PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 015254 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USAID KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AADP AEMR CASC EAID MASS PK PREL SENV ASEC PA SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT REF: A. ISLAMABAD 15208 ¶B. ISLAMABAD 15130 ¶1. Summary and introduction: The Government of Pakistan (GOP) says that it has confirmed 19,136 deaths and 42,397 injuries from the October 8 earthquake; both figures will climb as rescue/recovery efforts continue. The GOP has centralized disaster relief coordination in the Prime Minister's office, under the leadership of a military officer. The UN estimates that a population of four million has been directly affected by the earthquake, with one million in the most severly affected zones. USG assistance -- humanitarian and logistical assistance and eight helicopters to provide airlift -- has begun arriving in Islamabad, and DART disaster assessments are underway. Post has facilitated press coverage of incoming U.S. assistance and the Ambassador has conducted a series of interviews with major U.S. and international media outlets. As the GOP has now begun to organize itself to confront the full implications of this disaster, post will focus on determining the specific material and services required for the relief effort. ¶2. The U.S. announcement of an initial USD 50 million in relief and reconstruction assistance struck just the right chord. The Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen. Hayat telephoned the Ambassador to express the GOP's gratitude for the contribution and the arrival of U.S. helicopters for air lift support. Having just returned from a tour of affected areas, LTG Hayat indicated that Pakistan will require as many helicopters as possible for an indefinite period, as areas north of Mansehra and Muzzafarabad are inaccessible by road. In Gen. Hayat's words, "the U.S. offer of assistance has given both the Pakistani military and public a huge psychological boost," so much so that it is now possible to imagine that the country will pull through this crisis. End summary and introduction. GOP and NGO Relief Efforts -------------- ¶3. Disaster Relief Structure: Coordination for relief efforts is now centered in the Prime Minister's office, under the leadership of MG Faruk. Thus far, the military has been the most visible agency on relief efforts, with other government agencies scrambling to get in the game. The MFA and other agencies have established task force-style coordination centers. Activity has shifted out to the airport, where the Interior Ministry has relocated its National Crisis Management Cell and other agencies are sending out liaison officers. Various political parties have established relief funds; prominent politicians are following President Musharraf's lead in making large public donations to earthquake relief. ¶4. Donor Coordination: Post will report on GOP outreach to the donor community septel. USG Assistance - October 10, 2005 -------------- ¶5. USAID Response: A IL-76 carrying Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) relief supplies arrived in Islamabad midday October 10. Save the Children was positioned with trucks to transport the cargo (Blankets, plastic sheeting, water cans). Disaster Assistance Reaction Team (DART) team leader arrived at post on October 9 and has been assessing damage; the remainder of the team will arrive October 11 and 12. ¶6. Military Assets: The Office of the Defense Representative - Pakistan (ODRP) has coordinated the arrival of the following U.S. military assets: -- One (1) C-17 arrived early morning October 10, carrying relief supplies (Halal MREs, blankets, water),as well as a 10-ton fork lift and two (2) enlisted cargo handlers who have remained to off-load relief planes at Islamabad/Chaklala Airport. -- Eight (8) helicopters from CFC-A arrived midday, but did not fly any relief missions today. Helo crews will receive relief missions assignments on October 11, per coordination with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air operations center. -- Two (2) C-17s from McGuire AFB will arrive on October 10 carrying a 23-person Contingency Response Team and airfield management equipment. -- One (1) C-17 out of Kuwait will arrive late October 10 carrying blankets, medical supplies and water. -- One (1) C-130 out of Bahrain will arrive late October 10 carrying RDML Lefevere and a humanitarian coordination team. ¶7. CFC-A Coordination: CFC-A Commander LTG Eikenberry arrived in Islamabad midday for consultations with Embassy and GOP officials. The GOP has accepted an offer of four helicopters by the Government of Afghanistan (GOA); CFC-A will provide support for the Afghan helos and ODRP will provide ground support to the crews while in Pakistan. ¶8. NAS Assistance: Early on October 10, post's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) dispatched seven (7) vehicles and drivers to Manshera to assist with transportation needs at the request of the District Coordinating Officer. The Ministry of Interior Air Wing, a joint NAS-GOP program, remains engaged in aerial relief support. NAS helos have transported British search-and-rescue teams to remote areas and flown DART/Bill Berger on an aerial surveillance mission of the Muzzafarabad area. Public Diplomacy -------------- ¶9. Ambassador Crocker has given telephone interviews for the Monday morning shows on ABC, Fox, CNN and BBC Radio (UK and World Service). The GOP has facilitated access by international media access to both the civilian and military sides of the Islamabad airport, allowing video and camera coverage of incoming international assistance, including the arrival of USG relief flights. Post has distributed copies of the October 9 Statement by the White House Press Secretary to local media and to GOP officials. CROCKER