TFPK01 - PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: RELIEF OPERATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 015316 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015 TAGS: AEMR ASEC EAID MASS PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: TFPK01 - PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: RELIEF OPERATIONS UNDERWAY REF: A. (A) HUNT/TASKFORCE E-MAIL 10/12/05 ¶B. (B) ISLAMABAD 15278 AND PREVIOUS NOTAL ¶1. (SBU) Summary and introduction: Relief supplies and assistance teams are beginning to reach affected areas even as transportation remains a serious on-going problem. There is great concern that deteriorating weather conditions -- snow has already begun falling in parts of Kashmir -- may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Emergency shelter remains a top, largely unmet priority. Raids of relief convoys and distribution centers by locals in the earthquake zone demonstrate growing frustration with delays in provision of supplies. The GOP coordination effort remains hampered by a hierarchical structure and failure to adopt an open engagement policy with donors. Public sentiment nationwide continues to shift against the Government of Pakistan (GOP), as images of human suffering bombard the media. Criticism of international relief efforts is growing with public figures chastising the lack of airlift support and the lack of response from Muslim countries. President Musharraf took advantage of Secretary Rice's October 12 visit to Pakistan to publicly thank the U.S. for its generosity and steadfastness as Pakistan faces this major crisis. The Secretary assured the President and the people of Pakistan that the U.S. would provide both immediate relief assistance and long-term reconstruction support. End summary and introduction. GOP Efforts -------------- ¶2. (U) The Pakistan military remains the focal point for relief operations and continues to transport relief supplies and humanitarian teams to the worst-affected areas. Limited airlift capability (essential to reach many remote areas), crowded roads, and attacks on relief convoys by frustrated victims continue to hamper this process. Military and civilian officials remain concerned about inadequate stocks of tents and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter in impacted areas. With winter approaching, there is a real concern that deteriorating weather conditions could further imperil earthquake survivors. Police and civilian medical personnel have been detailed from unaffected areas of the country to support military relief operations, although shortages in certain areas such as surgeons and paramedics reportedly remain. Collection of domestic funds and relief supplies continues with reasonable success. Relief supplies collected by district government in unaffected areas are making their way to Islamabad for onward distribution. Many organizations are channeling contributions to the President's Relief Fund. The exception to this rule has been political parties, many of which have established their own collection drives. ¶3. (C) A 29-member Federal Earthquake Relief Cell, located in the Prime Minister's Secretariat and chaired by MG Farooq Ahmed Khan, comprises of all relevant sectors of the civilian and military bureaucracies. The cell is intended to be the nucleus of the central civil-military operations center for which post and other donors have been pressing. The GOP has declined, however, to convene this cell in a central location to allow donors periodic access to the members. Donors must instead liaise individually with the designated sectoral points of contact. Decision-making on assistance proposals remains hierarchical, with proposals reviewed during a daily 0900 meeting of the cell. Those given preliminary approval will be referred to more senior decision-making levels. Despite the Embassy's urging, the GOP has not adopted a collaborative, on-the-spot decision-making model. The Prime Minister's Office, however, has welcomed regular engagement with the USG on relief efforts, establishing a daily 1100 meeting with Embassy liaisons to discuss and coordinate relief operations. (Comment: This level of engagement will not get the job done. Post's designated interlocutor at these 1100 meetings, Additional Secretary Imtiaz, has so far failed to respond to any of the proposals or questions put forward by our liaisons. DCM and Embassy liaisons met with MG Farooq after COB October 12th to raise our concerns about the need for better communication from the GOP on matching USG resources to the GOP's needs. MG Farooq offered the Embassy direct access to his deputy -- also a Gen. Farooq -- who offered to join the edaily 1100 meetings. End comment.) USG Relief Efforts -------------- ¶4. (C) DOD continues to deliver regular supplies of tents, medical supplies, water, and meals ready-to-eat through Chaklala airbase in Islamabad. The schedule of twice daily C-17 and C-130 flights will need to continue for the foreseeable future, although the Office of Defense Representative - Pakistan (ODRP) is working with Pakistani military to improve airfield efficiency so that more flights can get in each day. Post has e-mailed ODRP reports of daily operations directly to Department's Task Force-1. ¶5. (SBU) The Ministry of Health has agreed to accept three (3) U.S. military field hospitals for the duration of the crisis, including staffing assistance from U.S. military personnel. While the GOP has yet to identify specific personnel needs, the Ministry of Health believes that surgeons and paramedics top the list of those specialties required. The Prime Minister's Office has promised to provide a list of priority deployment sites likely on October ¶13. The GOP recognizes that there is a 4-5 day ship-deliver-operation lag time on these items. ¶6. (U) The USAID/DART team is now in-country following flight delays and is up-and-running. All assistance items provided in the initial USAID airlift have been distributed through Save the Children. Post believes that it is essential for USAID to identify and provide additional assistance on a priority basis in order to increase the civilian side of USG earthquake relief. DART anticipates arrival in coming days of a second cargo flight of relief supplies, including 1500 tents, 5000 blankets, plastic sheeting, WHO health kits designed to serve 100,000 patients, two water treatment units and 5000 water containers; USAID has also transferred USD 9.3 million in response to the UN Flash Appeal and has increased the grant to the IFRC to USD 2 million. Corporate Donations -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Each of the sixty members of the American Busines Council in Karachi will contribute Rupees 100,000 (a total of approximately USD 100,000). Many members are making additional contributions through their U.S. headquarters or foundations, including Citibank (USD 4 million),Coca-Cola (USD 2 million),Boeing (USD 1 million),Pfizer (USD 1 million),Caltex (USD 300,000),IBM (USD 50,000) and El Paso Energy (USD 50,000). Other firms are making in-kind contributions: medical supplies (Abbott Labs, Johnson and Johnson, Becton Dickinson, Pfizer),tents (Gillette),food (Sheraton) and software support (IBM). Proctor and Gamble (which manufactures PuR water purification sachets in Pakistan for worldwide distribution) has given 500,000 sachets to NGOs for distribution in affected areas. (Note: Please protect information on these donations, as several of these companies have not yet made public announcements. End note.) USG Distribution Support -------------- ¶8. (U) Distribution of relief supplies by air is critical in isolated parts of Kashmir and NWFP. USG military air assets in-country consist of 5 CH-57s and 3 UH-60s (as of 1200 October 12). Four (4) MI-17s from the Afghan National Army, which flew ten sorties on October 12. These air assets are supplemented by the Joint Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) - Ministry of Interior Air Wing consisting of 5 UH-60s. All air assets have been fully committed ferrying relief supplies and teams during daylight hours on October 11 and 12. Mission priorities are determined by the Pakistan military. Fixed wing air traffic control and aircraft support are being provided by a self-contained team deployed from McGuire AFB now operational at Chaklala Air Base. Pakistan military is considering nighttime operation of rotary-wing aircraft. There is also discussion of establishing a second operations base for U.S. rotary wing aircraft at PAF Minhas. ¶9. (C) GOP continues to seek additional helicopter support from the USG. Twenty (20) CH-47 helicopters are scheduled to arrive at Baghram in approximately two days for deployment in Pakistan within a week. ODRP, in coordination with CENTCOM and CFC-A, is considering other sources of helo support to propose to the PAF, including four (4) State Department/INL MI-17s in Afghanistan and Tajikistan national MI-17s. ¶10. (C) During his October 12 meeting with CFC-A LTG Eikenberry, VCOAS Hayat agreed to ODRP's proposal to air drop rations into remote areas not presently accessible by road. High population density in some areas will complicate planning and force protection; drops will be possible only in areas where the Pakistan military has sufficient personnel on the ground to clear a drop site. Planning for these missions is underway; missions could begin as early as October 13. Public Perception -------------- ¶11. (U) Public anger over the GOP's perceived inability to meet humanitarian needs in the affected areas continues to grow. There appears to be a widespread belief that the GOP is not doing enough to ensure expeditious delivery of relief supplies. This sentiment is fueled by media reporting, interviews, and photographs displaying clearly-suffering individuals in the assistance zones. In affected areas, frustrated individuals have attacked and looted relief convoys and distribution centers and have attempted to forcibly board relief aircraft with the objective of evacuation. Public figures have also initiated criticism of international relief efforts, calling for additional helicopters to support air lift operations. Some commentators also took Muslim countries, in particular, to task for failing to respond rapidly and sufficiently. ¶12. (U) Mindful of public frustrations, President Musharraf took advantage of the press presence at the top of his October 12 meeting with Secretary Rice to praise the strong U.S. response to Pakistan's appeal for international assistance. (Note: Full reporting of the Secretary's meetings in Pakistan will be forwarded septel. End note.) He thanked the United States for its pledge of an initial USD 50 million in relief and reconstruction assistance, noting that he highlights U.S. air lift and material support when travels to affected areas of Kashmir and NWFP. The Secretary assured the President that the U.S. would support the Pakistani people through this crisis, starting with emergency relief and continuing through long-term reconstruction of the devastated regions. CROCKER