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South Asia Earthquake Update

October 13, 2005

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

Table of Contents:

Pakistan .....................................page 2

India .....................................page 17

Pakistan

Overview

The confirmed death toll from the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that was centered near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK) on October 8, has risen to 25,000, while government officials estimated that the toll will reach between 33,000 to more than 40,000. Latest reports say nearly 10,000 people were reportedly killed in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) alone. Estimates of injured are at more than 50,000. About 2 million people in PcK have been affected, in addition to another 1.3 million in NWFP (North West Frontier Province), according to top defense officials. The number of homeless is now estimated at 2.5 million. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said 15 to 20 percent of the affected areas, including the Neelam and Jhelum valleys in PcK, have yet to be reached for casualty figures.

Top UN emergency relief official Jan Egeland arrived in quake-affected areas in northern Pakistan today (Thursday, October 13), as concerns over aftershocks and the increasingly cold weather continued. Although clearer weather is expected today, reports said relief distribution appeared uneven. “I will see for myself, but I don’t think any operation on Earth is able to deploy within hours,” he told reporters soon after arriving today in the badly affected city of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK). “What is now important is that we coordinate.” He added that there will be a large donor conference next week in Geneva to acquire funding for the disaster.

Some of the worst-affected areas were in five districts near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides PcK and IcK. Large areas were also devastated in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), including the badly-hit towns of Mansehra, Balakot and Batgram, but no death tolls were yet available. About 80 percent of structures have been damaged in the affected areas, and strong aftershocks are threatening those still standing. There are also reports that victims in Balakot and Muzaffarabad are moving to safer areas in nearby Mansehra, Abbottabad, Rawalkot, and other cities on the plains area. With the lack of a proper civilian body or infrastructure, only the army has been organized enough to respond. The 50,000 Pakistani troops in the region are now being deployed every few kilometers to coordinate relief. The main roads into Muzaffarabad have reportedly been cleared, and there are now efforts to reach Neelam, Jhelum and Allai areas. Relief teams have reportedly arrived in Balakot in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), in Bisham town in Kaghan Valley (Mansehra area), as well as Bagh, Dher kot and Kahuta areas.

Unconfirmed reports say USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) will fund a grant to UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) to assess transition from military to civilian transportation systems. The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) has established an On-site Operations Coordination Center (OSOCC) in Muzaffarabad. The UN has begun a website to collate damage and relief information at: http://www.un.org.pk/earthquake05/ Currently, there are 1,558 foreign teams engaged in rescue and relief. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said that he expected over 200 aid groups to help. About 30 countries have sent relief equipment, doctors, paramedics, tents, blankets, medicine and disaster relief teams, and about 20 countries have sent rescue teams. The number of US helicopters is also likely to increase from eight to 40 in a few weeks, but the Pakistani government today stressed that it will be strictly limiting the presence of foreign militaries on its soil. With violence continuing in Afghanistan, the US Army in Afghanistan is looking to transition the relief effort to a US Navy team based in Bahrain. In addition, the US is sending C-17 and C-130 cargo planes, two U.S. military engineer battalions and four big CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters. UN officials say 50 more helicopters would be needed in addition to the 20 already pledged by various countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that logistical challenges in this disaster, including destroyed infrastructure, mountainous terrain and landslides, are much more difficult than in last year’s Indian Ocean tsunami. In addition, there are only 18 international search and rescue teams left in the region as rescue efforts continue to be downgraded.

The Pakistan government has appealed for international aid. International and domestic relief efforts are expected to be ongoing for some time. The UN yesterday (Tuesday, October 11) made a US$272 million consolidated appeal for the first six months of the emergency phase. So far, Pakistan has received overseas pledges totaling about US$350 million. Meanwhile, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf appeared on public television today and asked for additional international and domestic aid, specifically helicopters to help navigate mountainous areas. Other urgent requests include medical and water sanitation supplies, shelter and high-energy food to fight the cold. There is also a severe shortage of tents and blankets nationwide. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said yesterday that 15,000 heavy tents were needed for Muzaffarabad alone. So far, the federal government has committed to provide 32 billion rupees (US$535 million) in assistance for NWFP, in addition to the 1.5 billion rupees (US$25 million) already released.

Authorities are now concerned about the onset of winter, which usually begins mid- to late October, prompting the need for heavy tents, blankets, heating equipment and food. Night-time temperatures are already dropping to 43-36 degrees Fahrenheit (6-7 degrees Celsius), and are expected to decrease further this week. Isolated rains are forecasted for today throughout the disputed Kashmir region and eastern NWFP. Oxfam warned today that thousands of people could possibly get cut off by snowfall in the coming three weeks. Meanwhile, early today (Thursday, October 13), a 5.6-magnitude aftershock jolted Islamabad, in the latest of a series of aftershocks.

The UN said there were no reports of epidemics, but said the health infrastructure in affected areas had virtually collapsed. Health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have said that disease could break out among survivors because of the crowded conditions, bad weather and the lack of clean water, including cholera, pneumonia and measles, which is endemic in the region. Malaria, gangrene and gastroenteritis were also reported by provincial health officials and aid workers. In Muzaffarabad, there are reports that there is decreasing space to bury the dead. Army helicopters reportedly evacuated most of the injured in the city, but most residents said they had not received aid yet.

The roads between Mansehra – Balakot, Mansehra – Muzzaffarabad, and Mansehra – Batgram are now open for the transportation of relief goods. However, most areas beyond these points remain inaccessible due to damage caused by landslides. Officials fear that continued rainstorms could cause further landslides blocking the roads that have just been opened. Additional logistical bottlenecks can be expected as more international relief flights arrive in Islamabad. Despite the government’s request that relief aid be channeled through it, there have been reports of many citizens groups and aid organizations across the country rushing relief convoys to affected areas independent of the government. Since many roads to remote towns are able to only handle light transportation, heavy trucks and buses carrying relief supplies from across the country are disrupting flow of traffic and in some cases blocking the roads. Although the Pakistan military has been largely in charge of rescue and relief operations, coordination mechanisms with humanitarian relief organizations appear to be non-existent. Meanwhile, the Government of Pakistan has announced visa-free entry for a week to facilitate foreign teams planning to join relief and rescue efforts and for those arriving to see their families and relatives in quake affected areas. Visas will be issued for a period of 30 days and subject to renewal upon request. Coordination and distribution of relief aid is likely to take the front seat as more aid arrives in the affected areas.

Sector Status
Affected Population	4 million people, estimated 2.5 million displaced. (Oct-13, Reuters)
Coordination	On Sunday (October 9), an eight-member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) arrived in Islamabad and have been assisting in the coordination of relief efforts in the worst affected areas. UNDAC is establishing a reception center for relief commodities at the international airport in Islamabad as well as an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) in Muzaffarabad in PcK. The UN Disaster Management Team is coordinating interagency rapid assessments and has deployed teams to the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK), and the Northern Areas. The United Nations has set up a special information center on the earthquake response in Islamabad along with a website that will include maps, situation reports and information on UN relief activities. The website is set to be up and running on Wednesday (October 12) and will be announced on the Reliefweb website. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have set up a joint logistics structure in Islamabad to support the operations of the Red Crescent Movement. It will handle and store all goods provided by the Movement and routed through the city. A British Red Cross logistics Emergency Response Unit (ERU) that arrived yesterday (Tuesday, October 11) is setting up an ICRC logistics operation in Abbottabad. (Oct-12, Reuters) NATO has offered troops, aircraft and humanitarian aid to Pakistan, has already sent 50 German troops from NATO’s peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. A seven-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) from USAID has arrived in Islamabad. The team will assess humanitarian needs, assist with targeting and coordination of US assistance, and provide technical assistance to Pakistan as needed. (Oct-12, DOS) WFP plans to set up five base camps in the hardest hit locations to coordinate the relief operations, with inter-agency telecommunications and logistical support.
Logistics	On Monday (October 10) the Pakistani government established the Federal Relief Commission to coordinate rescue and relief operations with the provincial government, relevant ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Red Crescent and other international agencies. Major General Muhammad Farooq Javed, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission will head the Commission. A fleet of 35 Pakistani military helicopters continues to drop relief supplies and evacuate wounded from affected areas. (Oct-12, DPA) On Tuesday (October 11) the Pakistani government announced the deployment of two army divisions and additional brigades to the quake-affected areas. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that a brigade headquarters was set up in Balakot in NWFP and troops will be deployed every 10 km in the affected areas from where they will fan out to reach inaccessible areas. Aziz also reported that approximately 40 helicopters were conducting rescue and relief transports to the affected areas. According to Pakistani military spokesman, Major General Shaukat. As of Monday (October 10) Pakistani army helicopters and aircraft had conducted more than 80 flights, supplying three MT of medicine, 12 MT of rations, and two MT of water to affected areas. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that aid trucks are being sent from the agency’s warehouse in Peshawar to Mansehra district in NWFP. Eight US military helicopters (five CH-47 Chinooks and three UH-60 Blackhawks), in coordination with the Government of Pakistan (GOP), have already begun flying relief supplies to affected remote areas in Pakistan inaccessible by road. Two Navy H53s helicopters are due to arrive from Bahrain, while two Navy SH-60s are due to arrive in Pakistan by Thursday (October 13). Three-dozen additional US military helicopters from units around the world have been identified as available to send to Pakistan. These helicopters are likely to be transported to the region aboard military aircraft. Two helicopters from the German Federal Army are assisting in dropping relief and evacuating wounded in the affected areas. (Oct-12, DPA) Afghanistan has sent four Mi-17 helicopters. WFP is bringing in 10 helicopters to assist with the relief operations. Two have already arrived. These will be managed by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS). (Oct-12, OCHA) WFP is deploying 4 15-tons trucks to Islamabad airport for local transfer and handling of goods. (Oct-12, OCHA) IFRC is mobilizing 40 Norwegian Red Cross trucks. (Oct-12, IFRC) United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is bringing in 5 double cab trucks to be managed by WFP and available for the humanitarian community. (Oct-12, OCHA) UNHCR is sending aid trucks from Peshawar to Mansehra. NATO is providing a small fleet of Boeing 707s to help move relief aid. (Oct-12, Reuters)
International Financial Assistance	The UN has appealed for US$272 million for earthquake survivors in Pakistan. The interagency appeal will cover relief needs in the affected Kashmir region including winterized tents, food, blankets, medicines, and water purification equipment as well as the reconstruction of some schools. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has increased its preliminary appeal to more the US$54.4 million to provide assistance in the form of tents, food, blankets, cooking sets and healthcare to some 150,000 families affected by the earthquake. (Oct-12, IFRC)
Food	Pakistani government says high energy biscuits or high energy food needed UNOCHA says that food is immediately needed for 15,000 families in the city and 116,000 in rural areas. Wheat flour, rice, milk, sugar, pulses (beans) and cooking oil are needed. The WFP began an airlift of emergency supplies late Monday (October 10). On Tuesday (October 11) a WFP-chartered Boeing 747 with 80 metric tons of high-energy biscuits was due to leave for Peshawar. WFP says it is planning on providing ready-to-eat food for 1 million people for one month. A first shipment to feed 240,000 people for five days was expected to arrive late Wednesday. WFP also reported that the first two of an expected 10 helicopters have arrived in Pakistan to assist in the relief operations. (Oct-12, Alertnet) A convoy of trucks carrying 39 MT of high energy biscuits from the WFP arrived Wednesday (October 12) in the city of Abbottabad, while a second convoy was due to leave later Wednesday for Muzzaffarabad carrying 40 MT of biscuits. German Valdivia, WFP representative in Pakistan said that the food will be enough for 400,000 people for the next two days. Valdivia says that by then, WFP should have a proper supply line going. A second planeload of biscuits was due to leave Italy on Friday (October 15). 40 tons of dates, donated by Qatar, were being transported from Quetta, in West Pakistan. (Oct-12, WFP) ICRC will provide initial food assistance to some 30,000 families for three months. ICRC says that 50 tons of food were purchased locally and 50 tons were transferred by truck from ICRC warehouses in Afghanistan to Abbotabad. ICRC says a first distribution in Muzzaffarabad is scheduled for Thursday (October 13) and deliveries will take place from Abbotabad by road.
Water and Sanitation	Pakistani government says water purification tablets are needed (Oct-12- UNOCHA) Local authorities have set up a shuttle system of 18 water trucks that supply Muzzaffarabad with drinking water. (Oct-13, ICRC) UN reportedly planning to move water purification kits by road. UNOCHA reports that sporadic situation assessments seem to indicate widespread damage to water systems. What little amount of water is available is mostly contaminated. UNOCHA says no specific reports on sanitation have been received. (Oct-12, UNOCHA) WHO says that because of the shifting of the earth’s crust, many water springs have dried up, leading to insufficient quantity and quality of water, especially in Bagh. (Oct-12, WHO) Two water and sanitation units, from Austrian, German, and Swedish Red Cross Societies are being mobilized as well as 40 Norwegian Red Cross trucks. (Oct-12, IFRC) UNOCHA reports that Mercy Corps says that it is planning to work in the Balakot area and have the capacity, through local NGOs, to reach some 400,000 people. Oxfam is planning on working in 8 areas in 3 districts in conjunction with local NGOs. UNICEF has air lifted filters from Karachi to NWFP. UNICEF has dispatched by truck from Karachi: 4,800 jerry cans, 385 70 litre containers for household water storage, 100 10 litre containers for household use, 3,600 bars of toilet soap and 3,975 bars of washing soap. (Oct-12, UNOCHA) The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief is airlifting mobile units for Balakot. MSF fears water supply sources could become contaminated because of damage to pipes, water storage areas and tributaries of rivers. Two water and sanitation units, from Austrian, German, and Swedish Red Cross Societies are being mobilized.
Public Health/Medical	Pakistan has made an urgent appeal to the international community for field hospitals, antibiotics, anti-typhoid medicines, fracture treatment kits, surgical equipment and other supplies, UNOCHA says. Pakistani health officials have dispatched hundreds of medical experts and paramedics to the region to begin spraying decaying bodies amid fears of epidemics from water-borne diseases. Disinfectant for body disposal is needed, the government says. A joint WHO/Ministry of Health operations center has been established in Islamabad to coordinate health efforts. (Oct-12, WHO) UN to set up a 60-bed medical facility in Muzzaffarabad by the end of this week. (Oct-13, IRIN) Some 40,000 pregnant women in affected areas are in need of nutritional and medical care. (Oct-13, AlertNet) The WHO has deployed 17 medical teams or some 60 staff and has provided a one-month supply of medicines and supplies for 210,000 people as well as enough equipment for 1,000 surgeries. Measles are endemic in the region and only some 60 percent of children are protected. WHO says that at least 90 percent coverage is needed to prevent an epidemic. WHO says it will soon gather vaccines for a mass immunization program. According to the Associated Press, half of Pakistan’s population is under 16 years of age, and 20 percent is under 5 years of age. WHO says that a total of 23 hospitals and 3 tuberculosis hospitals have been completely destroyed in the affected areas. Of the more than 600 primary health care centers, many have been destroyed or completely damaged. Assessments are expected to take place soon. (Oct-12, WHO) WHO says that 6 field hospitals have been established by the Pakistani army and an additional 4 donated by the Spanish, French, Italian and Belgium governments. Seventeen surgical teams have been deployed. (Oct-12, WHO) UNOCHA says that a 250-bed field hospital is needed in addition to one being provided by the ICRC and Russia. In addition to field hospitals already deployed in Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Bagh, A light field hospital from Belgium arrived today and will be deployed. A 15-person medical team from Estonia arrived. German and Russian medical teams were deployed Tuesday. (Oct-12, UNOCHA) According to IRIN, a damage assessment team made up of NGOs has identified medical aid with drugs, vaccines and bandages as a top priority. Most health facilities in affected areas have been destroyed by the earthquake. Additionally, many health workers may have been killed in the disaster or are dealing with the deaths of relatives or friends. On Tuesday (October 11), a UNHCR doctor and field assistant left for Mansehra to assess damages and needs where there are nearly 45,000 Afghan refugees in four camps. UNFPA says tens of thousands of women in the affected areas are currently pregnant and UNFPA said many were at risk following the disaster. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) sent 8 trucks of medicine and supplies to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is continuing emergency operations in affected areas; deploying a dozen medical teams. Three PRCS medical teams are on their way to PcK and 11 truckloads of tents, blankets, food, and medicines will be dispatched to the area within a day or two. The PRCS has mobilized hundreds of volunteers and conducted needs assessments in Manshera, Balakot, and Batagram in the North West Frontier Provinces (NWFP) as well as in Rawalakot and Bagh in PcK. Three truckloads of tents, blankets, food, and medicines were distributed on Tuesday (October 11) in Manshera and Balakot in the NWFP. The PRCS is continuing emergency operations in affected areas; deploying a dozen medical teams; evacuating injured to Islamabad and Rawalpindi; the PRCS blood bank is providing blood to health infrastructure; PRCS is mobilizing 23 trucks of aid for PcK and NWFP; and the PRCS teams are pursuing assessment with support from IFRC staff. (Oct-12, IFRC) Two additional basic health care units, provided by the French and Spanish Red Cross Societies are being deployed to Pakistan. (Oct-12, IFRC) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is sending a 100-bed field hospital to Muzzaffarabad along with a mobile ICRC first aid station which can perform emergency surgery and other medical services while the field hospital is being set up. The German and Japanese Red Cross societies have mobilized two basic health care emergency response units (ERUs) for Muzzafarabad area. ICRC says the ERUs will avoid overcrowding of the field hospital and provide outpatient consultations. ICRC will also airlift medical supplies into affected areas. 30 medical personnel from the ICRC will arrive on Wednesday and Thursday. The ICRC has also hired three helicopters to transport relief supplies and evacuate wounded. A first aid station airlifted from Geneva last night is expected to be delivered by the first of ICRC’s helicopters that have arrived in Pakistan from Afghanistan. It will transport the aid station to Muzafffarabad on Thursday, weather permitting. Plan has sent two helicopters with emergency medical equipment, tarpaulin, tents and blankets, and medical staff to Devli in the Siran Valley. Villagers with serious injuries will be flown back to Mansehra. Plan’s health advisor is traveling to Siran to set up medical centres. (Oct-12, Alertnet) Two staff from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) are on their way to Hattian, located halfway between Muzzaffarabad and Lamnian, for assessment, while another assessment team is headed for Bagh to set up an operation like the one in Muzaffarabad. In Muzaffarabad, MSF is replacing mobile clinics with tents clinics. Staff there say they have not yet seen any signs of communicable diseases. MSF has already flown medical supplies and blankets to Lamnian and will deliver staff, blankets and mattresses before heading to Hattian. (Oct-12, Alertnet) CARE program officer Aly-Khan Rajani said that medical needs include disinfectant, typhoid medicine and antibiotics in syrup form for children.
Shelter	At a meeting at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Islamabad on Wednesday, emergency needs indicated by the government are: Winterized tents (20,000 for NWFP and 30,000 for PcK) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has taken the lead in the Emergency Shelter cluster and is cooperating with partner agencies. IOM will begin daily deliveries of 300 tents and 600 blankets. (Oct-12, UNOCHA) UNOCHA says that Pakistan has appealed for shelter equipment including tents, plastic sheeting and blankets “for an estimated four million people who are in need of shelter.” In hard-hit Muzzafarabad, most people are living outdoors, in parks, sports fields, etc. for fear of another earthquake. UNOCHA says that immediate needs include 15,000 winterized tents for the city and 116,000 for rural areas. ICRC is sending some 30,000 family tents The International Red Cross says it will work to provide emergency food and shelter to 120,000 vulnerable people stranded in the cold weather conditions.
Infrastructure	According to UNOCHA’s Integrated Regional information Networks (IRIN), the earthquake has destroyed more than 80 percent of structures and buildings in parts of northern Pakistan. Many cities and villages in PcK and NWFP have been totally wiped out.
Security	Two divisions of army troops were moved into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday after survivors disrupted the distribution of relief goods. The Pakistani government is in the process of setting up aid staging posts at Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalkot, Mansehra and Balakot for relief and security. A UNICEF child protection and education assessment mission to Abbotabad has been dispatched to assess the Manshera and Batagram districts. (Oct-12, UNOCHA)

Domestic Response

· Local Government

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz announced that the government had given Rs 500 million each to Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK) and the North West Frontier Provinces (NWFP) governments. The President’s Relief fund has raised about US$16.6 million in aid. (Oct-12, Hindustan)

Pakistan missions abroad have been tasked with mobilizing assistance from host governments and the Pakistani community abroad.

· Local Organizations

International Response

· Foreign Governments

The Australian government has pledged up to US$7.6 million in aid to be used to buy medical supplies, water containers, purification tablets, and field hospitals.

Belgium is sending a five member rescue team and relief goods.

Britain dispatched a 15-member team to assist local relief workers at Margella Towers in Islamabad. Britain dispatched a group of 88, broken into smaller teams and sent to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PcK, for rescue and relief operations. Meanwhile. Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) has pledged an initial US$1.7 million in assistance. In response to the UN flash appeal, Britain pledged an additional US$17.4 million dollars in aid for the earthquake victims in Pakistan and neighboring countries. (Oct-12, AFP)

Canada has pledged US$20 million in aid to the earthquake-affected areas. (Oct-12, BBC)

China has sent a 50-member rescue team to Balakot. China has also donated 5 tons of aid goods as well as six sniffer dogs to assist in relief operations. China has pledged US$6.2 million in financial assistance.

Chinese, French and Arab aid teams are on the ground providing assistance in Balakot. (Oct-12, Reuters)

The Czech Republic has pledged US$1 million in aid.

The European Union (EU) has provided aid workers on the ground and has allocated an initial US$4.4 million in aid.

A 25-member relief team from France with earthquake related equipment departed on Monday (October 10) to Rawalakot in PcK to carry out relief work.

Germany has sent a flight carrying relief goods as well as a 15-member search and rescue team to be sent to Muzaffarabad. Germany has pledged US$3.6 million in aid to the earthquake-affected areas. (Oct-12, BBC)

Indonesia sent 12 MT of supplies including 50 military tents, 5,000 blankets, instant noodles, biscuits and medical supplies to Pakistan with a team of six health volunteers and seven journalist. The aid team will be in Pakistan for 10 days. (Oct-12, JP)

India is sending 25 MT of relief supplies, including tents, plastic sheets, food items and medicines to Pakistan. (Oct-12, HT)

Iran has sent a special flight carrying a 13-member rescue team as well as oil, rice, and blankets, which has been sent to Mansehra in NWFP.

Ireland has pledged US$1.2 million in aid.

Two rescue teams comprised of 70 specialists from Japan are headed to Batgram in NWFP. Japan has pledged US$219,000. In addition, on Tuesday (October 11) Japan offered another US$20 million in assistance as well as several transport helicopters and dozens of troops.

Kuwait has offered US$100 million in aid to be split between emergency relief and infrastructure repair projects.

Malaysia will be sending a 46-member search and rescue team including 18 medical officers and has pledged US$1 million in aid.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has contributed US$1 million in aid with US$600,000 allocated to Pakistan and US$200,000 each allocated to Afghanistan and India. (Oct-12, Reliefweb)

Nepal has offered US$50,000 in relief aid to Pakistan. (Oct-12, KO)

Philippine National Red Cross has offered to send a team of doctors

A flight carrying a rescue team as well as relief goods from Russia is bound for Muzaffarabad. Another Russian team of 43 specialists with special vehicles and sniffer dogs is being sent to the PcK capital.

South Africa has pledged to send 18 doctors, 10 paramedics, and 30 tons of aid.

South Korea has offered US$3 million in aid and will send rescue workers to Pakistan.

A 26-member Spanish team with six sniffer dogs is working in Bagh, PcK.

Sri Lanka has pledged US$100,000 in aid.

A Swiss rapid response team is headed to Abbottabad in PcK

Thailand has offered 50 doctors and nurses.

Turkey has dispatched a 100-member rescue team with equipment headed for Muzaffarabad. Turkey has also sent two C-130’s carrying relief goods from Jordan to Islamabad.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent two flights carrying a 70-member rescue team as well as two sniffer dogs to be deployed to Mansehra in NWFP. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have offered US$100 million in aid to be split between emergency relief and infrastructure repair projects.

USAID has already coordinated one relief airlift with 250 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,000 blankets and 5,000 water containers for affected populations in Mansehra and Batagram Districts, NWFP.

Yemen and Saudi Arabia have each pledged to send two flights of relief goods.

· International Organizations

Action Against Hunger (also known as Action contre la faim or ACF) reports that it has sent an assessment team to Islamabad and has begun operations preparing to assist victims of the earthquake. ACF reports that it will send on Friday (October 13) 30 tons of aid, including food rations, tents, blankets, cooking equipment, and water provision supplies, in addition to a response team of water, sanitation, and food security experts.

The Asian Development Bank has offered US$10 million, reallocated from existing projects, for immediate assistance to the worst-affected areas.

Caritas Internationalis has provided assistance in the form of 700 winterized tents, 4,200 blankets, as well as monetary resources for the purchase of food and non-food items. In addition, an Emergency Response and Support Team has been dispatched to assist Caritas Pakistan with needs assessments and coordination in affected communities.

Caritas Pakistan is setting up medical relief camps in affected areas to provide health care for at least 3-4 days.

An emergency response team from the Ireland-based NGO, GOAL arrived in Islamabad and are heading north to the earthquake affected communities today (Wednesday, October 12). (Oct-12, Reliefweb)

On Tuesday (October 11), an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy of supplies including 10,000 blankets, 2,000 tarpaulins and other non-food items arrived in the town of Abbotabad. Tomorrow (Wednesday, October 12) these goods will be distributed in Muzaffarabad. (Oct-12, IFRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is working on the ground assessing the situation and distributing food, blankets and tents to survivors in the districts of Abottabad, Manshera, Shangla, and Batagram.

Medecins du Monde France (MDM) sent 15 volunteers, comprising three medical teams, and 22 MT tons of medical, logistical, and surgical equipment. Five MDM staff were already in place in Islamabad and the Greek delegation of MDM sent an additional team of three doctors. (Oct-10, Reuters)

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is committing US$250,000 in aid to provide shelter and food for nearly 1,000 families in the affected areas in northern Pakistan. (Oct-11, Reliefweb)

Muslim Hands (MH) has allocated an initial amount of US$873,000. On the ground MH has more than 40 MH Pakistan staff as well as volunteers working in the areas of Bagh, Islamabad, Mansehra, Muzzaffarabad, and Rawalakot. MH has sent 1,600 tents to Muzzafarabad and has provided food, bedding, and basic medicines to 10,000 families while other teams are assisting in rescue operations and burial services.

Muslim Hands has four medical clinics and nine mobile ambulance units up and running.

Save the Children is delivering 20MT of shelter material in Mansehra and will continue tent distribution for 7,500 people.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is supporting the International Blue Crescent (IBC) to distribute some 50,000 blankets and providing food to 3,000 people in Muzaffarabad. UMCOR is also supporting the Church World Service (CWS), which is providing food items and other utilities to 1,600 families in Azid Kashmir and North West Frontier Province.

The World Bank announced that it would double its initial commitment of US$40 million in aid to Pakistan. (Oct-12, AFP)

World Emergency Relief (WER) global family has sent US$2.6 million of antibiotics and basic medicines to care for 100,000 people for one month. WER has also sent winterized tents to house 3,000 people.

India

Overview

The latest reported death toll reached more than 1,300 in Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK) today (Wednesday, October 12) from a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that centered in neighboring northern Pakistan. The dead included 1,195 civilians and 163 soldiers already deployed in northern IcK. More than 5,000 others have reportedly been injured, while the number of those displaced is at 150,000, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Particularly hard-hit areas include Kupwara and Baramulla districts in IcK, along the disputed Line of Control (LoC), including the town of Uri, which has a population of 30,000, and Tangdar, close to the epicenter in PcK. According to Singh, latest estimates report up to 70,000 houses damaged. In badly-hit Uri area, about 70% of homes have been severely damaged. The only highway between IcK and PcK has also been damaged and closed.

The Indian army is carrying out the bulk of relief operations, as the presence of foreign NGOs and aid workers is highly restricted in IcK. However, a few NGOs such as Action by Churches Together (ACT) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and World Vision, plan to funnel aid through local partners. The is also expected to distribute relief for 15,000 households via the Indian Red Cross (IRC).

An inter-ministerial federal team arrived earlier this week and is assessing fund requirements on the ground. India has not asked for international assistance, however, officials asked for more government and private aid, particularly shelter items for the seasonal cold temperatures. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (Tuesday, October 11) announced an additional 5 billion rupees (US$116 million), taking the total government aid package to almost US$150 million. He added that the priority right now was to provide shelter and warm clothing due to dropping seasonal temperatures, and more aid would be given for relief and rehabilitation as well. The cold winter season, usually arrives around mid- to late October.

Army and government rescuers and aid workers are reportedly still battling landslides caused by the quake and difficult mountainous terrain in order to reach remote areas. The Indian military, which has about 500,000 to 700,000 troops deployed in the region to control a separatist insurgency, has launched a large-scale relief and rescue operation called Operation Imdad, which continued for the sixth straight day today. Imdad, which is aimed at distributing food and medicines and providing health care via field hospitals. However, reports say that heavy machinery is badly needed in the military’s rescue efforts. The Indian Air Force is reportedly operating between Uri, Srinagar, Udhampur, Tangdhar and Kupwara. Uri town in Baramulla district and Tangdhar town in Kupwara are reportedly the worst affected areas in IcK. Several roads around Tangdhar have reportedly been cleared by the Army, while work on other roads were ongoing. However, the Kashmir Times reports that many areas in Baramulla have not been reached yet.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, relief items, including about 73,000 blankets, 4,500 tents and 30 MT of medicines, have been airflifted. However, about 90 percent of the displaced, mostly in Kupwara and Baramulla, have not received relief and adequate shelter for the past five days, even as the first snowfall of the season was reported yesterday. Moderate rain was forecasted for the next 24 hours and snowfall is forecasted over higher areas in the region. IcK Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today the biggest challenge now was to find a way to shelter the displaced, which may entail bringing them down from remote villages, some at 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), into relief camps at lower elevations. Aside from shelter, food is also an urgent need. According to a local doctor, most people in the area already suffer from malnutrition, making them especially vulnerable to the elements.

Home Secretary VK Duggal said the military is delivering about 150,000 blankets, while 2,500 tents have been distributed. However, it is estimated that 30,000 tents are needed. Defense officials also said 470 tons of relief supplies have already been distributed.

As in northern Pakistan, continuing aftershocks a