PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000
Telephone: 808.433.7035 · PDMIN@coe-dmha.org · http://www.coe-dmha.org

South Asia Earthquake Update

April 6, 2006

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

Table of Contents:

Pakistan

Overview.....................................page 2

Sectors……………………………page 6

Overview

Federal Relief Commission (FRC) said the confirmed death toll from the October 2005 7.6-magnitude earthquake is 73,338 and 69,412 people were seriously injured, and another 58,897 injured. Over 3.5 million were affected. (Mar-31, GOP)

FRC completed its work on its largest ever relief operation on Saturday (April 1). FRC Commissioner Lt. General Ahmed Khan said that the Commission had “residual relief work” that will be now supervised by the ERRA. Disaster Management Agency will provide relief in case of any future major disasters. Giving details of the relief operation, the Federal Relief Commissioner said 950,260 tents were provided to over 500,000 houses damaged in the quake, 6,293,581 blankets were distributed to 3.5 million affected people, 245,974 tonnes of rations, 3,053 tonnes of medicines, 130,994 tonnes of miscellaneous goods. (Mar-31, GOP)

In an interview marking six-month anniversary of the quake on April 8, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Egeland praised coordinated relief effort, particularly in terms of logistics in the highly mountainous area. He said normalcy may return sooner to rural areas, where reconstruction is already happening, but urban areas still face difficulties. He added that the largest challenges now were the transition from relief to recovery as many agencies were leaving the affected areas, and the safe return of people according to their capabilities. (Apr-06, IRIN) UNICEF head of emergency programs Dan Toole said in a separate interview: “Our challenge is to shift the major focus of support to the hills…to work with the government to upgrade and provide those services in the long run. To push as much as we can supplies, equipment, cement, food, construction advice, engineers into those hills.” Toole added that Pakistan needed to reconstruct over 500,000 homes, and that it probably constructed a tenth of that in an average year. The monsoon is also arriving and the next winter is only seven months away. (Apr-05, Reuters) Donor mission comprising representatives from Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzlerland, UK and the US, as well as ECHO and OCHA, arrived for six-day visit from April 2 to 7 in quake-affected areas. They will review overall humanitarian response, future challenges for short- and long-term recovery, and how to support GOP in these efforts. (Apr-1, OCHA)

One-year, joint-agency Action Plan expected to be released on April 8 to mark six months after the quake. (Mar-24, UNHCR) Army will remain deployed in affected areas to provide security, emergency response, road maintenance, debris removal and monitoring. ERRA will coordinate rehabilitation, with NWFP and PcK as implementation partners. (Mar-15, GOP) Returns Task Force (RTF) presented “Framework and Operational Process for the Return or Resettlement of Persons Displaced by the October Earthquake” on March 11. Provincial Returns Task Forces have been established in each humanitarian hubs. (Mar-24, UNHCR) There was a total of 51 international and 79 national staff deployed in the affected area. There are 54 mobile teams (23 – technical, 31 – camp management. (Mar-24, UNHCR)

ERRA has announced comprehensive three-year plan in 11 development sectors with US$3.5 billion for housing, health, education and livelihood in quake-affected areas. (Mar-30, ACT) ERRA will launch a 4.5 billion Pakistani Rs livelihood support program from April to provide sustainable sustenance, which includes livestock replacement, feed supply, and agricultural tools supply. Each family will be paid 3,000 Rs from April to September 2006. (Mar-02, GOP) About US$400 in compensation has been paid to affected families for destroyed and damaged homes, although many families say the have been left out. (Apr-05, IRIN) Government compensation to be paid in three installments: US$400 after certain level of completion, US$840 upon completion and US$840 for damaged homes. Reconstruction will need to follow earthquake-proof standards. (Apr-5, IRIN) ERRA says US$1.5 billion will be spent on reconstruction of at least 600,000 homes, with US$576 million on education and US$303 million on healthcare over next three years. (Mar-20, DPA) GOP has distributed 20 billion Pakistani Rs in compensation to survivors so far. (Mar-31, GOP) ERRA plans to launch programs in four sectors – rural housing, health, education and cash grants for livelihoods, from April 1. (Mar-18, GOP) NGOs report problems with receiving compensation as many victims have lost ID cards and having difficulties with opening bank accounts. (Mar-13, Action Aid)

So far, the UN has gained about US$376 million of its six-month US$552 million emergency appeal, which ends in April. Donor countries in November pledged US$6.2 million for quake relief and reconstruction. (Mar-08, AFP) IFRC today revised its initial emergency appeal from US$117 million (152 million Swiss francs) to US$172 million (227 million Swiss francs) to cover the recovery period from 2006-2008. (Mar-29, IFRC) IOM has appealed for US$4.4 million to continue return operations through December this year. (Mar-28, IOM)

Routes east of Muzaffarabad along the Neelum, Jhelum and Lipa Valleys are largely closed due to landslides and difficult road conditions. (Mar-31, UNJLC) Military support will end on March 31 – leaving with UNHAS with 13 aircrafts, reduction of 50%. (Mar-24, UNHCR) ICRC has reduced fleet to two-helicopter fleet that will operate until April 30. (Mar-31, UNJLC) Major impediment for returns are inaccessible roads due to rains and floods. (Mar-24, UHCR) FRC said that five points along the disputed Line of Control (LoC) with Indian-controlled Kashmir (IcK) still remained open. Although Pakistan wanted to open points on daily basis, India wants to have them open once a week. (Mar-31, GOP)

Overall winter conditions are mild, comparing favorably with last year’s snowfall. (Jan-27, DFID) Rain has hampered transportation in past week. (Apr-6, UNJLC) Weather forecast for Friday (April 7) is partly cloudy and windy with some sunshine, with similar weather on Saturday (April 8). On Sunday (April 9), chances of thunderstorm and rain likely, which will continue for the next two to three days. (Apr-6, PMD)

Pakistan planning to rebuild the city of Balakot in the northern region that was affected by last October’s massive earthquake. The decision to move the city, home to at least 300,000 people, was made based on a report by Turkish geological experts. Balakot is located in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and was among the hardest hit towns with a death toll of 9,000. The decision was announced by Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed today (Tuesday, April 4) after a high-level meeting chaired by President Pervez Musharraf. (Apr-4, Reuters, AFP) The Turkish survey also found most parts of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (PcK), and its surrounding areas as “highly hazardous” after two fault lines were found crossing the region. One of them had triggered the October 7.6-magnitude earthquake, while the other remained dormant. The high-level meeting also decided to officially launch reconstruction in quake-affected areas from April 7, and Pakistani army engineers will be providing reconstruction guidelines for residents in those areas. According to the government-led Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), of the more than 400,000 houses in the area, about 51 percent were destroyed and the rest may be repaired. The reconstruction phase is estimated to take at least three years to complete and cost at least US$2 billion. (Apr-4, Reuters, AFP)

Pakistani authorities began encouraging refugees to leave camps in quake-affected areas of northern Pakistan on March 10. (Mar-17, USAID) UNHCR also called on authorities to ensure that all returns are voluntary and informed. (Mar-10, IRIN) There are about 2 million other survivors staying in tents elsewhere, and about 400,000 are in temporary tin shelters at higher elevations. (Mar-08, UN, AFP) IDP returns underway in all hubs – IOM providing most of transportation for those who cannot return by foot. (Apr-06, UNJLC) PakMil also providing limited transport. (Mar-16, UNHCR) The UNHCR reported that over 38,000 people have left camps in NWFP, while about 1,400 survivors have returned home in PcK. (Mar-31, UNHCR)

In NWFP, eight camps have emptied in the Mansehra area, mostly from army-run camps, but also increasingly from civil-administered camps. In Bagh, the CMO (Camp Management Organization) announced that camp closures will begin on March 20. (Mar-24, UNHCR) In Bagh, UN-assisted returns began on April 1 – UNJLC conducted roads risk assessment, and IDPs on dangerous roads are being escorted by UNOPS guides. Most landslides in the area have been cleared. (Apr-06, UNJLC) In Batagram, majority of camps have closed, and IDPs returned to their homes. Only small caseload expected to remain by weekend. (Apr-06, UNJLC) So far, about 120,000 people have returned in NWFP, leaving about 60,000 people in unofficial and official camps. (Reuters, Mar-31)

In PcK, in Muzaffarabad, only small number of UN-assisted returns has taken place, mostly due to road inaccessibility. Most routes in Jhelum and Neelum valleys considered dangerous. UNJLC continuing road status updates. (Apr-6, UNJLC) Earlier attempts to initiate returns process from Muzaffarabad camps met with 75% of IDPs refusing to leave. About 380 people are moving each day – no movements took place on March 24^th due to rain. (Mar-24, UNJLC) In PcK, 241 families have returned spontaneously from Muzaffarabad, while the IOM will begin returns on March 27. In PcK, the UNHCR said that the government-run Camp Management Office (CMO) was using more of a “pull” rather than “push” method in returns, because the level of destruction of infrastructure is much higher. (Mar-31, UNHCR)

In the rest of Pakistan, IDPs that were in Lahore as guests of the Punjab government will leave on April 3. (Apr-2, GOP)

Aid agencies have stressed that basic infrastructure, such as shelter, water/sanitation, and livelihood means, need to be available at places of origin. IDPs have been allowed to take home non-food items (NFIs), such as tents and community kitchens. Local authorities plan to transfer communal facilities to the home communities. (Mar-24, UNHCR) Return process consists of three parts: Registration, medical checks and immunization where necessary in order to prevent disease outbreaks after survivors leave the camp. NRC is also providing legal counseling at the camp to provide advice on compensation, land disputes and other issues. (Mar-13, Reuters) ESC has said that of the 298,708 people displaced from areas of origin, between 188,184 (66%) and 60,608 (20%) are unlikely to return to areas of origin, requiring temporary solutions until issues, such as land disputes, are resolved. (Mar-13, ESC)

UNHCR last Friday (March 31) expressed concerns of the high rate of IDP returns, and said there was “considerable evidence” of undue and psychological pressure being used. Camp officials have said that IDPs will not be entitled to government compensation to rebuild homes, food, water or any other aid, if they remain in the camps beyond March 31. According to UNHCR spokesperson Marion Roche, IDPs were also told they will not receive free transport to their home communities after this date. Since April 1, aid agencies have been asked not to provide relief to IDPs in camps to encourage returns. (Apr-5, IRIN) General IDP camp feeding will end on March. WHO looking into alternatives to field hospitals, primary health care clinics and mobile clinics that are gradually phasing out. UNHCR is continuing monitoring along with UNICEF. Each vulnerable will be checked to see if return is voluntary. (Mar-24, UNHCR)

Regional Relief Commissioner (RRC) has asserted that no physical force was being used, and that the returns were important so IDPs do not grow dependent on aid and rehabilitation can commence in their home communities. The government and NGOs are also providing radio broadcasts so IDPs can make informed decisions on their returns. Within 15 days, GOP is expected to provide information on land allocation for IDPs, such as land that is safe to return to, alternate land where they can be relocated, and government compensation. (Apr-05, IRIN) The government has said it would set aside at least three specialized, longer-term camps for those who lost land in landslips and for vulnerable people, such as widows, orphans, elderly, and the disabled. (Mar-31, UNHCR) RRC said people who lost land to landslips will be allocated land in adjoining villages. GOP has agreed to retain one or two large camps for IDPs after end of March, while longer-term solutions are found for them. (Mar-9, UNHCR) According to the UNHCR, main concerns of the affected population are: Availability of land, road rehabilitation, shelter, drinking water and food in their villages.

IOM says that about 324,000 people in the region are unemployed, about 29 percent of the population. (Feb-27, GOP) NGOs and GOP working to provide survivors with sustainable living as local agrarian economy has been badly hit, through micro-credit and cash-for-work programs. GOP, in collaboration, with Dosti Welfare Organization and CWS, has launched construction trade training centers. (Mar-17, GOP) Training centers have been set up in NWFP and PcK for construction workers to ensure better construction. All projects under sponsorship will be displayed on ERRA website to be launched soon. (Mar-15, GOP) WFP has launched a two-year food-for-work project that will begin in April that includes repair of community infrastructure and livelihood training. (Mar-05, WFP) FAO has begun agriculture and livelihood rebuilding programs. (Mar-15, UNDP) CWS, Plan and SC has launched livelihood training for both men and women. (Mar-13, Mar-11, Feb-23 CWS, SC, GOP) IOM, ILO, UNDP, UNOPS, CARE, SC, GOAL, USAID and WVI have begun debris clearance and cash-for-work and employment projects. (Mar-15, UNDP, GOP) ILO, HRDN, SC have begun programs to stimulate local economy. (Mar-15, UNDP) Relief International (RI) providing micro-credit programs for widows and female-headed households. (Feb-21, RI) Pakistani Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has begun vocational center, basic health units and computer center in Chakoti sector. (Mar-29, GOP)

GOP goal was to have all camps consisting of fewer than 50 (currently at 102,000 people) closed by March 31. (Mar-28, IFRC) FRC said 374,272 shelters have been completed while another 39,292 are under construction. (Mar-31, GOP) IFRC will assist further 20,000 families with emergency shelter and 10,000 with durable shelter for future emergencies. (Mar-28, IFRC)

US is set to end relief operations in quake-hit northern Pakistan when about 200 troops will leave on April 15, ending the largest relief operation ever carried out by the US military. Australian troops will also be ending their relief operations as well. US Ambassador to Pakistan, Ryan Crocker, said US will provide US$200 million over the next few years to support relief work. (Mar-30, Dawn) USAID will assist in relief and recovery phase. (Apr-6, UNJLC) According to German Defense Ministry on Friday (March 31), German military ended final part of relief effort with withdrawal of final two helicopters. (Mar-31, AP) March 31 was final day of operations for eight military helicopters (four US Chinooks, two German Stallions and two Australian Blackhawks) tasked by UNHAS. (Mar-31, UNJLC)

At least 12 people were injured when an aftershock measuring at least 5.2 on the Richter scale struck northern Pakistan today. The epicenter was in the Hazara division, about 125 miles (200 km) northeast of NWFP’s capital of Peshawar. The region has seen more than 1,800 aftershocks, which have caused landslides and damaged infrastructure, including roads. (Apr-4, AFP)

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. 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) USAID says affected population includes orphaned children, widows who are now heads of households, elderly, and those handicapped by the earthquake. This group includes approximately 5,000 who will need support with housing, wat/san, food, and income-general activities. UNHCR and local authorities identifying resettlement sites for this population. (Mar-03, USAID) IOM and the GOP launched an information and awareness-raising campaign on March 30 to reduce trafficking of women and children in affected areas. (Mar-30, IRIN) Save the Children says that some 300,000 children are unable to return to school yet, and is urging the GOP and other NGOs to take action to help get the children back into classes. (Apr-3, STC)
Coordination	According to the GOP, Khawja M. Saleem Bismal, chair of the Muzaffarabad Development Authority (MDA,) said that about US$2.4 billion dollars in compensation would be distributed among affected people. One-third of foreign aid would be spent for housing reconstruction. (Apr-3, GOP) ERRA will be placing a District Reconstruction Unit in each hub to coordinate the transitional/reconstruction phase of operations. (Mar-31, UNJLC) Pakistan plans to set up some 50 new seismic stations to monitor future earthquakes, Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, director general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department said. The stations will be operational by June 2007. Zaman says that 15 stations will be set up soon and will also act as tsunami warning centers. (Apr-6, DPA) The GOP is expected to provide information on land allocation for those displaced by the earthquake. The chief of the government-run Camp Management Organization (CMO) in Muzaffarabad, Sardar Nawaz, said that lists had been compiled showing which areas were safe to return to. (Apr-5, Reuters) According to OCHA, ERRA is in the process of establishing Technical Working Groups at the federal and provincial levels with the aim to coordinate and monitor reconstruction activities. (Mar-24, OCHA) DFID emergency team plans to withdraw by the end of March. UNJLC is ending mission on April 12. (Mar-2, UNJLC) UNJLC is determining which of UNJLC’s functions may be required after this date, although not necessarily under UNJLC responsibility. (Mar-22, UNJLC) FRC Maj. Gen. Farooq Ahmend Khan says that rehabilitation work will begin on April 1. (Mar-9, GOP) According to UNJLC, the GOP has waived customs duty and other taxes on goods imported for the relief operation for three months. To qualify for such an exemption, a “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” must be issued for each consignment. The FRC has delegated the issuing of NOC’s for International organizations, NGOs to the ERC within the Cabinet Division. (Mar-11, UNJLC) Sustainable Return Taskforce (SRT) now in full swing. OCHA is lead agency. (Feb-16, UNHCR) UNHCR, Oxfam, IOM and NRC also involved. SRT covers issues of IDPs, protection and advocacy. (Feb-17, OCHA) SRTF was created by 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) UN-led cluster breakdown is as follows: Shelter – IOM; Food and Nutrition – WFP; Health – WHO; Wat/san – UNICEF; Logistics – WFP; Protection and Education – UNICEF. (Feb-22, UNHCR) 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. Federal Relief Commission coordinates rescue and relief operations. Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan, is the Federal Relief Commissioner.
Logistics	UN country team has officially identified its requirements and approved the budget for continuing UNHAS fleet of 13 helicopters, which was scheduled to take effect on April 1^st. March 31 was the final day of operations for the eight military helicopters which were tasked by UNHAS. (Mar-31, UNJLC) IOM has been providing free passenger bus service in Balakot and adjacent areas, utilizing some 17 passenger buses. (Apr-4, GOP) Almost all roads into Jhelum and Neelum valleys have been either washed away or blocked by landslides. (Mar-28, IOM) IOM says that in order to facilitate speedy returns, they are offering free transport home to nearly 300,000 survivors of the earthquake living in government-run temporary relief camps. IOM says that it will initially start with some 150 trucks and jeeps and will expand the program as more survivors choose to return. (Mar-20, IRIN) Although UNJLC mandate is scheduled to end on April 12, a request has been filed by the HC to retain UNJLC presence in-country until June 30. UNJLC is determining which of UNJLC’s functions may be required after this date, although not necessarily under UNJLC responsibility. (Mar-22, UNJLC) For road status updates see www.unjlc.org/pakistan (Mar-31, UNJLC)
International Financial Assistance	The UN reports that a donor mission comprised of representatives from Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the US, ECHO and UNOCHA are currently on a 6-day visit to Pakistan, scheduled to end on Friday (April 7). (Apr-1, UNOPS) France has pledged some US$94 million soft loan for reconstruction in affected areas. (Apr-2, GOP) ADB granting US$5 million to help poor households affected by quake. (Mar-28, ADB) Germany has pledged it would provide US$80 million in health, housing and infrastructure development projects in rebuilding effort – part of US$110 million German pledge for relief and rehabilitation. (Mar-30, GOP) Phased withdrawal of 1,200 US troops began in mid-February, and by April 15, remaining 200 troops will leave. (Mar-30, Dawn) According to GOP, US has pledged a total of US$510 million for relief and reconstruction efforts. (Mar-20, GOP) So far, the UN has gained about US$376 million of its six-month US$552 million emergency appeal, which ends in April. Donor countries in November pledged US$6.2 million for quake relief and reconstruction. However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on March 7 that the government may not take the full donor amount as some terms did not suit Pakistan. (Mar-08, AFP, GOP) UNCT reports that contrary to some perception, international response has been above average. Expenditure rate is also above average, exceeding 55 percent of contributions so far. (Feb-23, UNCT) 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.
Food	WFP reached an estimated 923,000 people with 14,817 tons of food in March. (Mar-31, WFP) General IDP camp feeding will end on 31 March. Only targeted camp feeding of vulnerable persons will take place on the basis of requests by Provincial Governments and endorsed by ERRA. General food distribution is also ending on 31 March. Only targeted ‘Food-for-Work’ and ‘Food-for-Training’ will continue at a much-reduced level. General hospital feeding will end on 31 March. (Mar-24, UNHCR) GOP is starting integrated plan to revive agriculture in affected areas. World Bank, FAO and local companies will be providing 900 tons of wheat seed and 1,650 tons of fertilizer. (Mar-26, GOP) WFP Executive Board recently cleared two-year PRRO, which will commence on April 1. About 670,000 homeless people who lack remittances and other family support will be provided with food as they rebuild communities. School feeding will address 450,000 children. Distribution will occur in remote villages until basic infrastructure and trade is restored. (Mar-21, WFP) About a quarter of livestock was destroyed, while a third of standing crops were not harvested last October. Significant food and seed supplies were also lost in the quake. (Mar-8, WFP). NGOs said return of IDPs to places without sufficient land is problematic, as some land was destroyed by the earthquake. Average plot size in the area is said to be only about 1.4 hectares, only half of which is under cultivation. However, agriculture makes up nearly half the household income in the region. (Mar-09, IRIN) WFP announced food-for-work project for survivors living in, or returning to remote highland valleys. Two-year operation will cover 670,000 affected people in NWFP and PcK. Initially, about 82,000 families would receive family rations in exchange for help in repairing community infrastructure. Second phase would include training 32,600 men and women in livelihood and agriculture skills, as well as reconstruction. (Mar-05, DPA) Many survivors likely to remain dependent upon food assistance at least until next harvest in September/October. (Feb-23, UNCT) FRC has in reserve 2,800 tons of food items to provide to people before their departure from camps. (Feb-27, Dawn)
Water and Sanitation	Access to safe drinking water: In Muzaffarabad, 87% of the target population in camps and 97% of the target population outside camps have access to safe drinking water. In Bagh, 100% of the population in camps and 10% of the population outside camps have access to safe drinking water. In Shangla, 100% of the target population in camps and 33% outside camps have access to safe drinking water. In Mansehra, the ratio is 81% versus 21%. In Battagram, 31% of the target population outside camps have access to safe drinking water. (Mar-24, UNHCR) Access to sanitation facilities: In Muzaffarabad, 96% of the target population in camps and 55% of the target population outside camps have access to sanitation facilities. In Bagh, 100% of the population in camps and 25% of the population outside camps have access to sanitation facilities. In Shangla, 100% of the target population outside camps have access to sanitation facilities. In Mansehra, 70% of the target population in camps have access to proper sanitation facilities. In Battagram, 89% of the target population outside camps have access to sanitation facilities. (Mar-24, UNHCR) Between 50% to 100% of irrigation structures and water systems were damaged and buried in some areas. (Mar-8, WFP) Landslides have also blocked or damaged access to water sources. NGOs say water access is major priority in areas such as Bagh and Muzaffarabad. (Feb-28, IRIN)
Public Health/Medical	WHO says a total of some 378,037 health events under surveillance were reported, with some 80 deaths over the past month. WHO says the main causes for consultations this week are Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) (25%), Acute Watery Diarrhea (6%), Fever of Unexplained Origin (4%) and Injuries (4%). Some 21,984 cases of ARI with 3 related deaths were reported. WHO says that 14 suspected cases of measles was reported this week, of them, some 21% were reported from Muzaffarabad and another 21% from Bagh district. (Apr-3, WHO) WHO says that with many temporary health facilities already completed and about to be completed, the MoH is urgently trying to solve the shortage of medical staff. (Mar-29, WHO) WHO is looking into alternatives to field hospitals, primary health care clinics and mobile clinics that are gradually phasing out. The Ministry of Health supported by WHO is planning to set up a disaster preparedness programme with the aim of strengthening the health response in future disasters. (Mar-24, UNHCR) All temporary and permanent health facilities need to get a Non Objection Certificate (NOC) from ERRA, including those facilities that are almost completed. (Mar-29, WHO) National Task Force (NTF) approved National Plan of Action for psychological services and trauma counseling of earthquake affectees. (Mar-28, GOP)
Shelter	Data collection for tracking of shelter-related non-food items will cease on 31 March, after which it will be handled by UNJLC. (Mar-24, UNHCR) A total of 156 camps with a population of 142,940 people are in the earthquake-affected area. Out of this, 96 camps with 86,264 people are located in PAK and 60 camps with 56,676 people are located in NWFP. (Mar-24, UNHCR) NRC and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) providing legal and protection advice for returnees. (Mar-02, UNHCR) According to ERRA, many rural residents require transitional shelter for up to three years. USAID/DART says urban residents may need it for five or more years. USAID/DART working on transitional shelters. (Feb-24, USAID) Construction of permanent homes will begin in April, but it may be impossible to rebuild the 400,000 houses needed before the start of next winter. (Feb-23, Christian Aid)
Infrastructure	GOP reports that three new elementary schools will be built over the next three months in PcK. The Canadian Relief Foundation will contract local builders to facilitate the project. (Apr-6, GOP) The Pak-Turk Foundation has spent some US$30 million dollars on various projects, including the reconstruction of 11 educational institutions, and relief and health-related activities in Pck and NWFP. (Apr-6, GOP) Oxfam says that some 84 percent of houses in PcK were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake while in NWFP, some 36 percent of homes were affected. (Apr-5, IRIN) Most rebuilding will be done by owners with aid from aid agencies. World Bank is estimating that rebuilding of 400,000 homes will require effort of 59,000 skilled laborers. (Mar-23, Oxfam) USAID and SC rebuilding infrastructure to villages, as well as the villages themselves through cash-for-work programs. (Mar-20, GOP) Although GOP is estimating that 66 percent of construction will be completed by end of 2006, Oxfam says estimate may be overly optimistic due to scale of destruction. Agency says priority is to ensure that majority of IDPs will not be in winter shelters again this year. (Mar-23, Oxfam) The GOP says that donors will spend some Rs.5954.97 million on the reconstruction of some 408 earthquake-resistant educational facilities in PcK. (Mar-17, GOP) The chair of ERRA, Altaf Slaim said earlier this week that the reconstruction of damaged housing units will be completed by next winter. He also said that ERRA has selected 11 different areas, out of which in its first phase, it will focus on five areas, including livelihood, housing and physical planning, education and health sponsorship. (Mar-20, GOP) Oxfam reports that in PcK alone, 80% of crops and 50% of arable land was destroyed with more than 100,000 cattle killed. (Mar-13, Oxfam) The chair of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Dr. Naseem Ashraf said that some 800 new schools will be opened in PcK with the help of UNICEF. In PcK, some 1,800 schools out of some 3,100 schools were destroyed. (Mar-11, GOP) IOM says that it has begun the removal of rubble from Muzaffarabad. According to IOM, over 40 million cubic meters of rubble was left in the city. (Mar-25, IRIN) According to ERRA estimates, of the more than 400,000 houses in the area, 51 percent were totally destroyed, while the rest were repairable. (Mar-08, DPA) 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.
Security	UNJLC reported overall security situation across the affected region has remained calm. However, in Batagram the security situation in the area is somewhat tense due to local unrest. A German Red Cross vehicle was reportedly stoned. Local religious leaders have requested foreign females to not frequent the local market. UNDSS has requested female internationals to limit their movements. A sunset to sunrise curfew remains in place at the UN base camp and office. (Mar-31, UNJLC) In Bagh there have been protests over government compensation for returnees, along with some discontent from IDPs over camp closures, UNJLC reports. UN staff has been asked to avoid protest areas and the impact on activities has been minimal, according to UNJLC. (Apr-6, UNJLC) According to WFP, international UN staff continued to be escorted in NWFP on all road missions. (Mar-31, WFP) WVI is relocating several of its Child Friendly Spaces and establishing new spaces as displaced families leave camps and return home or to new areas. (Apr-4, WVI) Security alert for foreign agencies working in NWFP, following some clashes between tribal militants in the province, and an outbreak of violence in the neighboring semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which borders Afghanistan. Staff belonging to international agencies have been told by the security coordinating office in Islamabad to restrict their movements to only necessary travel. International staff were also directed to avoid traveling to southern parts of the NWFP, which border FATA. However, there were no clear directives on traveling to areas affected by the October 2005 earthquake, which are mostly in the northern part of NWFP. (Mar-30, Khaleej, Reuters) In line w/ IDP Returns Framework, the Protection Cluster takes the lead in monitoring and reporting on protection issues. In Manshera, protection monitoring mechanism implemented by team of 80 UN and NGO personnel. GOP and UN agencies visited areas of return to assess conditions. (Mar-24, UNHCR)