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)

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)

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)

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) 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

FRC says over 13,000 sorties have been flown in affected areas thus far. (Dec-23, GOP)

In Muzaffarabad, there are reports of minor population movements from higher altitudes. In Bagh, there are no reports of massive downward movement, while in Batagram there has been ongoing migration of people from higher elevations, into camps, according to OCHA. (Dec-23, OCHA)

The number of helicopters has decreased slightly with foreign militaries leaving. Eight of the seventeen helicopters provided by foreign governments are leaving. However, 2 additional UNHAS and 2 more helicopters from NGOs have been provided. (Dec-23, OCHA)

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)

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

As of December 23, commitments and contributions against the UN Flash Appeal stand at US$240.7 million (43.6% of overall requirements). Another US$19.3 million is pledged, bringing total coverage of flash appeal to some 47%. (Dec-23, OCHA)

UN Foundation has established South Asia Earthquake Response Fund to enable private-sector donors to support the UN’s relief and rehabilitation efforts. Initial contribution of US$ 1 million has been made. (Dec-21, Reuters)

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)

Water and Sanitation

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

The Ministry of Health of PcK, UNICEF and the Qatar Charity Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide medical assistance to victims in five locations in PcK and NWFP. According to the country director of Qatar Charity, the collaboration aims at providing emergency medical services focusing on women and children by establishing, equipping and deploying 18 medical teams to select areas for 6 months. MOH will supply the teams, UNICEF will provide “Emergency Medical Kits”-- enough to cover the needs of 10,000 for 6 months, while the Qatar Charity will provide funds. (Dec-23, GOP)

IOM has deployed Mental Health and Psychosocial support teams to cities and camps. IOM found that after interviewing 1390 people, some 117 (8.4%) were diagnosed with various degrees of mental problems. Women and children were most affected. (Dec-27, IOM)

According to the latest reports, issued jointly by the Pakistan government and World Health Organization (WHO), Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) account for 20-30% of the consultations among children under the age of five in the earthquake-affected areas. (Dec-22, UNICEF)

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 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)

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

FRC says Pakistani Army and NGOs have provided over 200,000 shelters to survivors over 5000 ft. as of December 23. Total of 746,000 tents, 4.9 million blankets and quilts have been given to survivors. More than 443,000 CGI sheets have been delivered with more in the pipeline. (Dec-24, GOP)

There are some 55 tent villages in PcK which house over 58,000 people, with 23 tent villages in NWFP, housing over 35,000 people, according to the FRC. There are some 400 spontaneous tent villages housing over 100,000 people. (Dec-24, GOP)

According to rapid assessment by UN, some one tenth of tents are too thin to withstand the winter. Some 75 percent of households require extra protection to get through winter. Some 1 million blankets or half a million quilts still needed, UNICEF says. (Dec-22, UNICEF)

Emergency Shelter Cluster is urging the international community to provide plastic sheeting. (Dec-23, OCHA)

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)

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

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)

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)