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Pakistan, India - Earthquake: OCHA Situation Report No. 14


Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0175
OCHA Situation Report No. 14
South Asia (Pakistan and India) - Earthquake

Pakistan

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. There is a perception, in country, that the full extent of the earthquake and its consequences on Pakistan may not have been fully grasped by the international community.

2. The response so far does not match the enormous needs caused by the earthquake. The window of opportunity closing.

3. The capacity to respond needs to be increased substantially if lives are to be saved in areas that have not been accessed. Financial, logistical and shelter support is urgently required.

4. It is estimated that as many as 50,000 of those injured have not been reached. UNICEF have stated that as many as 120,000 children have not been reached of whom an estimated 10,000 could die of hunger, hypothermia and disease within the next few weeks.

5. The numbers of survivors and injured remain unknown and the emphasis is now to determine how many people still need to be reached by emergency assistance. Many have been observed to come down the mountain to fetch supplies before returning to their settlements.

6. 26 hospitals have been destroyed or are too unstable for use. Most of the 600 health clinics in the affected areas have also been destroyed.

7. The critical priority remains the need to address the paramount shelter requirements. While the exact numbers of required shelters versus delivered/pledged quantities are still fluctuating considerably, it is almost certain that current stocks will not meet the demands at hand.

8. There is an urgent need for implementing partners in all major sectors (health, water and sanitation, trauma recovery and shelter).

9. Relief efforts are severely constrained by the lack of helicopters.

10. With the build up of the relief operation across Pakistan, additional coordination staff are required.

11. Latest maps may be accessed on ReliefWeb.

PRIORITY NEEDS

- Helicopters

- Winterised tents /temporary shelter (est. 250,000-450,000)

- Blankets/Sleeping Bags (est. 2 million)

- Water and sanitation (especially latrines)

- Water bladders for affected hospitals

- Generators and diesel

- Tarpaulins, Ground sheets

- Stoves, fuel and kitchen sets

- Surgery assistance

- Trauma recovery


Affected Populations and Locations
Region/
Province
District
Total Population (000)
Affected
Population (000)
% age
Affected
Classification
Pakistan Administered part of Kashmir
Bagh
456
364
80
Severe
Muzzafarabad
911
820
90
Severe
Poonch
463
271
59
High
Total
1830
1455
80
NWFP
Abottabad
999
200
20
Less
Battagram
241
204
20
Less
Kohistan
-
-
50
High
Mansehra
1361
602
44
Less
Shangla
544
272
50
High
Total
3145
1278
41

Coordination

Latest developments /Achievements

12. The multi-cluster rapid air assessments of the valleys are ongoing until tomorrow, Thursday. The full deployment of staff to the three already functioning humanitarian hubs (Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Bagh) is taking place today in a move towards further strengthening of field operational coordination among all national and international relief actors.

13. As of Friday, a UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator will be based in Muzaffarabad.

14. Two additional hubs are being considered (Balakot and Batagram) in an overall effort to improve the coordination infrastructures at field level. HIC and CMCoord will have operational antennae within the field hubs.

15. Cluster Focal Points met their counterparts at the Cabinet Secretariat yesterday.

Challenges

16. National NGOs are particularly well positioned and encouraged to provide information on populations in inaccessible areas.

Emergency Shelter Cluster (led by IOM)

Latest developments /Achievements

17. Providing shelter will not only provide protection from the elements but allow preservation of a greater proportion of existing food stocks.

18. The exact estimates of tents required are ongoing are expected to be further clarified as the detailed evaluations of needs, supplied quantities and gaps intensify

Challenges

19. The estimated numbers of required tents versus delivered/pledged quantities are still fluctuating considerably, it is almost certain that current stocks and tents in the pipeline will not meet the demands at hand. More tents and blankets are urgently needed.

20. The Government has banned all exports of tents out of Pakistan and an increase in production capacity of the country should be imminent.

21. The challenge now is to encourage creative solutions (containers, corrugated iron roofs, as temporary solutions in the shelter crisis), in addition to providing tents.

Logistic Cluster (led by WFP)

Latest developments /Achievements

22. Those able to move will be encouraged to fetch relief supplies in organized hubs/distribution points, reducing the numbers of those who, unable to move from the higher grounds, will still have to be reached directly.

23. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is establishing an air bridge between Incirlik in Turkey and Islamabad, and from other points as necessary in Europe.

24. Given the nature of the terrain, resources and logistics available, in particular helicopters and other forms of logistical support need to be mobilized in order to

a) reach areas that have not been accessed with sufficient aid

b) reach those populations who may be unable to move, offering assistance to relocate them to areas where adequate medical support, shelter and relief can be provided. This may involve the establishment of camps in a limited number of hubs to receive shelter and aid.

c) reach the seriously injured in order to urgently evacuate them.

Challenges

25. The logistical challenges of reaching people in inaccessible areas are overwhelming. Access to approximately 40,000 sq. km of affected areas is very difficult with no navigable marine routes and landslides affecting what were already, in many areas, poor roads

26. UNJLC urgently needs to develop a comprehensive overview of the logistics situation by identifying what relief items are in the pipelines, in-country, already on-forwarded in order to make effective use of resources.

27. The logistical challenge is greatly exacerbated by the impending winter, which will make overland operations very difficult due to the snow, and limit flying time with winter storms and high winds (see Latest Bulletin No.02).

Health Cluster (led by WHO)

Latest developments /Achievements

28. In Muzzaffarabad reports indicate that 2,100 patients have been treated since last Monday. Mobile teams are reporting infected wounds and gangrene.

29. Mobile teams report a high incidence of Acute Respiratory Infections. Cholera has not been officially notified in Pakistan but it should be considered given the recent outbreaks in Afghanistan.

30. More than 100 national and international relief organizations are fielding staff in the affected areas.

Challenges

31. Safe blood transfusions cannot as yet be guaranteed due to damaged blood banks and laboratories.

32. There is a shortage of paramedics as well as general practitioners with experience in emergencies and basic surgical skills.

Food and Nutrition Cluster (led by WFP and UNICEF)

Latest developments /Achievements

33. Over 1 million people still need food.

34. Affected communities generally have limited food stocks that they were, as usual, accumulating for winter. However, without shelter, these stocks will have been destroyed or deteriorate. With disrupted livelihoods and blocked roads, it is proving difficult or impossible for many affected people to replace supplies through regular means.

Challenges

35. NGOs report that relief food and supplies have been distributed locally by individuals and communities but it is many remote villages have note been reached.

Camp Management Cluster (led by UNHCR)

Latest developments /Achievements

36. A recent decision has been taken by the Government to establish three tented villages, one in Islamabad and two in Rawalpindi, to accommodate some 20,000 people.

Challenges

37. Proper camp management and avoiding overcrowding is critical for preventing communicable diseases and mental stress.

Protection of Women and Children Cluster (led by UNICEF)

Latest developments /Achievements

38. ICRC tracing teams are visiting hospitals in Islamabad and are re-establishing contacts between injured people and their families.

Challenges

39. People who have managed to reach Islamabad or Rawalpindi to seek medical care have no place to stay and no means of returning. Women and children who are being discharged from hospitals have nowhere to go.

Recovery

Latest developments /Achievements

40. ICRC intends to provide planning seed and tool distribution for 15,000 households.

41. Agricultural and livelihood requirements have been revised today from an initial 50,000 affected farming households, to 125-150,000 households, increasing funding requirements from 14.2 million USD to 25 million USD.

Environment

Latest developments /Achievements

42. The UNDAC team environmental expert from the OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section is conducting a rapid environmental assessment to identify any acute, life-threatening environmental issues requiring international attention.

43. Thus far meetings with national officials in Islamabad indicate no serious issues related to major gas pipelines, although small/local networks may be affected and further assessment is required.

44. Damage to oil infrastructure is believed to be limited to retail facilities (e.g. gas stations), and no major oil storage facilities are reported to exist in affected northern areas.

45. Authorities report no problems with any of the dams in affected areas. The assessment will continue over the next days.

India – Jammu and Kashmir

Situation

46. Official reports confirm deaths of 1307 persons. Assessments state that 37,607 masonry buildings (houses, buildings) have collapsed.

47. Incidence of fire reported in parts of Baramulla district. Damages to Moti Mahal Fort in Poonch district and Reasi Fort in Reasi district, Uri dam in Uri and 1 civil hospital in Tangdhar were also reported.

48. Communication network, infrastructure facilities, essential services were disrupted.

National Response

57. The Indian Government has not requested international assistance.

58. The affected district administrations are being assisted by the army, air force to conduct rescue/search and local volunteers

59. Please see UNDP India Situation Report (www.undp.org)

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

50. 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).

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

52. OOCHA 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
Ms. Masayo Kondo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1997
Ms. Kirsten Gelsdorf, direct Tel. +41-22 917 1843

Press contact:

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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