PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 015730

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
SOUTH ASIA RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE
DCHA/FFP FOR LAUREN LANDIS
ANE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD
BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER
ROME PASS FODAG
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
NSC FOR JMELINE
EUCOM FOR POLA/J3/J4/J5
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER
NEW YORK FOR TMALY
SECDEF FOR SOLIC/PKHA, USDP/J3
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC FOR J3/J4/J5
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE FOR J3/J5


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR ASEC MASS ECON KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT
4


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Summary
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1. The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there
are 100,000 to 250,000 people who are not receiving relief
in remote areas. UNICEF will be assessing these un-accessed
areas. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) requested that the
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) establish camps
at sites in Balakot, Batagram, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad,
Shangla, and Gari Habibullah. The shelter cluster group
reported that 2 million people need shelter. The Pakistani
military plans to establish camps in Balakot, Gari
Habibullah, and Batagram within the next 24 hours. End
summary.

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Logistics
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2. On October 18, a U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative
attended the Logistics cluster group meeting and reported
that the lack of information regarding needs of earthquake
affected residents as well as the specific areas affected is
still the major problem. The group reported that it is
difficult to determine what relief supplies are in the
pipeline.


3. One group participant estimated that on the civilian
side of the airport, there are 300 metric tons or 120
pallets still on the ground. In response to increasing
traffic, the GOP has just announced that non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) have six hours to clear cargo after it
arrives. Cargo that is not moved during that time will be
picked up by the Pakistani military, presumably for
distribution.

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Water and Sanitation
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4. On October 18, a USAID/Pakistan representative attended
a water and sanitation cluster group meeting and reported
that UNICEF has set up a team to assess un-accessed areas.
UNICEF estimates that there are 100,000 to 250,000 people
who are not receiving relief in remote areas. The UNICEF
team will conduct a rapid assessment of these villages.
Meeting participants reported that there is no additional
need for mobile treatment units in Muzaffarabad.


5. UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) are
collaborating to provide safe and clean drinking water in
affected areas. The MOE has constituted a survey team that
has already surveyed Muzaffarabad and is currently surveying
Balakot in order to assess the feasibility of installing
water purification plants. The survey team will identify
the water source, quality, and the capacity of the treatment
plant in terms of the treated water output. The MOE has
ordered four plants, one of which will be installed in
Muzaffarabad on October 19.

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Camp Management
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6. On October 18, UNHCR briefed the diplomatic community on
its efforts as leader of the camp management cluster for the
relief effort. UNHCR reported that it needs funding for the
camp management category of the U.N.'s 2005 South Asia
Earthquake appeal in the amount of $22 million. The food
cluster appeal contains funding for food for those in the
camps, but the camp management appeal includes funding for
all other elements needed to establish camps logistics,
water and sanitation, health, shelter, and emergency relief
supplies such as kitchen sets and blankets. UNHCR has
already spent USD 7,584,000 from its operational reserve,
which must be replenished.


7. UNHCR reported the following main points:

--UNHCR's main goal is to discourage additional displacement
by providing technical and organizational assistance to
informal settlements and tents and emergency relief supplies
to individual families who want to remain near their homes;

--The GOP requested that UNHCR establish camps at sites in
Balakot, Batagram, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Shangla, and Gari
Habibullah;

--UNHCR will plan camps of 5,000 persons except in
Muzaffarabad where there is limited space. UNHCR will not
erect tents until people request to stay in the camp. UNHCR
will not object if those in the camp decide to leave and
take their tents nearer to their homes;

--UNHCR has already distributed 3,000 winterized tents and
2,000 kerosene stoves. UNHCR has an additional 10,000
tents, 20,000 blankets, and other emergency relief items on
the way;

--UNHCR plans for the camps to remain open only six months;
after this period, UNHCR anticipates that the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) or another agency will
assume management of any camps that may still be necessary;

--Camp size will be limited to 5,000 persons because of the
difficult terrain, and UNHCR will rely on the GOP to
identify appropriate locations for camps;

--UNHCR has no plans to establish camps in Islamabad,
Rawalpindi, or other urban areas; however, UNHCR will
provide technical assistance to the GOP if it decides to
construct urban camps.

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Shelter
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8. On October 18, the USAID/DART Structural Specialist and
the U.S. Military Officer Liaison to the USAID/DART attended
the shelter cluster meeting and reported that 300,000 tents
are necessary. The cluster group reported that some
residents who live in higher altitude areas are trying to
relocate to camp cities in lower areas as they fear
landslides and snowfall. Blankets and tents are the most
critically needed items. The shelter cluster reported that
2 million residents need shelter, and 500,000 people may
need to move to camps. The Pakistani military plans to
establish camps in Balakot, Gari Habibullah, and Batagram
within the next 24 hours. UNHCR reported that they will be
operating here on a temporary basis for six to seven months.

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USAID/DART Assessment Trips
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9. On October 19, the two USAID/DART team members and U.S.
Embassy/Pakistan representatives deployed to Muzaffarabad to
conduct follow-up assessments and coordinate relief
activities with the U.N.


CROCKER