OCHA Situation Report No. 36
South Asia - Earthquake
Pakistan
10 February 2006


The humanitarian community continues to work to ensure that the final 
phase of 'Winter Race' comes to a successful end. During the reporting 
period weather conditions have slightly improved, but a 'cold spell' is 
expected in the latter half of February. Hazards (such as harsh winds, 
flash-floods, land-slide and, around July, monsoon rains) combined with 
risk factors such as hot weather, over-crowding, poor drainage, and 
malnourishment could result in water and vector-borne communicable 
disease outbreaks.

Distribution of corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets and the 
provision of heating in family/communal tents, in school tents and 
hospitals continue. The priorities of humanitarian operations remain: 
(i) improving the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation 
conditions in the affected areas (in and outside camps); (ii) tightening 
up health surveillance and monitoring systems; and (iii) setting up 
return strategies to ensure that the population is fully informed of the 
imminent return to areas of origin.

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

Coordination and relief activities hampered by security concerns

Due to the Muharram and security concerns associated with the 
celebrations, coordination and cluster meetings in the affected areas 
were cancelled and rescheduled. UNDSS cautioned against movement out of 
UN base camps, and movement of UN staff was restricted due to the 
Muharram processions and demonstrations against the cartoons published 
in European newspapers.

The restrictions have affected delivery of cargo (300MT per day) and 
transport of passengers (150 per day) for three days (8-10 February) to 
the affected areas.

Needs of 'under-50 tent' camps

In Mansehra, the preliminary results of the camp assessment show that 
616 'under-50 tent' camps and internally displaced persons (IDPs) 
'village-scenario locations' (IDPs living in close proximity to their 
places of habitual residence) were identified. The assessment data show 
that 15,000 families and more than 100,400 persons live in these 
locations. Maps showing 'under-50 tent' camps and IDP 'village-scenario 
locations' are expected to become available on 10 February.

The preliminary results of the 'under-50 tent' camps (not including 
camps under 10 tents), show that within Muzaffarabad there are 70 such 
settlements with an estimated total population of 12,000.  Around 70% of 
them are original residents of Muzaffarabad town who have not received 
assistance in an organized manner. Major needs identified were Non-Food 
Items (NFIs), water/sanitation and food. A number of international NGOs 
are now ready to provide the necessary support to these spontaneous 
camps. The civil authorities emphasized that the existing coping 
mechanisms must not be overlooked, especially since people living in 
these camps have been able to manage on their own more for than three 
months since the earthquake.

16 High Altitude Assessment and Monitoring Teams (HATS), coordinated by 
OCHA, continue to be deployed on the ground.

Return of affected population to urban and rural areas

The humanitarian community is looking at ways to support the government 
of Pakistan (GoP) on their return policies and strategies. In Mansehra, 
a strategic framework to support the sustainable return of people is 
being prepared. This includes ways to enable IDPs to safely and 
voluntarily move to communities of their own choice and to have access 
to life-sustaining services in locations of current displacement, during 
times of movement, and upon arrival in their villages (home 
communities).

In Battagram, the first meeting took place with senior religious leaders 
(16 mullahs) in order to establish a liaison and bring them up to speed 
on relief efforts on the return process. As a direct consequence of this 
meeting, the District Commissioner (DCO) agreed to allow the mullahs to 
send two representatives to the weekly DCO relief/returns coordination 
meetings. This interaction will ensure that decision-making involve not 
only the Government and humanitarian community, but also religious 
leaders.

The onset of winter saw a rapid influx of residents to planned camps, 
with sufficient capacity/contingency plans in place to receive them. 
Concurrently, agencies are increasingly engaged in confidence-building 
measures where supplies of transitional shelter materials and of 
food-stocks in areas of origin are combining to induce a "trickle of 
return", which is expected to accelerate through February. However, an 
initial assessment of 'intentions to return' conducted in Muzaffarabad 
points out that 80% of spontaneous camp residents are not planning to 
return in the immediate future; this conflicts with earlier survey 
results that suggest only 30% were thinking this way.

As return becomes more imminent, humanitarian agencies will have to 
boost existing communication channels for mass information that pertains 
to the return.

Information Management

Strategic Information Cell (SIC) update: The SIC is currently 
understaffed, with only Shelter, Health and Logistics contributing 
staff. More commitment and active participation is needed to make this 
initiative successful.

The HIC has developed a tool - software application - designed for those 
not specialized or experienced in using maps. The CD includes maps and 
other types of information, which can be selected and layered, to 
produce specialized maps.

Relief to Recovery

The ERRA/World Bank 'Build Back Better' Rural Housing Reconstruction 
Conference took place on 6 February 2006. The challenges for 
reconstruction were outlined as follows: (i) the huge size of the 
affected area (equivalent to the size of Belgium); (ii) the high number 
of damaged structures to be repaired (88% of which in rural areas); 
(iii) the existence of non earthquake-resistant traditional housing 
techniques; (iv) the need for complementarities to be build between 
civil and political actors; (v) the need to ensure equal attention to 
all groups; (vi) the need for intensive training of local artisans, 
builders, and architects.

Training

Having completed the winter preparedness training in Bagh (22 January), 
the Norwegian Alpine Support Team trained 35 relief workers from UN and 
I/NNGOs in Mansehra, on 6 February.

CLUSTER UPDATES

EMERGENCY SHELTER

1. Distributions of emergency shelter materials are now in the final 
phase, with inputs expected to finish by early March. Pipeline analysis 
shows a surge of non-food items reaching beneficiaries. Previously 
reported poor weather conditions and related road-closures due to 
landslides have affected distributions to the more remote areas by road 
and air, but less than anticipated.

2. Delivery of tents to date: FRC: - 866,304 tents, of which the 
Emergency Shelter Cluster (ESC) reports deliveries of 472,842.

3. 388,245 temporary transitional shelters have been constructed to 
date, of which 247,176 by the Pakistani Military (PakMil). 3.1 million 
CGI sheets have been distributed.

4. The equivalent of 6.1 million blankets will be distributed by 
mid-February (this equates one quilt as two blankets).

5. Cluster meetings have been initiated in Rawalakot, Poonch District; 
the initial needs assessment estimates the total requirement at 43,000 
transitional shelters of which 30,000 have already been provided; IOM 
will provide an additional 2,000 while SCF-UK and OXFAM-GB are also 
planning to provide additional shelters; relevant agencies and NGOs are 
being mobilized to fill-in the estimated remaining gap of 10,000.

CAMP MANAGEMENT

6. The overall situation of camps can be described as stable although 
challenges remain as previously reported. Items distributed to date 
include 21,988 tents, 620,561 blankets, 83,476 plastic sheets, 1,733 
plastic rolls, 7,527 mattresses, 30,345 jerry cans, 20,291 kitchen sets, 
209,212 bars of soap and 16,469 stoves/heaters.

7. Relocation: The local authorities in Mansehra have informed that IDPs 
living with host communities might be moved to Haripur camp. The UN 
stressed the importance that this movement take place at the right time 
and be fully based on a free and informed choice.

WATER AND SANITATION

8. The cluster worked to ensure that the water and sanitation needs of 
the affected populations are covered and to plan activities to face 
eventual deterioration in conditions.

9. Mansehra - Access to safe drinking water: 172,627 people have access 
to safe drinking water: 58,696 people in camps, which represents 78.7 % 
of the target population, and 113,571 outside camps. - Sanitation: 
43,000 people have access to sanitation facilities in the camps (57.7% 
of the target population) while 144,880 people have access to individual 
latrines outside camps. (Total: 187,880).

10. Muzaffarabad - Access to safe drinking water: 218,400 people have 
access to safe drinking water: 68,400 in camps (95% of the targeted 
71,995) and 150,000 outside camps (83% of the targeted 180,000). - 
Sanitation: 44,680 people have access to latrines in the camps, (75% of 
the targeted 60,000) while 93,520 people outside camps have access 
latrine facilities (53% coverage). 138,200 people have access to 
sanitation facilities. 50 hot water units have been installed in camps 
to provide shower facilities, in particular to women and children. This 
was not part of the humanitarian package and will be monitored and 
evaluated for further lessons learned.

11. Battagram - Access to safe drinking water: 111,700 people have 
access to safe drinking water: 51,700 in camps (57% coverage) and 60,000 
outside camps (31% of targeted 200,000). Despite this coverage, some 
camps (Maiden camp) continue to experience a daily shortfall of 7,000 
litres. - Sanitation: 47,000 people access to latrines (71% of the 
target). Outside the camps, 48,700 people have access to latrines 
against 67,700 targeted by the 'Winter Plan' (72%). The total number of 
people with access to sanitation facilities is 95,700.

12. Bagh - Water and sanitation supply require urgent attention. Access 
to safe drinking water: 1,940 have access to safe drinking water in 
camps (64% of targeted 3031), and 74,750 outside camps (only 25% of the 
targeted 325,000). - Sanitation: 1,970 in camps have access to latrines 
facilities, while only 25% of the targeted 250,000 (62,500) have outside 
camps. Efforts to help bridge the gaps in Bagh: UNICEF, in coordination 
with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), have made 
arrangements for water tankering in different camps to ensure adequate 
supply of water. Water testing of sources is being undertaken 
continuously; purification tables are distributed to areas in need as a 
temporary measure. UNICEF and PHED have installed a second mobile 
treatment plant along the by-pass road in Bagh town which will provide 
clean water to the camps and houses lying along the by-pass road.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

13. As of 31 January, food has been distributed to 1 million people - 
the entire caseload assigned to WFP by the GoP.

14. In Bagh, food distribution for January 2006 has been completed in 
all 9 union councils covered by WFP. Distribution for February in Bhir 
Pani and Bhedi union councils has also been completed ahead of schedule 
- this was made possible by the good weather conditions over the past 
two weeks.

15. Free wheat flour donated by the Turkish government is being 
distributed by the District's Food Department in 16 union councils in 
Bagh district. About 4,684MT have been distributed to date, with more 
being in the pipeline. The District's Food Department intends to 
distribute/sell wheat flour on a subsidized rate coming from its own 
sources.

HEALTH

16. The total number of reporting units in the earthquake-affected areas 
this week was 185. A total of 153 reporting sites sent their 
surveillance data, reporting a total of 98,379 consultations including 
eight deaths.

17. In the current epidemiological week, 28,947 Acute Respiratory 
Infections (ARI) cases were reported, compared to the 24,134 reported 
last week.

18. WHO conducted training of trainers (TOT) for 75 senior female health 
workers in Abbas hospital, with the focus being on reproductive health. 
This training is a step in the right direction towards bridging the gap 
in female health workers.

19. An assessment of the Mansehra DHQ hospital's daily ward 
census-records shows that there is no evidence of earthquake-associated 
excess mortality in the period from December 2005 to January 2006.

20. A refresher-training course for paramedical staff in primary health 
care (PHC) was held by WHO in Mansehra. The topics included treatment of 
ARI and diarrhoeal diseases of children, communicable disease 
surveillance, psychosocial issues and reproductive health.

21. WHO provided 12 new beds in Gari Habibullah and Narah field 
hospitals following the request from the team of Cuban doctors and 
medical experts.

22. In Battagram, WHO has initiated the work to provide water and 
sanitation facilities to BHUs in Paimal Sharif, Battamori, Pomang, 
Battamori, Khairabad and Hutal Baktul. WHO has also started the 
construction of 20 incinerators to manage the health-care waste 
management in the medical facilities and two septic tanks to counter the 
problem of drainage of the wastewater in the Cuban field hospital.

EDUCATION

23. Of the 400,000 primary school-level children in the affected areas, 
73,362 children have been enrolled in 677 schools, with support from UN 
agencies and I/NNGOs.

24. In Bagh, about 52 government teachers were given training on 
psychosocial support and class management in tents.

PROTECTION

25. The main challenges facing the protection cluster are the issue of 
compensation and how it relates to the fundamental rights of an 
individual and the land ownership.

26. The payment of compensation for damages from the earthquake to 
orphans and single females is being monitored. Individual cases that 
seem to have discrepancies are followed up in collaboration with the CMO 
and Social Welfare Department (SWD).

27. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir 
(PAK) and PAKMIL in Bagh, as members of the protection cluster, are 
actively participating in the distribution of winter kits in the 
affected areas. In PAK, 48,399 warm clothing kits, 29,038 
blankets/quilts and 2021 tarpaulin sheets for the affected population 
were distributed. ICMC and UNHCR plan to look into the needs of pregnant 
women in 'under-50 tent' camps in PAK.

28. To date a total of 90 child-friendly spaces (CFS) and 43 
women-friendly spaces/community groups (WFS/CG) have been set up in the 
affected areas to help alleviate some of the pain and enhance the 
psychosocial recovery of those affected. Break down as follows: CFS- 53 
(Mansehra), 17 (Bagh), and 20 (Muzaffarabad). WFS: 24 (Mansehra) and 19 
(Muzaffarabad).

29. UNICEF has started working on unaccompanied children after carrying 
out a survey. The area of mental health, which was seen to have been 
neglected, is being strengthened with the active participation of INGOs 
like MSF and Mercy Malaysia and with the clarification of a more active 
role for WHO.

LOGISTICS

30. Since the start of the air operations UNHAS has airlifted 13,139 MT 
of food items, 3,334 MT NFIs and 27,799 passengers.

31. 20 UNHAS helicopters are currently operational. In addition, UNHAS 
tasks 4 US and 2 NATO helicopters on a day-to-day basis bringing the 
total air assets under UNHAS to 26.

32. Due to the religious holiday of Ashura, all UNHAS cargo and 
passenger flights were rescheduled/postponed on 8 and 9 February, and 
passenger flights cancelled/postponed on 10 February. Atlas and IOM also 
stopped operations for the same reasons.

33. Currently, some US$ 15 million are required to maintain the air 
operations until the end of the Flash Appeal period (March). Additional 
funds will be required from April onwards until the end of 2006 for 
helicopter support operations at the rate of approximately US$ 
500,000/day.

EARLY RECOVERY

34. In Manserha, a form outlining the guiding principles and sectors of 
early recovery was distributed and agencies were requested to indicate 
the sectors they intended to work in. Early recovery will cover the 
following: the most vulnerable; restoration of capacities; rebuilding of 
livelihoods; securing human development goals; reducing disaster risks; 
engaging civil society and private sector; independence and 
self-sufficiency; transparency and accountability; decentralization, as 
well as coordination. Sectors under early recovery are: nutrition, water 
and sanitation, health, shelter/housing, protection, education, 
livelihood, urban development, tourism, and environment.

WEATHER AND ACCESSIBILTY:

35. During the reporting week (as well as in previous weeks), the 
weather has been relatively warm considering the time of year. This has 
allowed delivery of assistance with little hindrances. Due to the 
religious holiday and precautious security measures, air operations were 
suspended on 5 February (Kashmir day), and again on 8 and 9 February for 
the Muharram processions. As it is a national holiday, the Kashmir day 
celebrations affected operations in Pakistan Administered Kashmir and in 
NWFP.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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

37. 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).

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

39. 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
  Ms. Rebecca Richards, 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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