Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISLAMABAD18159
2005-12-07 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

CORRECTED COPY -- PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: UN CREATES

Tags:  EAID AEMR ASEC MASS ECON KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 ISLAMABAD 018159 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
SOUTH ASIA RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE
DCHA/FFP FOR JONATHAN DWORKEN
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 WASH 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 UN
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY -- PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: UN CREATES
ANOTHER MEDIA STORM

REF: ISLAMABAD 17311

CORRECTED COPY OF ISLAMABAD 18030; SECTIONS MISSING FROM
ORIGINAL

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 ISLAMABAD 018159

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
SOUTH ASIA RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE
DCHA/FFP FOR JONATHAN DWORKEN
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 WASH 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 UN
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY -- PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE: UN CREATES
ANOTHER MEDIA STORM

REF: ISLAMABAD 17311

CORRECTED COPY OF ISLAMABAD 18030; SECTIONS MISSING FROM
ORIGINAL

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


1. On December 3, 2005, the UN Resident Representative and
Humanitarian Coordinator (UNHC) in Pakistan stated that the
relief effort is on a knife,s edge and called for increased
donor support for the USD 550 million UN Flash Appeal. Local
and international media picked up on the UNHC,s remarks and
have recently painted an increasingly dire picture of the
humanitarian situation in the earthquake-zone and the
under-funded response effort to date. Often based on
incomplete and inaccurate information, many reports fail to
recognize significant efforts by the entire humanitarian
community, especially donors, NGO partners, and the Pakistani
military, in providing timely and effective humanitarian
interventions. Although much work remains, the response to
date has undoubtedly saved lives. With the situation
continuing to evolve and the emergency phase expected to
continue through the spring, the USG is committed to
responding rapidly as winter conditions arrive. End Summary.

--------------

Background
--------------


2. On December 3, the UNHC, Jan Vandemoortele, convened a
press conference to draw attention to humanitarian conditions
and appeal for additional UN funding. Although the precise
text of Mr. Vandemoortele remarks is not available,
quotations from the conference were widely carried by the
local and international media. The comments require further
clarification as they have often been based on incomplete and
inaccurate information, thereby presenting a skewed picture
of the situation on the ground.

--------------
Response efforts
--------------


3. UNHC comment: The worst enemies we face are not the
mountains, not the winter; the worst enemies we face are
complacency and pessimism.

a. USG Response: The USG welcomes the UN recognition of the
importance of action, particularly in the face of a delayed
initial response by UN agencies per reftel. This assertion,
however, fails to recognize the large-scale efforts by the
entire humanitarian community to the October 8 earthquake,
and the significant impact of the response.

b. Donors: In addition to the response to the UN appeal,
bilateral assistance from the USG, the UK,s Department for
International Development (DFID),and the European Union is
well over USD 200 million.

c. Department of Defense (DOD): Although civilian air support
has increased in recent weeks, DOD air assets remain the
backbone and most reliable component of the Pakistani
military logistics chain. As of November 30, DOD had
completed 2,004 sorties, carrying more than 4,817 tons,
11,544 passengers, and 3,656 medical evacuations; off loading
254 aircraft and approximately 7,289 tons of humanitarian
cargo. DOD commodities provided include 3,116 tents, 200,058
blankets, and 600 tent heaters.

d. Government of Pakistan (GOP): The GOP military has assumed
a great deal of responsibility in the relief effort and
performed well under difficult circumstances. Not only has
the GOP military proven effective in terms of reach and
responsiveness, but it has also been keen to learn from the
donor community best practices in addressing technical issues
such as camp management, relief commodity distribution, and
water and sanitation interventions. Moreover, the GOP is
reportedly building 5,000 shelters a day, and assuming the
costs for the shelter provided.
e. NGOs: USAID implementing partners were on the ground
within days of the earthquake, and remain at the forefront of
emergency response efforts.

--------------
Increased Funding Needs
--------------


4. UNHC comment: The situation remains very difficult and
indeed we are on a knife,s edge.

a. USG Response: To date, the UN has received USD 158.2
million to the Flash Appeal, and USD 64.5 million more
pledged. With the addition of an estimated USD 100 million
bilaterally from donors, more than half of the amount
requested has been received thus far. In the face of a
compressed timeline for response, the UN appeal for more
funding needs to be packaged with clear indication of how
monies will be expended. The Flash Appeal has requested USD
550 million, but includes funding for secondary and tertiary
programs, rather than just immediate, life-saving needs. On
December 2, the UN released a Winter Plan for the critical
period of December 2005 through February 2006. However, the
Winter Plan does not indicate how much funding is needed for
the critical emergency sectors. As not all sectors are on a
knife,s edge, UN agencies need to triage and better
prioritize needs.

--------------
Food Situation
--------------


5. UNHC comment: Emergency food stocks were built up, but
rations had been cut so they could last longer.

a. USG Response: Actually, rations were not cut to extend
resources, but rather because in some areas, food was already
available as was the case in ICRC,s distribution area, where
full rations were not needed. The UN Humanitarian Air
Service (UNHAS) is covered at the current level (nearly
meeting its target of 100 MT a day),through February, based
on a caseload of 1 million people. With a recent USDA
donation of 46,000 MT of wheat, the food pipeline is healthy.


b. With the food aid pipeline stabilized, the USAID Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) recommends a shift away from
a primary focus on food assistance to addressing unmet
shelter needs.

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


6. UNHC comment: Vandemoortele stressed that most people were
using blankets, tarpaulins and whatever else they could lay
their hands on to bring their tents up to standard to get
through the winter.

a. USG: This takes a negative slant on people using available
materials to rebuild, despite the fact that the use of
recycled materials is an important component of the widely
supported shelter strategy, as it speeds up reconstruction
and allows people to remain in place. This protects assets
and livelihoods, rather than forcing them to go to makeshift
camps and facing the associated health hazards of
displacement. To support this strategy, the USAID/DART is
providing NGO partners with shelter kits to assist rebuilding
efforts in affected areas.


7. According to media reports, a UN official in charge of
providing shelter also warned that 90 per cent of the 420,000
tents handed out were not ready for winter.

a. USG: Inaccurately attributed to the UN, this is a
statement by an International Organization for Migration
(IOM) official. The UNHC acknowledges that although 90 per
cent of tents are not winterized, it does not mean that they
are inadequate; the proportion of inadequate tents is much
smaller. Moreover, non-winterized tents can be used at lower
elevations or reinforced with additional materials such as
blankets, plastic sheeting, or bubble wrap for insulation.

--------------
Health/Nutrition
--------------


8. Recent media reports have highlighted the possibility of
deteriorating health status as harsh winter conditions are
realized. Although cases of diarrhea, acute respiratory
infections (ARI),and pneumonia have been reported, to date,
no major communicable disease outbreaks have been reported.
Accurate health baseline data for northern Pakistan is
limited. The earthquake-affected residents, in particular
those living in remote areas at high altitudes, are
vulnerable each year, with high levels of chronic
malnutrition. According to USAID/DART field staff, a
significant number of people die each year from ARI and
pneumonia. The UN has acknowledged that conclusions
regarding increased cold weather-related mortality rates are
premature.

--------------
Improved Health and Education
--------------


9. With limited medical facilities in northern Pakistan prior
to the earthquake, many residents are likely accessing health
services for the first time, due to the influx of clinics in
the affected areas as part of the humanitarian response.
This may lead to the appearance of a higher incidence of
disease compared to normal levels, but may be attributed to
improved disease surveillance and more consistent reporting.



10. One positive aspect of the humanitarian response that has
been largely overlooked by the media is the higher number of
children enrolled in school in the IDP camps*some for the
first time. In past years, schools are usually closed for a
few months during the winter; however, this year the schools
will likely remain open, due in part to the presence of the
international aid community. While some media reports have
criticized the quality of tents used for temporary schools,
the tents are meant to be used as daytime structures. The
children attending school also receive the benefits of
hygiene education, which includes lessons on the use of
latrines, a skill that will improve the children,s health
when they return home.

--------------
Conclusions: The Big Picture
--------------


11. Although recent media reports have seized on the
shortfalls of the earthquake relief operation and the UNHC
has publicly remarked that the relief effort is on a knife,s
edge, it is important to note that incomplete reports are
misleading, fail to recognize significant efforts by the
entire humanitarian community, and do not provide an accurate
picture of the evolving situation.


12. While it is important to anticipate and prepare for a
deteriorating situation, some media reports are basing a
worst-case scenario on faulty assumptions. One often
repeated scenario is that massive population movements from
remote higher elevation areas to the valley will overwhelm
the limited space available in existing camps, resulting in
large-scale deaths from freezing temperatures. USAID/DART
field reports, as well as reports from NGOs, indicate that
much of the earthquake-affected population will remain in
place rather than moving to camps. In addition, the GOP has
prepared for this contingency by developing plans to move
displaced populations if necessary to Punjab Province, an
area with a milder climate where concerns about winter
conditions, lack of access, and crowded conditions are
insignificant.


13. The earthquake-affected population faces an uncertain
future and significant challenges remain. The USG remains
committed to responding rapidly as winter conditions set in.
USG resources have been vital in meeting Pakistan,s
requirements for earthquake relief and recovery and will
continue to be critically needed during the coming months.
Misleading media reports, generated in this and other cases
by comments from UN officials, only cloud the overall picture
and make accurate assessments and responses that much more
difficult.
CROCKER