006 to April 2007. It will outline the 
programmes of international agencies in support to the Government of 
Pakistan in the recovery and reconstruction phase.

Cluster Modification and Closure

Discussions continue on the future of the Cluster system during the 
rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. It is anticipated that some 
clusters will merge or be modified as working groups. This week the 
recommendations from the Real Time Evaluation were discussed and 
analysed in order to identify areas of improvement.

Country Team

The plan is to expand the Country Team to include ICRC, IFRC and NGO 
representation. PHF has nominated Oxfam and CWS to participate in the 
IASC Country Team. The aim is to ensure equal national and international 
NGO participation. It is therefore proposed that JAC nominates a 
national NGO for IASC.

Information Management

In support of returns planning, HIC, UNHCR and CMO are producing maps 
identifying the location of IDP camps and IDP areas of origin. To date, 
162 IDP camps have been mapped. HIC and CWS are further conducting a 
survey of surveys and databases. The aim is to establish a library of 
relief surveys and databases.

Government Liaison

In Muzaffarabad, Dr. Ghulam Haider Kazmi was appointed Chief Liaison 
Officer for cluster coordination. He will advise the government on 
cluster issues and facilitate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction 
efforts.

In PAK, the Ministry of Education has set up an Education Committee 
consisting of Additional Secretary, DPI Elementary, DOE Secondary and 
DOE Higher Secondary with the aim of coordinating education activities 
with the regional Education Cluster.

International Women's Day

On 8 March, a press conference was held in Islamabad to mark the five 
months on and issues affecting women in earthquake affected areas. UNFPA 
launched a Gender Checklist for Emergency Situations to ensure that 
gender concerns are integrated into the recovery phase.

CLUSTER UPDATES

WATER AND SANITATION

1. Access to safe drinking water: In Muzaffarabad, 85,7 % of the target 
population in camps and 95% outside camps have access to safe drinking 
water. In Bagh, 100 % of the target population in camps and 10% outside 
camps have access. In Shangla, 100 % of the population in camps and 30 % 
outside camps have access to safe drinking water. In Battagram, 57% of 
the target population in camps and 30% outside camps have access to safe 
drinking water.

2. The WatSan Cluster finalized its annual planning. The cluster 
estimates that in the coming 12 months 1,500 water supply schemes need 
to be rehabilitated and reconstructed. This would benefit 2 million 
people. In addition, 140,000 latrines for villages including for 5,000 
schools and health centres need to be built, thus benefiting 1.2 million 
people.

3. The WatSan Taskforce discussed the urgent issue of decommissioning 
pit latrines in IDP camps following the return process. Guidelines have 
been developed and circulated for comments.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

4. Bagh: Airlift operations for delivery of food to Bedhi UC (11,350 
beneficiaries) started on 7 March. Camp surveys are being carried out in 
preparation of returns.

5. Ghari Habibullah: WFP visited camps and disseminated information 
regarding the closure of camps on 31 March. All agencies, including WFP, 
will discontinue their camp support after 31 March.

6. Battagram: 567.10 MT of mixed food commodities were distributed to 
30,424 beneficiaries in Battagram, Mansehra, Shangla and Kohistan.

7. Muzaffarabad: Food distribution is completed in 13 camps covering 
1,676 households. Consultations with government departments and partners 
take place to discuss food assistance for rehabilitation projects such 
as road clearance, field terracing, nursery raising, food for training 
and food for education.

HEALTH

8. In Battagram, a survey to investigate coverage of measles vaccination 
among children in Meira camp indicates that 85% of children have been 
vaccinated.

9. NIH and WHO conducted a skills training on physical rehabilitation 
for 45 health professionals taking care of 740 spinal injured patients 
affected by the earthquake.

10. Seven prefabricated health units were completed in Balakot, 
Battagram and Mansehra.

11. Consultations focus mostly on acute respiratory infections (27%), 
acute watery diarrhoea (6%), fever of unexplained origin (5%) and 
injuries (4%). Acute respiratory infections are decreasing in Balakot, 
Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Poonch while increasing in Battagram, Bagh 
and Islamabad.

12. A WHO water and sanitation project has been completed in Battagram, 
ensuring that safe drinking water is made available for 487,500 people 
and 12 BHU.

13. The CMH water purification plant in Rawalakot was enhanced with a 
new water supply line.

EDUCATION

14. Of the 448,138 primary school-level children in the affected areas, 
153,060 have been enrolled in 1,091 schools, with support from UN 
agencies and NGOs.

15. ERRA has approved five school designs developed by the Education 
Cluster School Structures Subgroup. UNICEF is planning to use the design 
for the construction of 500 schools or 1,500 classrooms.

16. The Welcome-to-School Campaign is well underway. The campaign 
consists of two phases. In the first phase children are enrolled who 
attended school prior to the earthquake. The second phase targets 
children who have not been enrolled before the earthquake.

17. The NWFP teacher-training program for master trainers and teachers 
is ongoing. ISCOS is conducting training for 700 teachers in Mansehra, 
Shangla and Battagram districts.

18. In Muzaffarabad, a meeting on the transitional plan for camp schools 
was held in preparation of return and camp closure. UNICEF and NGO 
partners currently support 58 camp schools with 8,000 children and 125 
para-teachers in the area.

19. IOM, UNOPS and Goal continue to clear rubble from school sites in 
Muzaffarabad.

20. The education part of the Early Recovery Action Plan has been 
developed. The aim is to ensure resumption of basic education services 
to poor and vulnerable populations/communities in earthquake affected 
areas and to establish delivery of community-driven and coordinated 
education services which provides a focus for community rehabilitation 
and development. The plan further aims at building back better through 
improving access for all children to healthy, protective and good 
quality primary and middle school education and extending those benefits 
to the community.

PROTECTION

21. Efforts are made to establish a protection tracking and monitoring 
mechanism as part of integrated returns planning. The Human Rights 
taskforce has prepared operational guidelines for a sustainable and 
voluntary return of affected communities and a checklist for the closure 
of camps and return.

22. UNICEF Mansehra and the NGO Maqsad have begun a "knowledge through 
children to safeguard from life hazards programme" in ten IDP camps. The 
programme uses puppets and theatre to promote protection, health, 
hygiene and rights issues.

23. The number of UNICEF supported Child Friendly Spaces in district 
Shangla camps have doubled, benefiting 429 adolescents and 40 children. 
The identification of teachers and monitors, however, remains a problem.

LOGISTICS

24. The Rawalakot - Islamabad route is closed for UN Agencies and NGOs. 
A letter is being prepared asking the Pakistan authorities to open the 
road for UN Agencies and NGOs.

25. An inter-agency verification mission to Bedhi UC found that road 
access is a major problem and will have a negative impact on IDP 
returns. The area is likely to be inaccessible until April and May due 
to landslides.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DATA COMMS

26. The IT Telecom cluster has prepared its budget for the relief and 
reconstruction phase.

27. Installations of data communications systems and radio training are 
ongoing in field hubs. Training of UN/NGO staff on VHF radio use and 
vehicle tracking is becoming more important due to the increased number 
of roadblocks as a result of landslides. 80 staff have received radio 
training in Islamabad this week.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY:

28. Heavy rains have caused numerous landslides and cut off roads in 
earthquake-affected areas. Slopes have been loosened and landslides and 
falling rocks are becoming inevitable over the next months as rainfall 
increases and the spring snowmelt begins. In Muzaffarabad, continuous 
rain has hampered WFP and UNLGC logistics and cargo services. Neelum and 
Jhelum valleys are closed until further assessments being conducted.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

30. 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).


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

32. 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.

33. 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.

List of Acronyms

NFI - None Food Items
CMO - Camp Management Organization
PAK - Pakistan Administered Kashmir
FRC - Federal Relief Commission
PHF - Pakistan Humanitarian Forum
CWS - Church World Service (INGO)
JAC - Joint Action Committee
DPI - Directorate of Public Instructions
DOE - Department of Education
UC - Union Council
NIH - National Institute for Handicapped
BHU - Basic Health Unit
CMH - Combined Medical Hospital
ISCOS - Instituto Sindacale Per La Cooperazione Allo Sviluppo (INGO)
ERRA - Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority
VHF - Very High Frequency
UNLGC - United Nations Logistics Centre

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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