Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISLAMABAD15766
2005-10-20 11:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT

Tags:  EAID AEMR ASEC MASS ECON KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 ISLAMABAD 015766 

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
3


-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 ISLAMABAD 015766

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
3


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. The Government of Pakistan (GOP) estimates that the
earthquake killed 41,121 people and injured 67,634 others,
and these numbers are likely to increase. The
USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) reports
that the GOP has made a credible effort to respond to the
earthquake given the difficult circumstances, and relief
activities are moving at a much faster pace than the
USAID/DART has observed during other disasters. Too many
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are operating in easy
to reach places, and humanitarian agencies involved in the
response are concerned that too much humanitarian assistance
will be provided in these areas, while the more remote areas
will continue to be neglected. The U.N. World Health
Organization (WHO) reports that water purification plants,
chlorine tablets and/or water treatment sachets, tents,
blankets, and mobile operation theaters are the most urgent
health needs. The International Organization for Migration
(IOM) estimates that between 300,000 and 600,000 winterized
tents are necessary. To date, approximately 20,000 tents
from the international community have been distributed, and

130,000 tents are in the pipeline. The GOP reports that
100,000 tents have been distributed, and 150,000 tents are
in the GOP pipeline, but this has not been confirmed. End
summary.

--------------
Health
--------------


2. On October 16, the USAID/DART Health Officer (HO)
attended the health cluster meeting. The USAID/DART HO
reported that the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is
setting up a 200-bed hospital and equipment in Abbottabad
and has excess surgical equipment. IOM reported that there
is an urgent need for paramedics, doctors, and volunteers in
Muzaffarabad. Meeting participants expressed concern about
reports from Mansehra indicating that blood is being
transfused without adequate screening.


3. The Pakistani military has established a 100 to 200-bed
triage hospital at Chaklala airbase to admit patients
directly on arrival. The Pakistani Ministry of Health (MOH)
will decide where to send the patients after treatment.


4. The GOP will be opening up 10,000 hospital beds
throughout the country within the next few days. The MOH
reported that at least 50,000 people are in need of hospital
care and have not yet received any medical care. The
Pakistani military plans to send a field hospital to the
Neelum Valley.


5. According to WHO, the lack of basic necessities such as
food, water, blankets, and tents is also affecting health
workers in the field. The previously existing health system
no longer exists as many health facilities have been
destroyed or damaged, and health staff are either highly
traumatized, injured, dead or taking care of their own
family members.


6. WHO reported that medical and surgical teams are
treating thousands of patients per day, and patients are now
arriving with infected open fractures and gangrene. WHO
expects that the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation
facilities for the affected population could soon create a
major health threat if sufficient quantities of drinking
water are not provided. WHO reported that the major risks
are diarrheal and pulmonary diseases and the non-treatment
of injuries of earthquake victims.


7. On October 17, the health cluster reported that urgent
surgical requirements include both surgical supplies and
anti-tetanus globulin. Additional referral sites are being
established in Sindh and Punjab. WHO reported that the
urgent health needs are water purification plants, chlorine
tablets and/or water treatment sachets, tents, blankets, and
mobile operation theaters.

--------------
Water and Sanitation
--------------


8. On October 17, the U.N. Liaison Officer (LO) attended
the water and sanitation meeting and reported that while the
situation is reportedly improving, it is still serious. It
has been estimated that less than 20 percent of the critical
water and sanitation needs have been met. The water and
sanitation cluster reported that there are more than two
million people lacking sanitation facilities. The
priorities are to obtain adequate and safe drinking water,
sanitary disposal of excreta, and ensure basic hygiene.

--------------
Food
--------------


9. Food distributions have started in Muzaffarabad. The
food cluster reports that 67,400 people in 29 villages in
the Muzaffarabad area have been supplied with high energy
biscuits from 19 distribution points. A second round of
distributions will start shortly. The food cluster reports
that 100 metric tons (MT) have been delivered to the
Muzaffarabad area as of October 16.


10. On October 17, a U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative
attended the food and nutrition cluster meeting. The U.N.
World Food Program (WFP) reported that a revised flash
appeal will be announced on October 24. WFP is still
attempting to assess areas that were affected by the
earthquake. WFP will conduct an aerial reconnaissance in
the next two days to determine which roads were damaged and
what areas are accessible. WFP will also try to assess the
migration patterns of people. From the current migration
patterns, there is already an assumption that there will be
two outcomes regarding food distributions: large camps for
people where food will be needed and food will have to be
transported to inaccessible and remote areas.


11. WFP is examining transporting food from Muzaffarabad to
more remote areas for distribution. WFP is also trying to
determine the following: the amount of food in country,
what additional food is coming into the country, percentage
of affected areas needing food, and how much food is
required to assist affected areas. WFP's goal is to assist
the one million most vulnerable people. Currently, the
ration requirements are: 450 grams of wheat flour, 70 grams
of vegetable oil, 5 grams of iodized salt, 200 grams of high
energy biscuits, and 80 grams of dates.

--------------
Shelter
--------------


12. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
continues to report that tents are the top priority, and IOM
reported that the immediate need for shelter is becoming
more critical as survivors continue to live outdoors in the
rain and the cold nine days after the earthquake. At the
October 17 shelter meeting, IOM provided tentative figures
and estimated that between 300,000 and 600,000 winterized
tents or non-tent shelters would be required. To date,
approximately 20,000 tents from the international community
have been distributed, and 130,000 tents are in the
pipeline, including tents on the way and those on order that
may not arrive until November. The GOP reports that 100,000
tents have been distributed, and 150,000 tents are in the
GOP pipeline, but this has not been confirmed. Urgent
shelter needs exist in Bagh, Balakot, Mansehra, and
Batagram. All tents must be winterized. According to the
GOP, 600,000 tents are needed to support a vulnerable
population of 3,000,000 affected residents. The critical
window for the delivery of tents is the next four weeks, as
the weather will then worsen.


13. Although UNHCR would prefer to support spontaneous
settlements, the GOP is pressuring UNHCR to establish large
camps. UNHCR is now working in five different locations,
and the cluster reported that earthquake victims are now
coming to UNHCR camps sites to obtain supplies and are then
returning to their home sites. This leads UNHCR to believe
that the problem is one of distribution rather than the need
for camps.

--------------
Camp Management
--------------


14. At the camp management cluster meeting on October 17,
participants agreed that the goals of the camp management
cluster are to avoid displacement by providing shelter and
emergency relief items to people near their homes; provide
assistance to informal settlements as a means of preventing
the need for larger camps; establish camps only when
necessary and keep them as small as possible; when
necessary, provide technical assistance to camps established
by others; and aim to adhere to Sphere standards. The
United Kingdom's Department for International Development
(DFID) noted that in four weeks, the weather will change and
there will be heavy snowfall.

--------------
Protection
--------------


15. The GOP is enforcing a quote No-Adoption end quote
policy for the immediate future. The GOP is also placing
orphans in camps with relatives. Children are currently not
being registered as they are evacuated from hospitals.
Assessments are being conducted at local hospitals to
identify the number of children not registered.

--------------
Logistics
--------------


16. According to the USAID/DART, the military side of the
airport is functioning efficiently; however, one of the
major problems is the logjam at the civilian airport, as
there are many pallets whose contents and owners are
unknown. The logistics cluster group meeting reported that
a mapping system is needed for the distribution network.
The USAID/DART Team Leader reported that the USAID/DART
continues to work with military colleagues to coordinate the
offloading and distribution of relief commodities. For
extremely large amounts of commodities, the USAID/DART has
recommended that the military link with the U.N. Joint
Logistics Center (UNJLC) and /or the Pakistani military to
arrange delivery. The UNJLC is in the process of setting up
a presence at the airport.

--------------
Relief commodities
--------------


17. On October 15, the USAID/DART Administrative Officer
and the USAID/DART Public Affairs Officer flew by Chinook
with the U.S. military to deliver a pallet of 225 blankets
and water containers to Mercy Corps in the village of Jabori
in the Sonar Valley. After delivering the blankets and
water containers, the team flew to Balakot to transport
women and children needing additional medical treatment to
Islamabad.


18. On October 16, 17, 18, three USAID airlifts of relief
commodities carrying tents arrived in Pakistan. A total of
1,570 tents will be provided to Mercy Corps and transported
to the Mansehra region to be distributed between the Battal
and Siran valleys. The value of this assistance including
transport is USD 471,436.


19. On October 18, a USAID airlift of 20 concrete cutting
saws arrived in Pakistan. The value of assistance,
including transport, is USD 64,617.


20. On October 18, two USAID airlifts of relief commodities
arrived in Pakistan. The two airlifts carried a total of
650 rolls of plastic sheeting, 5,000 blankets, and 5,000
water containers. The total value of this assistance,
including transport, is USD 301,750.

--------------
Coordination
--------------


21. On October 17, the USAID/DART Team Leader met with
representatives from DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian
Affairs Department (DFID CHAD) and the European Commission's
Humanitarian Aid Department's Disaster Preparedness Program
(DIPECHO) to discuss the coordination of relief efforts and
develop a comprehensive response strategy between the three
organizations.


22. The USAID/DART reports that the GOP has made a
credible effort to respond to the earthquake given the
difficult circumstances, and relief activities are moving at
a much faster pace than has been observed by the USAID/DART
in other major disasters. Although there are many problems,
the USAID/DART expects to see an improvement in coordination
as the GOP moves from a tactical to a more
strategic mode.


CROCKER