PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE: USAID/DART SITUATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 ISLAMABAD 016220

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 #9


--------------
Summary
--------------


1. The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART)
reports that the Government of Pakistan (GOP) is increasingly
open to non-tent shelter alternatives. In Muzaffarabad, the
U.N. Children,s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that it has met 80
to 90 percent of SPHERE standards for water. The GOP has
begun registering children in camps for internally displaced
persons (IDPs). The USAID/DART is assisting with the relief
to development transition. The USAID/DART continues to
facilitate the arrival of plastic sheeting, and it recently
transferred U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) tents to
implementing partners, who will distribute them for use as
medical clinics and classrooms. At present, 22 USAID/DART
representatives are in Pakistan. End Summary.

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


2. On October 25, the USAID/DART Shelter and Settlements
Advisor (SSA) accompanied the USAID Mission Director to
meetings with the GOP Relief and Reconstruction Task Forces
and discussed a range of shelter sector issues and options
other than tents, including transitional shelter and quote
one warm dry room end quote options. The USAID/DART SSA
provided the GOP Relief Task Force Coordinator with a copy of
the SPHERE project guidelines for humanitarian activities.
This document offers insights on the humanitarian
community,s activities, protocols, and outputs.


3. In discussions between the USAID/DART SSA and the GOP
Relief Task Force Coordinator (RTFC),it became clear that
the GOP is increasingly open to non-tent shelter options.
The RTFC provided a specific example of the Pakistani
military deploying three battalions of engineers to the
earthquake-affected areas to distribute corrugated metal
sheeting and provide guidance on the construction of quote
one warm dry room end quote.

4. The USAID/DART SSA attended an October 27 shelter cluster
group meeting in which the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) discussed its new shelter strategy paper.
IOM plans to organize a group with two or three
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to meet with GOP
representatives and discuss pressing shelter issues,
including a shift from emphasis on providing tents to
implementing other solutions such as shelters improvised from
available materials, repair kits for homes, warm rooms, and
host family grants.

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


5. According to the USAID/DART Water and Sanitation Officer
(WSO),UNICEF reported on October 27 that 90 percent of the
IDP camps in Muzaffarabad have water tanks in place. UNICEF
is directly managing three water tanker trucks dedicated to
delivering water to the Muzaffarabad camps. UNICEF stated
that their control over water delivery to camps will improve
the reliability of this service. UNICEF estimates that it
has met 80 to 90 percent of SPHERE standards for water in
camps in Muzaffarabad. UNICEF aims to meet 100 percent of
SPHERE standards in the coming days.


6. The USAID/DART WSO reported that UNICEF intends to meet
SPHERE latrine standards in all IDP camps in Muzaffarabad.
UNICEF has completed 30 percent of the work necessary toward
meeting SPHERE standards, and UNICEF plans to make major
progress toward meeting this goal in the next two to three
weeks. The limiting factor in the construction of latrines
is the availability of latrine slabs. UNICEF is
investigating and testing different construction techniques
in order to increase slab construction.

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


7. On October 26, a U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative
attended a U.N. logistics cluster group meeting. The U.N.
Joint Logistics Center (JLC) plans to have a presence at
every logistics base. Due to looting of CARE cargo in the
absence of a CARE representative at the time of the cargo
arrival, JLC now requires confirmation of cargo pickup before
allowing helicopters with cargo to fly.


8. At the U.N. logistics cluster group meeting, JLC reported
having a productive meeting with GOP officials on October 25.
In this meeting, the GOP reviewed the JLC operational plan,
and both parties declared a need for a joint logistical hub
and operational center. The chair of the October 25 meeting
stressed the importance of cooperation among humanitarian
groups, the Pakistani military, and the U.S. military.

--------------
Camps and Camp Management
--------------


9. A U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative who attended an
October 27 camp management cluster group meeting reported
that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is
maintaining its focus on preventing population displacement.
UNHCR is transporting tents and supplies to people near their
destroyed homes, setting up camps at lower elevations that
can be supplied by road during the winter, and identifying
and helping to organize and supply the many informal camps.


10. The U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative stated that
UNHCR will not manage camps far from the earthquake-affected
areas, but it has offered technical assistance to camps it
will not manage. At the request of the GOP, UNHCR will tour
Fateh Jang and Chatwal, two sites in the Punjab District far
from the area damaged by the earthquake. The GOP has
proposed this area be used as a site for camps for up to
300,000 people.


11. Participants at the camp management cluster group noted
that UNHCR and its partners, many of them local NGOs, are
operating nine camps in earthquake-affected areas. These
camps have a total estimated capacity of 5,200 tents, each
large enough for a family of 6 or 7. As of October 27, 1,308
tents were in the camps, and the total population was 7,170
people. NGOs are serving hot meals in some camps, but UNHCR
expects this service will not last long.


12. According to the U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative,
meeting participants noted that the GOP Interior Ministry's
National Database and Registration Administration (NADRA) is
registering earthquake victims who are in hospitals. UNHCR
plans to register IDPs in the camps it is administering and
is considering registering IDPs in other camps as well.

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


13. According to reports from the USAID/DART FO, the GOP
Office of Social Welfare (OSW) plans to register all children
) both accompanied and unaccompanied (orphan) ) in IDP
camps. However, the OSW lacks training on identifying
unaccompanied children and needs assistance to deal with the
long-term needs of such children.


14. On October 27, the USAID/DART FO reported that the GOP
has started registering children in the IDP camps in
Muzaffarabad. In one of the new IDP camps, the GOP
registered 930 children and did not find any unaccompanied
children. UNICEF reports that it has child protection
officers protecting unaccompanied or separated children in
the hospitals. The USAID/DART FO reported that the GOP
Ministry of Social Services (MSS) is in need of assistance,
as the MSS building and office equipment were destroyed, and
355 staff members are homeless. The MSS also urgently
requires technical assistance to deal with the short- and
long-term needs of unaccompanied children.

--------------
Education
--------------


15. The USAID/DART FO reported that the GOP is encouraging
the opening of schools, and UNICEF needs assistance setting
up schools in newly registered IDP camps. Both UNICEF and
the GOP Ministry of Education welcome U.S. military
assistance to clear debris from 20 priority school sites
within affected areas. Debris-clearing will begin on October

29.

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


16. The U.S. military Liaison Officer (LNO) to the
USAID/DART attended a U.N. general coordination meeting on
October 27. The LO reported that the GOP plans to move tent
camps below the snow line. Meeting participants stated that
three storage facilities will be located at Abbottabad, and
each will be capable of storing 400 tons of humanitarian
supplies for NGO use.


17. The USAID/DART Water and Sanitation Officer (WSO)
reported that the U.N. Humanitarian Information Center (HIC)
will place all its information on a common server at the U.N.
compound. Relief groups will be able to access this server
using a wireless network that serves the compound.


18. The USAID/DART is working with USAID/Pakistan to ensure
a smooth transition from humanitarian relief programs,
implemented in response to the earthquake, to
USAID/Pakistan,s longer term development programs.

--------------
Pakistani Military Activities
--------------


19. According to local media reports, the Pakistani military
set up three main reporting and information centers for the
security and effective execution of relief, rescue, and
rehabilitation operations in the earthquake-hit areas of the
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). The Pakistani military
set up these centers at Havelian, Mansehra, and Gari
Habibullah, and military and civil police are jointly manning
the centers. The Pakistani military established 52 free
public call offices to facilitate coordination of relief
activities.
--------------
Relief to Development Transition
--------------


20. The USAID Mission Director, USAID/DART Team Leader, and
USAID/DART SSA attended an October 28 meeting of the GOP
Federal Relief Cell. In the meeting, the RTFC gave a
detailed, multi-sectoral presentation on current GOP strategy
for relief activities through March 2006. Representatives of
international organizations requested that the GOP create a
joint strategic planning committee to provide further
guidance on sectoral activities. Following the meeting, the
RTFC met with USAID/DART representatives and others and
requested additional USG technical advice. The initial
meeting of the strategic planning committee will occur on
October 30.


21. The USAID/DART reported that in the October 28 meeting,
representatives of international organizations discussed the
pledges made at the recent Geneva conference on the South
Asia Earthquake, and noted that the bulk of pledges was for
reconstruction activities. These representatives requested
that the GOP emphasize the continued importance of funding
relief activities in the near future.

--------------
USAID/DART Activities
--------------


22. On October 27, the USAID/DART facilitated the arrival of
1,770 rolls of plastic sheeting, enough to provide shelter
alternatives for 8,850 families. The plastic sheeting was
provided to Save the Children/US for distribution.


23. The USAID/DART continues to facilitate the movement of
excess U.S. military relief commodities. On October 27, the
USAID/DART transferred 29 tents to be used as clinics or
hospital support facilities to WHO. Also on October 27, the
USAID/DART facilitated the movement of six tents to UNICEF to
be used as classrooms.


24. On October 28, the USAID/DART transferred 28 DOD tents
to UNICEF that will be transported to Muzaffarabad for use as
schools; 10 to Mansehra for use as schools; and 3 to Mansehra
to be used for child protection purposes. The USAID/DART
also transferred tents to WHO. WHO transferred 29 tents to
Muzaffarabad and 8 tents to Mansehra, all of which WHO will
use for medical facilities.


25. The USAID/DART Economic and Livelihoods Officer (ELO)
has been coordinating the initiation of the cash-for-work
(CFW) program among international NGOs, local NGOs, and
USAID/Pakistan. USAID/DART coordination will lay the
groundwork for a smooth transition between USAID/DART
emergency relief activities to USAID/Pakistan rehabilitation
and reconstruction activities. The USAID/DART plans to
implement the CFW program in various earthquake-affected
areas and will likely center the program on clearing rubble
for the reconstruction or improvement of schools, shelter,
and possibly hospitals. The CFW program will inject cash
into local economies and facilitate activities that will both
prepare for reconstruction and provide locals with a sense of
a return to normalcy.


26. According to the USAID/DART ELO, the USAID/DART has held
discussions with the U.S. military Seabees to facilitate the
use of their heavy equipment in rubble clearance. The
USAID/DART reported that Seabees seem to be highly interested
in joint activities. Details about implementation are
forthcoming.


27. The USAID/DART ELO met with InterNews on October 28 to
discuss information dissemination to earthquake-affected
populations. The USAID/DART ELO noted that
earthquake-affected populations need humanitarian assistance
as well as access to information, particularly regarding
health, water and sanitation, winterized shelter and access
to food and NFI. The USAID/DART will continue to work to
facilitate information sharing from relief agencies to
affected populations.

--------------
USAID/DART Status
--------------


28. Currently, 22 USAID/DART representatives are in
Pakistan, working to facilitate USG humanitarian assistance
in response to the recent earthquake. At present, a
three-person USAID/DART team, comprising a communications
officer, a field officer, and a protection officer, are based
in Muzaffarabad. The team is conducting follow-up
assessments and coordinating relief activities with the U.N.


29. On October 27, a USAID/DART field officer (FO) was
deployed to Mansehra to set up a field office for the
USAID/DART. The USAID/DART FO is conducting assessments and
coordinating humanitarian assistance. The USAID/DART will be
deploying additional team members to Mansehra in the coming
days, including a water and sanitation officer who will
travel to Mansehra on October 29.
CROCKER