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) UNICEF estimates almost 1 million schoolchildren need support, of which some 450,000 are of primary school age. (Dec-28, Reuters)

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

Coordination

According to OCHA, because the emergency phase is coming to an end and in order to avoid a gap between relief efforts and reconstruction, the humanitarian community is preparing an Action Plan for relief to recovery. OCHA says relief operations may continue beyond next harvesting season in September and many survivors are likely to remain dependent on food assistance. OCHA says that challenges seen are mitigating impact of cold and rain for the rest of winter, improving sanitation and to prepare for a voluntary and informed return for the displaced. The plan will cover a one-year period from April 2006 to April 2007. (Feb-27, OCHA)

According to OCHA, a Sustainable Returns Taskforce (SRTF) was created by the heads of the clusters in Islamabad to support development of a sustainable returns strategy through the cluster approach. The SRTF will cover issues of IDPs and utilizes operations/logistics advisors from OCHA, UNHCR, Oxfam and IOM and on a protection officer from NRC. (Feb-17, OCHA)

According to the DFID field team, General Zubeir, the head of the GOP Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), has been replaced by Minister for Privatization, Altaf Saleem. (Feb-16, DFID)

UNOCHA reports that 16 High Altitude Assessment and Monitoring Teams (HATS) coordinated by OCHA continue to be deployed. (Feb-10, OCHA)

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Vandemoortele said that the UN needs about US$60 million a month to continue relief operations.

The US military has announced that it will withdraw from relief operations at the completion of its mission on March 31. US Rear Admiral Michael LeFever, says that the phased withdrawal would begin in mid-February of the some 1,200 troops and by the end of March, the remaining 750 troops and 12 Chinook helicopters would leave. (Feb-4, GOP)

US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director Lisa Chisels says that after the US military leaves, USAID will reconstruct hospitals and schools in affected areas. Chisels says that USAID has already spent some US$100 million for quake-affected areas. (Feb-6, IANS)

The Cluster Coordinator has said that the major relief priorities between now and spring are: sanitation, especially as the weather warms around April; preparations for small crises, such as snow storms; the return of rural survivors to their homes around March; and the return of urban survivors, which will entail urban rebuilding.

NATO forces formally concluded their 90-day relief and rescue on January 31, saying it had completed its goal of providing relief and helping survivors endure the winter months.  The three-month mission, the alliance’s first in a non-NATO country, came in response to Pakistan’s relief request.  NATO forces in the mission included 1,200 NATO engineers, medics and aircrew from Britain, France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, Poland and Lithuania as well as five helicopters, working primarily in Bagh district of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK). 

According to OCHA, FRC and ERRA have created a transition team to help with transition from relief to reconstruction. (Jan-20, OCHA)

UNDP and UN Volunteers program have launched a UN Volunteers scheme to enlist people for earthquake recovery and rehabilitation efforts. (Jan-19, UNV)

A National Disaster Management Agency will be set up to provide an institutional response to emergencies. (Jan-19, DFID)

Under an MoU, 50,000 children and adolescents will be mobilized among survivors to become “Rahbers” or tent-to-tent communicators, to raise awareness about hygiene, safe drinking water and health and child protection issues. (Jan-20, GOP)

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) OCHA reports SIC is understaffed, with only Shelter, Health and Logistics cells contributing staff. (Feb-10, OCHA)

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

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. (Nov-11, UN)

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 coordinates rescue and relief operations. Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan, is the Federal Relief Commissioner.

Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) has been set up within the UNDAC/UN coordination centre. (Oct-14, UNOCHA)

Logistics

FRC Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan says that ready-made bridges will be provided for affected areas for the easy transportation of relief and construction materials. (Feb-27, GOP)

UNJLC reports that heavy rains over the weekend caused landslides and road blockages, and more are expected as the March rains and spring snowmelts begin. (Mar-1, UNJLC)

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reports it is using 25 expert local mountain guides from Hunza to conduct assessments in Allai Valley, Neelum Valley and Bagh. (Mar-2, IRIN)

IFRC has begun using a team of experts and ATVs supplied by the Norwegian Red Cross to distribute relief to an additional 500 families in remote areas. (Feb-16, IFRC)

UNHAS mandate has been extended to August 31, but with reductions in fleet and flying hours from March 1 due to funding shortfalls. (Feb-16, DFID)

IOM has deployed around 10 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in Muzaffarabad, capital of PcK to respond to an emergency assistance hotline established at a local FM radio. (Jan-18, IRIN)

A chart of available warehouse space is published on the UNJLC webpage. The table is designed to give all agencies and NGOs in need of storage a precise overview of existing warehouse capacity. (Dec-29, UNJLC) http://www.unjlc.org/pakistan

UNJLC says that it is also in the process of updating and expanding its map catalog. UNJLC says that for printed copies and requests, email unjlcmapping@gmail.com. Maps can also be downloaded from the UNJLC website. (Dec-29, UNJLC)

UNJLC map of revised UNHAS passenger service flight schedule now available to relief community at http://www.unjlc.org/pakistan/maps/UNHASPaxroutes/. (Dec-21, 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. (Nov-21, TN)

International Financial Assistance

Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), said that it would allocate an additional US$20 million that will be distributed through UNICEF, UN Habitat and FAO. (Feb-22, CIDA)

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cluster coordinator has said that there is a need for a new Relief to Recovery Appeal as the UN Flash Appeal is due to end on April 8.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Vandermoortele says that donations for the UN Flash Appeal stands at US$343 million as of January 27, comprising some 62 percent of the total US$550 million appeal. (Jan-27, DPA).

UN Foundation has established South Asia Earthquake Response Fund to enable private-sector donors to support the UN’s relief and rehabilitation efforts. (Dec-21, Reuters)

Food

Save the Children with financial support from USAID has begun a livestock support program at the Mehra relief camp in Allai valley in NWFP. (Feb-23, IRIN)

GOP reportedly asking WFP and NGOs to provide food to spontaneous settlements. DFID said supplies are more regular but quality and quantity is insufficient. (Feb-16, DFID)

The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) on February 2 warned that the UN may have to drastically cut down on UN relief flights in quake-hit northern Pakistan by the end of February, if there are no new aid donations. The World Food Program (WFP) said that it needed more than US$80 million dollars to keep flying helicopters for the rest of the year. The WFP is currently feeding one million Pakistanis, which is expected to drop to 800,000 by April. The WFP is in charge of transporting relief supplies for several other humanitarian agencies as well. The UN has a fleet of 20 helicopters and will need about US$11 million a month in March, April and possibly May, while another US$6 to 7 million a month is needed for the rest of the year.

WFP Pakistan country director Michael Jones said that aid agencies are looking at microcredit programs to allow survivors to replace “seriously depleted” livestock and boost the local economy. The WFP also plans to provide seeds and agricultural tools to facilitate the return of survivors to their homes. Although a second phase of government compensation is due to be disbursed in mid-February, Jones stressed that the money should be used for “rebuilding, not just subsistence.”

The Dawn reports that 50,000 affected families will get Rs 3,000 annually through Pakistan’s Bait-ul-Mal’s “Food Support Program.” (Jan-23, Dawn)

GOP reports that the President of PcK, Major General Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan said that food reserves are in sufficient quantities for survivors living in high altitude areas. Brigadier Khalid Mehmood, who is in charge of the relief operations in Battagram and Kohistan districts, says that WFP has provided enough food for three months to people living in areas located 5000 feet above sea level. (Jan-17, GOP)

Water and Sanitation

UK-based Islamic Relief says it will focus on water supply schemes in rural areas. (Feb-28, IRIN)

UNICEF as lead agency for water and sanitation in northern Pakistan, and with other aid agencies, is compiling a water and sanitation strategy for the transition period from relief to recovery from April 2006-April 2007. (Feb-28, IRIN)

Wat/San needs largely met in official camps, but less consistent in unofficial camps. (Feb-17, USAID)

DFID says scabies becoming common due to poor hygiene facilities. (Feb-2, DFID)

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

Pakistani doctors will be able to cope with the situation in PcK after the departure of US doctors, senior political leader of PcK Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan said. (Feb-23, GOP)

Limbless Association – UK, a group of expatriate Pakistanis in coordination with their Pakistani counterparts, have initiated a plan to implant Modular Artificial Limbs among needy victims. Three centers have been established at Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences – Islamabad. (Feb-27, GOP)

According to WHO, for the past month of February, 29% of consultations are due to acute respiratory infections (ARIs), 6% acute diarrhea, 4% Unexplained fever and 4% injuries. Since the start of the Disease Early Warning System, 191 deaths have been reported: 31% are ARI related, which illustrates a sharp decrease since two weeks, WHO reports. (Feb-28, WHO)

The GOP reports that the US Combined Medical Relief Team 3 (CMRT 3) has donated medicine and construction materials for relief camps. According to GOP, some 200 Marines and sailors of the CMRT 3 are preparing to return to their home base at the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. (Feb21, GOP)

US has transferred its 212^th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) on February 16 to Pakistani military staff. The US DOS says that the US$4.6 million tent is part of evolving US assistance to Pakistan. (Feb-16, USDOS)

US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan Crocker said that the US would spend some US$200 million over the next few years to supplement GOP’s efforts to revive health and educational facilities in affected areas. (Feb-22, GOP)

Medecins du Monde (MDM) reportedly found 41 measles cases within 3 days. A WHO investigation revealed that almost all camps have reported measles cases. A mass immunization campaign covering target population of 4425 was initiated. (Feb-17, OCHA)

WHO says cholera treatment supplies have been dispatched to hubs. A preparedness plan will cope with a limited outbreak, however more supplies will be needed if spring thaw triggers a major outbreak. (Feb-16, DFID)

WHO says there are 37 national and international field hospitals but no plan yet on closure of the hospitals. (Feb-9, DFID)

According to the Health Cluster, WHO, UNFPA, and UNICEF will provide 113 basic Health Units, 29 Rural Health Centers and 2 Tehsil Headquarter (THQs), including equipment, supplies, staff accommodation and training. (Feb-9, DFID)

Shortage of female medical staff still a concern. (Feb-2, DFID)

Local health officials say they have begun to rebuild some 61 basic health units and seven rural health centers with pre-fabricated materials in Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley. (Jan-19, Dawn)

Major General Shaukat Sultan, Director General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) says that records show that for the time being, normal health related deaths are lower than even previous years. Medical camps established by foreign aid groups have brought good medical supplies and he says that “health conditions are improving in quake-hit areas.” (Jan-4, GOP)

Khalid Saeed, a mental health coordinator with the World Health Organization (WHO) says that some 180,000 survivors have serious mental disorders, including psychosis, severe depression and anxiety. (Jan-4, Reuters)

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, UNICEF and other partners. (Dec-16, OCHA)

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

Shelter

The Norwegian Refugee Council says that its staff members have been training Pakistani aid workers in camp management. More than 60 people from the UN, local NGOs and local officials in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad participated over three days. (Feb-23, NRC)

USAID providing shelter kits to those populations in higher elevations (over 5,000 feet). The kits include CGI sheets, wire mesh, tool kits, insulation and bed rolls. (Feb-27, The News)

SOS Children’s Villages is providing more tents for survivors, including large tents that can be used as educational, medical and social centers. (Feb-24, SOS-Kinderdorf International)

According to GOP, USAID has helped more than 9,000 families in Mansehra district to have earthquake-resistant shelters with wooden walls and tin roofs. Partner NGO Mercy Corps provided building materials to more than 6,200 houses in the Siran and Konch valleys and paid families 4,200 rupees each for their labor. Another partner, ACTED, provided shelter supplies and household items to 3,000 families in Kaghan Valley and paid families 800 rupees if they constructed adequate sanitation facilities. (Feb-24, GOP)

According to the Jang, Pakistan has lifted a ban on tent exports following the completion of a supply of 300,000 tents to the affected population. The ban was put in effect following the October 8 quake and local industry was given a goal of producing some 300,000 tents for those affected. (Mar-1, Jang)

OCHA reports the overall situation in camps is relatively stable in planned and spontaneous camps administered by the camp management cluster. Number of camps fluctuates between 27-31 planned and 121-127 spontaneous camps. (Feb-17, OCHA)

The Pakistani Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has so far distributed shelter and relief to some 48,000 survivors (8,000 families) in the Chakothi sector. The relief and shelter includes food, tents, CGI sheets and other materials. (Feb-21, PRCS)

According to UNHCR, in Muzaffarabad, 9 additional camps with total population of 4,459 people (822 families) have been assessed and registered and are receiving assistance. (feb-16, UNHCR)

OCHA reports 388,245 temporary transitional shelters have been constructed of which some 247,176 have been constructed by the PAKMIL. Additionally, some 3.1 million CGI sheets have been distributed. (Feb-17, OCHA)

Over past few weeks, those involved in shelter cluster have been shifting focus from Bagh to Poonch district, which has not been significantly served, according to OCHA. (Feb-17, OCHA)

ESC has recently completed assessment of spontaneous camps in Mansehra and Abottabad districts, and found 100,422 people are residing in 616 informal settlements. (Feb-17, USAID)

IOM has completed assessment covering Abottabad and Mansehra in NWFP to cover less-than-50 camps. There are at least 370 such spontaneous settlements in the districts below 5,000 ft. IOM intends to extend assessment to rest of NWFP. (Feb-07, IOM)

UNHCR has said that unseasonably warm temperatures have resulted in a stable situation in relief camps. UNHCR has noticed only a small number of people trickling in to camps from higher altitudes. (Feb-10, UNHCR)

GOP said that it was preparing to pay compensation to affected people who were living in rented houses at the time of when the quake first struck. (Feb-13, GOP)

The Emergency Shelter Cluster and DFID field team suggest that needs have been generally met, with sufficient non-food items in the pipeline to fill remaining needs. GOP reports some 80% of affected population has been covered by heating items. (Feb-16, DFID)

Distributions of emergency shelter materials are now in the final phase, and expected to finish by early March. (Feb-10, OCHA)

Divisional Relief Commissioner Hazara (NWFP) Sahibzada Muhammad Nees said that around 22 tent villages (all tented camps) from across NWFP will be shut down by the end of March. Around 80,000 survivors will be shifted to their native areas. The commissioner said that the temporary shelters were being closed in a bid to expedite the survivors’ permanent rehabilitation. (Feb-8,9 GOP, DFID)

DFID is saying that managing the return of displaced people is key issue as March 31 camp closure deadline approaches. (Feb-16, DFID)

DFID says that preliminary results from registration and needs assessment for people in spontaneous camps say that more than 75,000 people in 600 camps will have needs in shelter and food assistance and water and sanitation. (Feb-9, DFID)

Eight new camps have been established for some 40,000 survivors in PcK, who are living in high-altitude areas, Member of the PcK Council Dr. Najeeb Naqi Khan said. (Jan-27, Dawn)

The Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), Lt Gen Mohammad Zubair, says that President Musharraf has given the highest priority to reconstruction and rehabilitation in the housing sector. He said the reconstruction of houses in rural areas would be completed within two years and said that some 88 percent of the houses destroyed by the earthquake were in rural areas. (Jan-22, Dawn)

ERRA says that it has finalized its strategy for launching reconstruction activities in affected areas from March. Around 60-66 percent of reconstruction expected to be complete this year, ERRA chair Lt. Gen. Muhamamd Zubair said. Over 40 billion rupees would be disbursed over the next 6 months. (Jan-23, GOP)

The chair of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) Lt. General Muhammad Zubair said that the housing policy for the earthquake affected areas had been finalized. He told the BBC that under the policy, about 400,153 houses would be built, and the government would provide sheets and cement in bulk for construction. According to the GOP, he said that US$1 billion dollars would be required for the provision of health and education facilities, along with the construction of houses. (Jan-9, GOP)

Infrastructure

FRC Khan says that affected people of Balakot have received compensation for 57,988 houses damaged while a total of 276,000 affected families from NWFP have received compensation (Feb-27, GOP)

USAID will spend some US$200 million for the reconstruction of Health and Education sectors in PcK and NWFP, Regional Director Lisa Chiles said. Some 200 schools and 140 health facilities would be reconstructed. She said that some US$100 million was earmarked for relief, US$200 million for reconstruction, while some US$70 million had already been provided in humanitarian assistance. (Mar-1, Dawn)

GOP says at least Rs 200 billion will be used for rebuilding PcK starting from April within a period of two to three years. (Jan-24, GOP)

GOP estimates that 6,700 schools were destroyed in NWFP and 1,300 in PcK. (Dec-28, Reuters) 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

At least five people were killed and 50 others injured in a suicide car bombing today (Thursday, March 2), outside the US Consulate and the adjacent Marriott hotel in the southern city of Karachi. The casualties included a US diplomat. (Wednesday, March 2). (Mar-2, CNN)

Country-wide strikes planned for March 3 to coincide with anticipated visit of US President George Bush. No movement restrictions enforced on February 17, 19 and 24 due to protests against publication of Prophet Mohammad cartoons in western media. (Feb-24, UNJLC)

UNJLC reports that with the arrival of US President Bush in Pakistan this weekend, strict security measures will be imposed across Islamabad. Many areas will be closed, however, UNJLC says it is not known whether operations to quake-affected areas will be impacted. UNJLC says situation is likely to be tense for the next few days and international staff have been advised to pay attention to personal security. (Mar-1, UNJLC)

SOS Children’s Villages “search and rescue” team continues to identify unaccompanied and orphaned children. (Feb-24, SOS-Kinderdorf International)

UNOCHA reported that some humanitarian hubs had to be temporarily shut down due to ongoing protests. (Feb-23, OCHA) The UN has vowed to continue relief operations despite security concerns following anti-Western protests over Prophet Mohammed cartoons. Security situation remains tense across the country. (Feb-12, 15, AFP, UNJLC)

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)