OCHA Situation Report No. 41
South Asia - Earthquake
7 April 2006


Pakistan

Efforts of the humanitarian response community currently focus on assisted IDP 
returns. According to UNHCR, more than 64,000 people have left the relief camps 
to return home. Thirty camps have closed, leaving 86,750 people in over 120 
camps of over 50 tents. The IDP returns process is being monitored on a 
continuous basis, from the point of departure and en route, with the focus now 
shifting to place-of-origin monitoring. Surveys show that returns are 
voluntary; however, information dissemination remains inconsistent across the 
hubs.

Other issues of concern include: limited transportation capacity, the 
accommodation of residual caseloads and the lack of monitoring capacity in 
places of origin.

Furthermore, visiting donors have been informed that UN/NGO Common Services 
experience serious shortfalls in funding. This includes UNHAS air operations, 
UNJLC/UNOPS route assessments and road clearances, IOM transportation support 
for IDP returns, and UNICEF protection activities.

Finally, a joint press briefing by the Earthquake Reconstruction and 
Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and the United Nations will be held on 8 April 
to mark the six months after the earthquake that hit South Asia on 8 October 
2005.

The priorities of humanitarian operations are: (i) informed, dignified and 
voluntary IDP returns; (ii) camp closure; (iii) the provision of essential 
services in places of origin; and (iv) transition planning to build the 
recovery foundation.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Earthquake in Battagram, 4 April 2006, 14:10 local time

On 4 April 2006, at 14:10 local time (10:10 GMT), an earthquake measuring 4.8 
on the Richter scale struck the Battagram-Thakot and Allai valleys (Battagram 
District/ North West Frontier Province) with the epicenter reported some 160 
kms north of Battagram Town. A large aftershock was reported to have occurred 
at 14:20 local time (10:20 GMT).

Since the October 2005 earthquake, strong tremors have been experienced in the 
area almost on a daily basis, often up to a level 5 on the Richter scale. 
However, this earthquake was felt as the strongest to date resulting in 
injuries and significant structural damage to buildings.

To date, 26 injured persons have been officially registered in Battagram 
hospital. All originate from Battagram town and the nearby mountainous areas of 
Shumalai and Batamori. Most of the injuries sustained are fractures. A total of 
four serious cases have been referred to Abbottabad for neuro-surgery.

One building, part of the police complex, collapsed in Battagram Town. The 
building had been vacant following damage during the October earthquake. Many 
other buildings have sustained significant structural damage, including the UN 
office at the Battagram View Hotel. UN agencies have vacated the building and 
set up alternative office arrangements in tents.

Overall, the situation remained calm in Battagram and there was no panic 
amongst the local population. However, people appeared visibly shaken and some 
shops were closed.

Logistics/ exhaustion of funds for UNHAS operation

UNHAS has exhausted its funding for the ongoing relief/recovery helicopter 
operation. With the exception of the four DFID funded helicopters, which are 
supported up to the end of May 2006, operations are in danger of being 
suspended. The 4 DFID funded helicopters are able to cater for only 10% of the 
current workload given to UNHAS by the humanitarian community.

In order to continue the operation up until the end of April 2006 and give the 
UN time to secure funding through the Action Plan and its process, UNHAS would 
immediately need some US$ 4 million against the 18.5 million US $ required 
until the end of August 2006.

It is expected that, in the absence of even limited airlift capacity, 
relief/recovery programmes will be seriously interrupted and delayed in the 
coming weeks and months due to landslides, flooding, and the need to adhere to 
minimum safety standards. Donkeys and mules are not available in sufficient 
numbers to convey the volume of tools, equipment and other items presently 
planned.

Weather

Heavy rains continue to hamper relief efforts in some areas. Numerous 
landslides have occurred and have blocked several roads. There remains a very 
high risk of mudslides blocking key access roads in the coming weeks.

Security

The overall security situation remains stable and calm in the 
earthquake-affected areas and humanitarian activities continue as normal.

IDP Returns Process

The Government has declared an area of 600 hectares of Balakot Town as a red 
zone on the basis of the recommendation from a recently completed seismic 
study. The Government is planning to relocate the affected population of 
Balakot and reconstruct the town at another location.

In Bagh, the Camp Management Organisation (CMO) has announced its three-phased 
return and camp closure process, comprising spontaneous and assisted returns 
and camp closure. The public information campaign is ongoing and UNOPS is 
assessing remote areas of return in Bagh district. In addition, workshops are 
being organized to address technical components of camp closure.

In Battagram, out of the estimated initial number of 20,000 IDPs in five 
planned camps, a residual caseload of some 300 families remain in Meira, out of 
which at least 100 families will be transported by IOM. Overall, IOM is 
expecting to complete assisted returns in early April.

In Mansehra, assisted IDP returns are well underway and taking place at a fast 
pace. A total of 33,271 IDPs (6,026 families) had returned as of 5 April 2006. 
About 90% of these IDPs returned to their places of origin and 10% moved to 
other places, as yet unidentified. Government authorities announced that Meira 
Camp, Kashtra Camp and Siran Sialkot Camp will function as forward camps for 
the temporary accommodation of vulnerable populations and those unable to 
return.

In Muzaffarabad, as of 5 April, an estimated 3,560 persons (528 families) had 
returned with the help of IOM transportation assistance. An additional 1,373 
families had returned with the support of the Camp Management Organization. 
Another 1,000 families are now ready to return but await transportation 
assistance.

Transition Planning and Recovery

On several occasions, Cluster Leads met with representatives of the Earthquake 
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) to discuss technical details 
of the Pakistan Action Plan from Relief to Recovery.

A Relief Transition Cell has been established within ERRA to oversee relief 
activities related to shelter, logistics, health, protection, and IDP returns. 
Transition planning intends to focus on capacity building, contingency planning 
and disaster management.

The Cluster system is currently being reviewed to reflect local ownership and 
to adjust to recovery needs.

Donor Visit to Pakistan

The OCHA Donor Support Group (ODSG) mission, comprising of representatives from 
Belgium, Canada, ECHO, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, 
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and USA, visited Pakistan for six days. Its aim was to 
review the overall humanitarian response to the earthquake and the role of 
OCHA, to comprehend the challenges foreseen for sustainable recovery and to 
develop an understanding of how best to support the Government of Pakistan in 
its recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The Donor Group held meetings with Government representatives, UN agencies and 
NGOs and visited the field hubs of Bagh and Muzaffarabad. Mission members 
agreed that the Cluster Approach was the way forward in relief coordination. 
However, they also understand the dilemmas associated with the implementation 
of a new coordination mechanism, i.e. distinguishing between Cluster and Agency 
responsibilities and ensuring the flow of information between clusters in 
Islamabad and the field hubs.

CLUSTER UPDATES

WATER AND SANITATION

1. To increase hygiene promotion and sanitation among the earthquake-affected 
populations, a series of workshops for trainers and hygiene promoters were 
organized by Australian Aid International and UNICEF in Haveli Tehsil and 
Balakot.

SHELTER

2. In Bagh, the Shelter Cluster is continuing to cover the outstanding 
emergency shelter needs. A UNOPS verification assessment of emergency shelter 
needs in Azad Bara has confirmed that there is a gap in shelter distribution. 
The host community as well as returning IDPs will be provided with CGI sheets, 
shelter kits and blankets.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

3. As of 1 April, WFP is working on its Protracted Relief and Recovery 
Operations program, which includes food for education or training, extended 
relief and food for recovery. The program intends to help sustain disaster-hit 
communities as they re-establish livelihoods and stabilize themselves.

HEALTH

4. International field hospitals are gradually being handed over to the 
Ministry of Health. The level of health care delivery after the earthquake has 
increased significantly, due to the presence of these temporary health 
facilities.

5. With many reconstruction works nearing completion and temporary health 
facilities ready to be operational, adequate staffing now becomes a key issue. 
The number of qualified health staff required is larger than was available even 
before the earthquake due to the increased level of health care services and 
the need for further contingency measures.

6. As IDPs are returning to their home villages and communities, the need 
arises for water quality surveillance and monitoring in these areas. In 
Battagram, WHO is seeking the support of the Government authorities in the 
compilation of a water quality database.

7. WHO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, has screened more than 700 
children and vaccinated 200 who were on their way from Balakot to Kaghan valley 
and to Muzaffarabad. Furthermore, WHO Battagram has carried out seven health 
facility assessments in Shangla District.

8. A total of 213 health facilities are now participating in the Disease Early 
Warning System. On average, 99% of these sent their epidemiological findings to 
WHO in the past two weeks, totalling almost 86,775 consultations, for a 
population of almost 4 million people in the earthquake-affected areas. The 
main course for consultations remain Acute Respiratory Infection and Acute 
Watery Diarrhoea.

EDUCATION

9. The 'Welcome-to-School' campaign is in full swing in the earthquake-affected 
areas. In Bagh, almost all schools have received tents and 'School-in-a-Box' 
kits and an ongoing teacher-training programme on psychosocial support was 
completed in 7 Union Councils. In Muzaffarabad, educational supplies are being 
sent to children's places of origin. In Mansehra, over 800 tents for schools 
have been delivered by UNICEF to partner organizations. Moreover, Parent 
Teacher Associations have been reactivated and a campaign been designed by 
UNICEF and partners to mobilize communities to send their children to school. 
Also, in Mansehra, 901 regular governmental primary schools are being provided 
school supplies and tents by member organizations of the Education Cluster.

10. In Battagram, schools in Maidan and Banian camps have been closed and 
materials been handed over to the Provincial Education Department. In 
Muzaffarabad, all departing students of camp schools were registered by filling 
out Individual Profile forms.

PROTECTION

11. IOM, the Pakistan Army and Provincial authorities continue to provide 
transport for returning IDPs. UNHCR cooperates with IOM by providing lists, 
which are gathered from camp managers, of families intending to leave and 
needing transport.

12. In Bagh, UNICEF has identified 20 protection monitors who will be seconded 
to the Social Welfare Department to build up its monitoring and reporting 
capacity for IDP returns.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS

13. Radio training for 84 users and operators was conducted in Mansehra, 
Muzaffarabad and Bagh. Following the earthquake in Battagram on 4 April, the 
radio room was relocated, regular user support has continued, additional radios 
were being programmed, and IT equipment was dispatched from Islamabad.

14. The Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) is in the process of upgrading 
its website to include a search engine and a content management system, which 
will allow for greater interaction by users. The HIC website will follow the 
transition from relief to recovery process through uploading of relevant 
documents and of maps produced in conjunction with Clusters and humanitarian 
agencies.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY

15. As IDPs return to places of origin, access remains a key issue. Government 
and humanitarian organizations currently facilitate the return and recovery of 
quake-affected households by enabling essential tools, equipment, and 
agricultural inputs to be transported to communities in remote, high elevation 
areas. These communities are accessible only by secondary and tertiary roads 
and tracks, which have been blocked by landslides. The severity and frequency 
of these landslides will even further increase as a result of seasonal rains 
and water logging.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

17. 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).


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

19. 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.

20. 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

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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