Sector Status

Affected Population

Death toll is at 73,320; injured is at 69,392 (Nov-16, OCHA)

4 million affected; estimated 3.3 million displaced or homeless scattered across 15,000 villages. (Nov-1, OCHA) Nearly half of the four million affected people are in PcK and another 1.3 million in NWFP.

Estimated 35% of schools in higher altitudes will close on December 22 for winter vacation, until end of February 2006. Rest will remain open until end of regular school year in April/May. (Dec-15, DFID)

Up to 10,000 children lost at least one parent, and about 800,000 women between the age of 15 and 49 were affected. (Dec-15, CWS)

About 18,095 students and 853 teachers and educational staff died in the earthquake in NWFP and PcK. (Dec-15, CWS) UNICEF estimates some 1.6 million to 2.2 million children were affected by the earthquake. (Oct-31, AFP)

Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) registering affected population, including those residing in and outside camps. (Dec-8, UN)

Coordination

NWFP government will take control of all tent villages in the province. However, the military will be requested to continue relief activities. (Dec-13, Dawn) FRC is concerned about capacity of provincial government at Union Council level to undertake relief operations – UN humanitarian hubs will also be giving feedback on Union Councils’ capacities. (Dec-16, OCHA)

UNJLC proposed forming “field steering group” to help determine priorities. Suggested that cluster leads become leads of groups. (Dec-16, OCHA)

A Strategic Information Cell (SIC) has been comprised of HIC, FRC, UNJLC and clusters which will act as a repository of information gathered. SIC will focus on data collection for the period between December 15 to January 31. (Dec-15, Clusters)

“Joint Operations Center” established to task UNHAS; Pakistan military; NATO and US Military air assets. (Dec-2, OCHA)

90-day ‘Winter Plan’ created to outline UN-led Cluster response. Priorities are: 1) Ensure continued assistance for estimated 350,000-380,000 who are expected to remain in high-elevation locations for the winter; 2) Support potential camp population of 250,000 in planned and spontaneous camps at lower elevations; 3) Ensure protection and meet needs of vulnerable population including women, children, elderly and disabled; 4) Continuous assessment of changing situation to meet emerging needs. (Dec-2, OCHA)

FRC began plans to hand over disaster response activities to provincial authorities of NWFP and PcK. Target date is December 31, 2004. (Nov-28, UN)

Data collection is handled at central level by Cluster Information Manager in Islamabad (shelterinfo@iom.int). (Nov-28, UN)

GOP has established a “Prime Minister Relief Cell” in Islamabad for help in locating family members. Hotline Tel: (+9251) 9222666. “Earthquake Relief Cell” has been established in the Prime Minister’s House. The 24-hour hotlines will receive complaints from the earthquake-affected. (+9251) 9213891 or (+9251) 92229999.

Ten sectoral coordination clusters were established to bring together the government, UN agencies, NGOs, IOs, militaries, and donors. (Oct-22, UNOCHA) These clusters cover areas such as food & nutrition, water & sanitation, health, emergency shelter, early recovery and reconstruction, IT/communication, logistics, camp management, protection and education. (Nov-1, OCHA) Detailed cluster information (meeting minutes, contact information) is posted at: www.un.org.pk. (Nov-8, OCHA) Clusters are concept of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and is new to the UN system. It is being trialed in this disaster. However, Cluster Coordination is expected to be separate from the ‘normative’ work of NGOs. (Nov-11, UN)

GOP presented its National Action Plan on November 1 which will provide a framework for the development of the international aid response. (Nov-1, OCHA)

The GOP formed a 7-member Civil Services Special Task Force. In addition to coordination, the task force will supervise foreign relief workers, NGOs, and volunteers. The task force will work under the Federal Relief Commissioner. Saeed Ahmed Khan is chief coordinator; Ishtiaq Ahmed is coordinator for NWFP; Tariq Khosa is coordinator for PCK; Qasim Niaz is coordinator for donor agencies; Arifa Sofi is coordinator for NGOs; Mohsin Rizvi is coordinator for foreign offices; and Dr. Ashfaq is coordinator for health services. (Oct-19, GOP)

Federal Relief Commission will coordinate rescue and relief operations. Major General Muhammad Farooq Javed, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission, is chief.

Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) has been set up within the UNDAC/UN coordination centre. (Oct-14, UNOCHA) The NATO Deployed Joint Task Force (DJTF) is coordinating NATO relief activities with Pakistani officials. (Oct-27, Dawn)

Pakistani army has opened three more military bases at Dhamial, Peshawar and Tarbela to assist in relief operations. Army is operating six forward bases in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalkot, Balakot, Batgram and Mansehra. The army has also set up three main reporting and information centers at Havelian, Mansehra, and Gahri Habibullah. (Oct-27, DPA) Network of some 45 Army points in place. There are six major points, three each in NWFP at Mansehra, Balakot and Batagram, and Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalkot in PcK. (Oct-19, Jang)

Logistics

Discussions ongoing between FRC and French and German embassies on keeping French fuel farm on Abbottabad and two German helicopters tasked by UNHAS via bilateral agreements. Helicopters will have to leave country at end of January due to maintenance requirements, but might be replaced if bilateral agreement is reached. (Dec-21, OCHA)

IOM will hire 20 vans and 3 jeeps to provide free transportation to people in Balakot and Kaghan and will soon launch a free bus service from Ghari Habibullah to Balakot, according to the Dawn. (Dec-19, Dawn)

WFP Direct Response Teams comprised of experienced mountaineers are in the process of assessing the most remote areas in the upper valleys where relief may not have reached. The teams will set up local distribution structures and helicopter landing zones. Food is reportedly the priority. (Dec16, OCHA)

Following December 13 earthquake, with epicenter in Afghanistan, roads to Neelum Valley have been closed. Closure of Thakot-Bana road in Battagram and the Korakarum Highway seriously hampering relief operations in Allai Valley and Kohistan. (Dec-16, OCHA)

As of December 14, four new Chinook cargo helicopters have been operating in Muzaffarabad with total capacity of 1,000 MTs. UNHAS will have 4 additional helicopters expected to be operational within 2 weeks, bringing total assets to 23. (Dec-16, OCHA)

Helicopter landing zones need reinforcing for winter (already being done in Abbottabad, Chatterplain and Gari Habibullah). Winterization includes covering pad with gravel and digging channels to ensure there is no water buildup. (Dec-14, UNJLC)

Pakistani Army Engineers have opened 620 km of roads blocked by heavy landslides in NWFP. Army engineers also continue to build shelter and clear debris from several areas. (Dec-15, GOP)

Due to unpredictable weather, the UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) is foreseeing that flying days will be reduced to 20 days per month. Meteorologists have predicted an unusually severe winter with higher snowfalls. In December, January and February, day temperatures are expected to be subzero, with temperatures reaching -20 degrees Celsius (- 4 F) in February. Further landslides and foggy weather are also expected. (Dec-2, 7, UNJLC)

GOP and GOI have set up five crossing points along the LoC at Nauser-Teethwal, Chakothi-Uri, Hajipur-Uri, Rawalakot-Poonch and Tattapni-Mendhar. All the crossing points are now open. However, presently only Nauser-Teethwal and Rawalakot-Poonch crossing points are open for limited civilian crossing. (Nov-21, TN)

International Financial Assistance

European Commission has approved a further US$30 million for survivors. (Dec-20, The News)

World Bank has approved US$400 million Emergency Recovery Credit (ERC) to support recovery and reconstruction over three-year period. (Dec-15, WB)

Food

Pakistan Army has distributed about 1.5 million tons of food items in NWFP. (Dec-20, GOP)

Shortage of wheat flour reported due to breaks in pipeline, which slowed down food deliveries to partners working with WFP. Breaks occurred due to uplift capacity problems at wheat loading sites – more loading centers requested to increase capacity. Loan of vegetable oil will be transported from Afghanistan to address pipeline-break in vegetable oil. (Dec-20, WFP)

1 million people are food-aid dependent in snowbound and inaccessible areas according to joint meeting between camp management and emergency shelter. (Dec-15, Cluster meeting)

World Vision food aid has reached more than 12,150 people, including 6,607 children, since distribution in Siran Valley began nearly two weeks ago. Some villages have received five to six inches of snow. (Dec-16, WVI) World Vision has a revised agreement with the WFP to provide some 36,000 survivors with food assistance until April 2006. (Dec-13, WVI)

WFP Country Office currently preparing Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) and several assessment missions are taking place. Shifting of Cooperating Partners to new areas of cooperation continued, with many partners ready to start distributions. WFP focusing on difficult to reach areas. (Dec-7-13, WFP)

Water and Sanitation

Norway has given US$3 million gift of water filtration and storage supplies – received by UNICEF representative Omar A. Abdi and Pakistan Minister of Environment Tahir Iqbal. (Dec-21, GOP)

Due to population density, lack of sufficient latrines and implementing partners in camps, solid waste not being properly managed. Three-month awareness campaign has been launched. (Dec-15, UNICEF)

Forty percent of overall population and 90% of camp population receiving safe water. 4,000 latrines installed, 60,000 in the pipeline. (Dec-12, OCHA)

UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment mark a new partnership with a memorandum of understanding and a website (www.pakquakecommunication.org) to spread awareness in affected areas about hygiene, safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management. (Dec-5, GOP)

Public Health/Medical

Red Cross/Red Crescent health program has expanded beyond Balakot, Garhi Habibullah and Battagram, with mobile teams reaching Shangla district. To date, over 108,000 people have received medical assistance. (Dec-22, IFRC)

Ministry of Health has launched special vaccination campaign in relief camps in PcK and NWFP for tetanus, diphtheria and meningitis. About 70 percent of people have been vaccinated, but campaign will cover those who recently arrived from high mountain areas. Increase in cases of pneumonia and respiratory diseases in northern Pakistan. (Dec-22, IFRC)

There are 74 field hospitals, including 47 international field hospitals and 9 mental health teams, operating in the region. (Dec-9, IRIN) There are about 51 foreign medical teams, along with 233 Pakistani doctors. Pakistan military has nine forward treatment centers and 28 surgical and treatment teams of army doctors. (Dec-11, GOP)

UNICEF on Monday (December 19) launched third phase of immunization campaign to prevent spread of communicable diseases in camps. First two phases targeted measles, which was mostly successful. (Dec-19, IRIN)

UNICEF says it has distributed some 35,000 hygiene kits and is teaching people who lived in isolated villages how to improve hygiene habits. (Dec-19, UNICEF)

OCHA reports that the Health Ministry has identified 100 basic healthcare units (BHU) to set up in prefabricated structures. (Dec-16, OCHA)

The mission of WHO Director-General which concluded on December 11 concluded that there are no major threats of epidemics as the situation is under control and immunization plans are under way. Mission reported that cold and cramped living conditions were contributing to risk of respiratory infections and hypothermia. (Dec-16, OCHA)

National Task Force on Psycho-social Trauma has been formed by the prime minister and led by the Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and other partners. UNICEF is assisting with training of community-based workers, volunteers and teachers while WHO is lead on training of health staff and setting up of referral teams. Task force is also supporting training of social workers by Ministry of Social Welfare. (Dec-16, OCHA)

Health officials supported by UNICEF, on Monday (Dec-19) launched the third phase of an immunization campaign to help prevent outbreaks in camps. Campaign will last until December 24. Types of vaccinations include meningitis, hepatitis and measles. (Dec-19, IRIN, OCHA)

UNICEF began training first 40 of 500 Pakistani health workers to run 31 medical centers and distribute emergency kits. Program to reach full strength over next two months. (Dec-19, AP)

Approximately 1.6 to 2.2 million children at particular risk of cold, malnutrition and disease. UN estimates that 40,000 pregnant women were affected. (Dec-15, CWS)

WHO has set up a website to facilitate information exchange between health partners at www.whopak.org. (Oct-17, UNOCHA)

Shelter

Best, a Pakistani NGO, has been contracted by the UNHCR to sensitize camp dwellers on hygiene, fire safety and other day-to-day issues in the camp. (Dec-22, UNHCR)

Red Cross Federation and Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) have increased operations in Kohistan and Allai Valley in northern Pakistan to reach priority of 25,000 families before onset of heavy snows. Additional resources, including some 100 PRCS volunteers and transportation, have been called to deliver shelter materials and other NFIs. (Dec-22, IFRC)

Oxfam currently working in 161 camps in NWFP and PcK. Has provided 127,000 people, distributed 16,000 winterized tents and 765 traditional shelter called “bandis.” (Dec-22, TN)

Along with shelter supplies, GOAL has commenced voucher system. Each household receives 60 vouchers of 100 Pakistani Rs each (US$100), which can be redeemed at local shops for two days. GOAL will pay shopkeepers on receipt of vouchers, to stimulate local economy. (Dec-20, GOAL)

GOAL distributing CGI to 7,500 families in Bagh over 10 days. (Dec-20, GOAL)

Emergency Shelter Cluster) 98,605 shelter kits delivered (730,000 beneficiaries), of which 54,529 delivered above 5,000 ft.; 55,000 transitional shelters constructed (407,000 beneficiaries); 610,000 tents delivered (283,806 by humanitarian community); 4.8 million blankets delivered (1.7 million by humanitarian community); 451,000 plastic sheets/tarpaulins delivered by humanitarian community. (Dec-19, UNCT)

Since the launching of “Operation Winter Race” a total of 72,000 tents/shelter kits have been distributed by the humanitarian community while the military reported a total distribution of 82,000 tents. (Dec-19, OCHA)

Camp Management cluster currently preparing for individual registration in all camps to be conducted in early January. (Dec-19, OCHA)

IOM is starting a shelter assessment Wednesday (December 21) in Kohistan district of NWFP. Kohistan is reportedly one of five worst-hit districts of NWFP. It will be the first survey in the district since the earthquake struck. (Dec-20, IRIN)

Pakistan’s FRC says that survivors need 2 million more blankets to cope with winter. (Dec-18, Xinhua)

UNHCR will have enough NFIs to support 180,000 in camps and has contingency stock for 80,000 people. GOP has contingency stock of 25,000 stock. Sites for more camps still being identified by GOP and UNHCR. (Dec-19, OCHA)

Arrivals into valleys continue to decrease. Until recently, Battagram was exception with 800 people/day in Meira valley, however, it was related to termination of compensation payments in Allai area. No significant population movements in Bagh and Muzaffarabad. Anecdotal evidence that some are even returning home. (Dec-16, OCHA)

Conditions in unplanned or spontaneous camps are of special concern to aid agencies due to the lack of proper hygienic and water/sanitation facilities from poor planning. UNHCR says there are about 30 spontaneous camps around Muzaffarabad hosting about 50,000 survivors, 20 camps in Jhelum Valley hosting about 16,00 people and up to five camps in Neelum Valley. Local authorities are also setting up several camps in rural areas, with UNHCR assistance in Jhelum and Neelum, so survivors will be closer to villages and will find it easier to rebuild homes. (Dec-15, IRIN)

A survey of the affected area by 210 teams from 11 UN agencies, IOM, GOP and NGOs, found that about 2.4 million blankets or 1.2 million quilts, 170,000 heavy plastic sheets and 200,000 tarpaulins were needed. Survey also found that about 74 percent of the approximately 3,000 households surveyed had inadequate shelter. (Dec-13, Reuters) About three-quarters of households below 5,000 ft outside planned camps need additional shelter support. About 40 percent of tents have some form of plastic sheeting, and about 75% of tents are without adequate floor insulation. (Dec-13, OCHA)

Task Force set up within Pakistani civil administration comprising WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR to cover emerging needs in camps and spontaneous camps. (Dec-2, DFID)

Infrastructure

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has directed ERRA to ensure environmental friendliness and availability of playground facilities in reconstruction work of affected cities. Government wants master plan for Muzaffarabad to be finalized by June 2006. (Dec-20, GOP)

According to a report by IRIN, the World Conservation Union, comprised of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and CARE, have expressed grave concern over widespread pollution as a result of poor sanitation, degradation of forests, landslides and inadequate solid waste management practices. (Dec-21, IRIN)

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank estimate that the quake damaged some 2,385 miles (3,837 kilometers) of roads; 2,366 km (1470 miles) in PcK and 1,471 km (914 miles) of roads in NWFP were damaged.

Out of US$5.2 billion estimated for reconstruction needs, World Bank and ADB estimates about US$1.092 billion needed for relief, US$205 million for death/injury compensation, US$301 million for early recovery and US$97 million for the restoration of livelihoods. In addition, US$3.5 billion was estimated for the physical reconstruction. (Nov-15, Reuters, ADB)

Security

UNHAS will be making one flight a day to Bana to ease situation caused by closure of road from Battagram to Bana for security reasons. UN staff not allowed to stay overnight in Banna. If ban not lifted, relief operations will be hampered. Police escorts still required in Battagram and Bagh districts. (Dec-21, OHCA)

According to OCHA, Ministry of Social Welfare is offering the most vulnerable groups who have been affected by the earthquake to be moved to an institution outside Islamabad. (Dec-19, OCHA)

NWFP government insists on police escorts for international staff in the province. Security instructions do not allow movement outside Battagram town without police escort. (Dec-7-13, WFP) Local police now accompanies distributions to places with no military presence due to security concerns in Bagh. (Dec-16, OCHA)