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South Asia Earthquake Update

 

October 26, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

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

India .....................................page 13

 

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 over 54,000 with 36,000 deaths in Pck and around 18,000 in NWFP, officials estimate the death toll to climb significantly as more areas become accessible. The quake has left over 77,000 people injured and an estimated 3.3 million displaced or homeless. Buildings and public infrastructure have suffered serious damage. Over 80 percent of the structures have been destroyed in the affected areas, while continuing aftershocks are threatening the structures that are still standing. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) estimates the cost to rebuild the quake-affected areas to cost US$5 billion. UN estimates the cost of rebuilding the affected areas could run into the billions of dollars over a 5-10 year period.

 

UN Emergency Response Team manager Andrew Macleod on Tuesday (Oct-18) said that logistical challenges are worse than last year’s Indian Ocean tsunami disaster due to dramatic elevations and a larger geographic area. (Oct-18, Reuters) Shelter and logistics remain top priorities. (Oct-24, DFID) UN Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs said priority moving gradually from acquiring helicopters to providing shelter. (Oct-25, AFP) With the onset of winter and continuing rains and thunderstorms, concerns are mounting for survivors, many of whom are without shelter, medical care, winter clothes and food. (Oct-14, AP).

 

The Government of Pakistan (GOP) has called for international assistance to cope with the catastrophic event. GOP has requested helicopters, field hospitals, medicines including typhoid drugs and antibiotics (in syrup form for infants), fracture treatment kits, surgical equipment, disinfectants (for dead bodies), water purification kits and tables, ready-to-eat meals and winterization tents for some four million affected people. (Oct-12, Reuters, OCHA)

 

International donors and representatives from some 60 nations around the world today pledged US$580 million at a donor’s conference at United Nations (UN) headquarters in the Swiss capital Geneva today (October 26), to help millions of victims of the earthquake in Pakistan that devastated northern Pakistan earlier this month (October 8). Ahead of the conference, the UN had revised its consolidated flash appeal yesterday from US$312 million to a little over US$549 million following additional field assessments of the affected areas. However, UN officials say only US$15.8 million of the new money was pledged to its emergency flash appeal. The UN, which is seeking US$549.5 million to cover the immediate life-saving and early recovery needs for the first six months of the emergency phase, says it has received some US$122 million in pledges of which US$67.8 million is in firm commitments. UN says it is currently 80 percent short of needed funds. (Oct-26, Reuters, BBC)

 

GOP has accepted NATO’s offer for the deployment of a NATO Response Force (NRF) in a humanitarian role in quake-stricken areas. The force, consisting of a reinforced engineering battalion of around 1,000 personnel, will provide assistance in reconstruction of infrastructure, such as shelter, hospitals, roads, bridges, schools with the provision of medical care besides aerial movement of supplies. The force will be fully equipped and self sustaining to carry out the work. (Oct-23, DT) NATO today clarified at least 32 helicopters will be operational by the end of this week, instead of 40 originally reported. Last week, NATO said it was short of helicopters and members have always been reluctant to contribute. (Oct-25, Reuters)

 

Work on reopening damaged roads and bridges continues around the clock, however, for the time being, and helicopters remain the primary means of delivering humanitarian supplies. (Oct-20, IRIN)

 

Asian Development Bank and the World Bank will jointly begin an assessment of the quake-affected areas in Pakistan to determine needs and reconstruction costs. ADB will focus on the education, transport, water, energy, and agriculture sectors, while the World Bank will concentrate on livelihood restoration, housing, health, private sector and the environment. The team is expected to submit its report by mid-November. (Oct-21, Reuters)

 

The World Bank yesterday (Oct-25) announced a US$470 million package to help the GOP in the reconstruction of quake-devastated areas. The package includes US$100 for highway reconstruction, US$130 million financing of community infrastructure and US$200 million in quick disbursement credits from the Bank’s concessional International Development Agency (IDA). An additional US$40 million in IDA funding was announced last week. (Oct-25, WB)

 

Logistics and access to affected areas continue to be the biggest challenge for relief operations. The need for more helicopters remains the most urgent priority. There are an estimated 80 helicopters operational and another 19 are in the pipeline. GOP says it needs more than 100 helicopters to deliver aid in a significant way to remote, inaccessible areas. (Oct-21, Reuters) Heavy snow, that is likely to begin in about four weeks, would limit the use of these helicopters. (Oct-17, OCHA)

 

The UN said there were no reports of epidemics, but said the health infrastructure in affected areas had virtually collapsed. The biggest health concern now are those dying of untreated injuries due to gangrene and major infections. Amputations on the rise. (Oct-18, Reuters) Health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), said 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. Currently 34 international medical teams are assisting with 17 field hospitals. (Oct-23, DPA) Aid agencies warn of second wave of deaths due to cold weather and exposure. (Oct-24, DFID)

 

GOP with the help of WHO has set up an Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN) to identify and respond to any disease outbreaks in quake-affected areas. (Oct-23, DPA)

 

GOP has awarded four emergency broadcast licenses to setup FM stations at various locations in PcK to improve communication with the local public. Some 100,000 radio sets would be distributed among the local public upon funding. (Oct-26, IRIN)

 

Some 50,000 Pakistani troops in PcK are now being deployed every few kilometers to coordinate relief. The Pakistan military transporting relief goods into 45 local hubs in the quake-affected zone. (Oct-25, Dawn) The main roads into Muzaffarabad have reportedly been cleared, and there are now efforts to reach Neelam, Jhelum and Leepa valleys in PcK. 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. (Oct-13, Reuters) The roads between Mansehra – Balakot, Mansehra – Muzaffarabad, 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. Continuing aftershocks also repeatedly blocking already damaged roads.

 

Estimates of the number of mountainous villages in the affected area range from 2,000, (UN OCHA) to over 15,000 (WFP) spread over some 30,000 square miles (Oct-19, DFID). GOP has said it will take days to reach some of them. (Oct-18, UN OCHA, Reuters, BBC)

 

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. The nighttime temperature in the affected areas can drop to zero degrees Celsius in October and minus 6 degrees Celsius in November. (Oct-18, Alertnet). Heavy rains and bad weather expected in the region in the next few days. (Oct-25, Reuters). Humanitarian aid organizations running out of time, as thousands of people could possibly get cut off in the coming three weeks due to snowfall. (Oct-17, Reuters)

 

UN Emergency Response Team manager in Islamabad, Andrew Macleod, said there continues to be an acute shortage of tents. Between 337,000 to 541,000 tents estimated needed. Total of 122,000 have been delivered/distributed, including 62,000 winterized tents from international community and 60,000 from GOP. (Oct-25, DFID) GOP and aid agencies encouraging improvisation and repair of shelter with wood, tin sheets and other items. (Oct-24, USAID) Education for residents not used to tents needed to prevent smoke inhalation, fire, and other hazards. (Oct-24, AFP)

 

Although the Pakistan military has been largely in charge of rescue and relief operations, coordination mechanisms with humanitarian relief organizations and international aid organizations are improving. (Oct-21, Reuters, UNICEF). Information sharing with international humanitarian organizations about national efforts and distribution needs to be strengthened. (Oct-17, OCHA)

 

GOP has allowed mobile phone companies to provide service in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. (Oct-18, Jang). Indian government has installed free telephone service in Srinagar, and the border towns of Uri and Tangdar in Indian-controlled Kashmir to allow people to contact their relatives in PcK. Telephone service between PcK and IcK was shut down in 1989 following a revolt in IcK (Oct-19, Reuters)

 

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. (Oct-13, OCHA) Over 100 relief organizations in the country. (Oct-25, DFID)

 

International Response

 

·      Foreign Governments

 

More than 90 countries, regional and international organizations have pledged more than several hundred million dollars in aid contributions and monetary pledges to the ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts in the earthquake devastated areas of Pakistan. Some of the larger contributions have come from the United Nations South Asia Earthquake Consolidated Flash Appeal calling for US$ 312 million in pledges, the ICRC appeal calling for US$56.6 million, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and contributions made by individual nations directly to the Pakistani government. Some of the largest monetary contributions from individual nations are coming from Australia, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. US Ambassador to Pakistan, Ryan Crocker, said that there is no time frame for US troops assisting in quake relief – may take several months. (Oct-26, Hindustan Times) The United Nations Emergency Response Pakistan website has posted several reports attempting to track the status and quantities of the incoming aid from a number of various governments, regional, and international organizations. In addition to these efforts, a number of NGOs have initiated their own appeals for their relief and reconstruction efforts in the earthquake-devastated areas. Pakistan has now received over US$717.1 million in direct pledges. (Oct-25, AFP)