OCHA Situation Report No. 43
South Asia - Earthquake
Pakistan
5 May 2006


The endorsement of the 'ERRA ? UN Early Recovery Plan' represents an 
important step in a critical period of transition from relief to 
recovery, marking the shift from saving lives to restoring livelihoods. 
The Early Recovery Plan is the product of an intensive consultation 
process with IASC Country Team partners and federal/provincial 
authorities.

The closure of Clusters and establishment of thematic working groups 
likewise reflects the transition. Government-led coordination structures 
are now in place to implement the projects included in the Early 
Recovery Plan as well as to address remaining relief needs. Providing 
support to IDP returns and assisting vulnerable groups in residual camps 
are important components of these efforts.

The priorities of current humanitarian operations are: (i) informed, 
dignified and voluntary IDP returns; (ii) provision of essential 
services in places of origin; and (iii) provision of essential services 
in residual camps.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Endorsement of the ERRA-UN Early Recovery Plan

The ERRA-UN Early Recovery Plan has been endorsed by all parties. The 
Early Recovery Plan will be launched in mid-May, marked by events in New 
York, Geneva, Islamabad and in the field-based Hubs.

Security

The general security situation in the field-based Hubs remained stable.

IDP Returns Process

As of 29 April, 63% of the families in IDP camps have returned to their 
places of origin. A major increase took place in Bagh where 86% of the 
families have now returned compared to 29% during the previous week. 
This is mainly due to the inclusion of figures of families living in 
camps adjacent to their homes.

In Muzaffarabad, 50% of the total IDP population in camps have returned 
to their areas of origin as of 1 May. An estimated 30,000 IDPs will 
remain in camps.

A seismic study identified 17 villages in Muzaffarabad District as 
belonging to a highly hazardous zone. The study implies that around 
30,000 people need to be relocated to safe settlements in Muzaffarabad 
Town.

In Mansehra, the preparations for using Maera, Kashtra and Siran Sialkot 
as transitional sites are being finalized.

In Bagh, the deadline for camp closure was extended to 15 May. The 
absence of a residual caseload camp for the region remains a concern. 
Negotiations to nominate Mang Bajri camp, a planned camp with adequate 
facilities, have failed so far.

UNHCR, in cooperation with the Government, the Protection Cluster and UN 
agencies is developing a registration form that includes constraints and 
eligibility criteria for accessing residual camps.

Cluster Closure

In Islamabad, Clusters have submitted their recommendations for closure 
and modification. Ten out of eleven clusters have recommended closure, 
while the Protection Cluster will continue functioning until July. 
Clusters will be replaced by Working Groups that will operate under ERRA 
structures, while handing over leadership to the Government.

In Mansehra, a memorandum for the new coordination structure has been 
finalized with the District Coordination Officer and Heads of Clusters. 
All former Clusters are now referred to as Working Groups and are being 
chaired by District Government officials. The Head of Clusters meeting 
has been transformed into a Head of Working Group meeting chaired by the 
District Coordination Officer.

In Muzaffarabad, an agreement was reached with the Head of District 
Reconstruction Unit for chairing the Working Group meetings. Camp 
Management Organization and the Transitional Relief Cell are co-chairing 
the General Coordination meeting.

Disaster Preparedness

In Bagh, preparations for a Disaster Preparedness Workshop scheduled for 
16 May are underway. This will be replicated in Muzaffarabad and 
Mansehra.

Phasing Out of OCHA

In line with OCHA Pakistan's Exit Strategy, the OCHA Office in Batagram 
was closed on 27 April. An OCHA national staff member has been seconded 
to the District Coordination Officer and District Reconstruction Unit 
Project Manager to assist in local coordination.

In Bagh, OCHA and HIC are finalizing arrangements for the handover of 
essential information management functions to the District Information 
Centre, which will assume these tasks as OCHA and HIC are phasing out.

UN Base Camp closure

UN agencies in Muzaffarabad have been asked to vacate the UN Base Camp 
compound by 15 June.

The WFP Bagh sub-office is finalizing its move from the UN base camp in 
Bagh Town to a building in Nomanpura. The Norwegian Support Team will 
start to dismantle Bagh base camp office and accommodation tents on 15 
May.

CLUSTER UPDATES

CAMP MANAGEMENT

1. In Mansehra, preparations are made for the transition of camp 
management responsibilities for forward camps to civilian authorities. 
UNHCR is supporting the transfer with capacity building.

2. In Muzaffarabad, the Camp Management Organization has requested UN 
agencies and NGOs to assist in making IDP camps ready for summer 
weather.

3. In Batagram, UNHCR, in cooperation with the Catholic Migration 
Commission, has set up a vocational training program for sewing, 
targeting female and male IDPs. The aim is to facilitate the 
reintegration of quake survivors into their home communities following 
their return.

SHELTER

4. IOM has launched a rubble removal project in Muzaffarabad. Under the 
project, IOM will clear and recycle 16 million cubic feet of debris from 
three zones. The recycled rubble will be used for landfill areas, 
concrete, road paving as well as gabion construction along roads to 
block landslides and consolidate river embankments. Other organizations 
involved in rubble removal are Samaritans Purse, Food for the Hungry and 
Mercy Corps.

5. In conjunction with IOM, Food for the Hungry is starting road 
rehabilitation works in the suburbs of upper Muzaffarabad. Samaritans 
Purse is working on the rehabilitation of link roads in a 
'cash-and-food-for-work' program supported by WFP.

6. In Bagh, IOM is preparing for the distribution of shelter kits to 
families from Azad Bara. Without any airlift capacity available, the 
plan is to distribute the kits in Sheru Dara from where returning 
families can pick them up and trek back to their villages.

HEALTH

7. WHO is downsizing its operations to two provincial sub offices in 
Muzaffarabad and Mansehra.

8. Over 1,200 lady health workers, their supervisors and other health 
care professionals have received training in mental health.

9. WHO and partners focus on the integration of the regional early 
warning and outbreak response program in the National Disease 
Surveillance System. The Surveillance System primarily focuses on the 
improvement of water and sanitation, prevention, control and rapid 
response to emerging water-borne disease outbreaks.

FOOD

10. In Muzaffarabad, food was dispatched to four Union Councils as per 
the requirement of the Forest Department. Food was also dispatched to 
camps in Muzaffarabad and Hatian Tehsils.

11. In Bagh, a school-feeding programme commenced on 27 April. Also in 
Bagh, WFP distributed one-month food rations to 310 families in five IDP 
camps upon the request of Camp Management Organization.

12. A WFP assessment mission visited Batagram and Kohistan districts 
where it met with Government officials to discuss the school-feeding 
program.

EDUCATION

13. Temporary shelter needs for primary schools, middle and high schools 
are being covered.

14. In Muzaffarabad, the provincial counterpart of ERRA (S-ERRA) 
organized a workshop for the development of a reconstruction and 
rehabilitation strategy for the education sector.

PROTECTION

15. The Protection Cluster continues to monitor IDP return movements and 
prepares weekly return updates for each Hub. IOM continues to provide 
transportation and medical screening assistance and is maintaining a 
database of returnees.

16. In Bagh, a monitoring and evaluation mission was conducted in Behdi 
Union Council. The findings show that in high altitude areas climatic 
factors limit people's ability and time to reconstruct shelter. 
Interviews also showed that many returning IDPs felt pressurized to 
return and that a number of families had not received compensation 
payments.

LOGISTICS

17. Helicopter capacity has decreased again on 3 May with the 
redeployment of the four DFID Mi-8s tasked by UNHAS. This brings the 
UNHAS fleet down to only four Mi-8s. Out of these, only one helicopter 
is used for passenger service on a cost-recovery basis, including cargo.

18. The use of Mobile Storage Tents is being discussed to overcome 
inter-agency storage constraints in the earthquake-affected areas.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS

19. Radio programming and radio training for UN staff continues across 
the earthquake-affected area. In preparation of the closing of UN base 
camps in June, preparations are underway to relocate radio rooms and 
VSAT services.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY

20. Road access has largely improved across the earthquake-affected 
areas due to the good weather and ongoing repair work. The Lipa valley 
road again is open to 4x4 vehicles.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

22. 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).


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

24. 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.

25. 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. +41-22-917-1694
  Mr. Guido Galli, direct Tel. +41-22-917-3171

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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