Working in close cooperation with the Indian and Pakistan National Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other components of the Movement, the ICRC has mounted a large-scale operation to assess and respond in the most effective and timely way possible to the most urgent needs of the earthquake victims.
Executive summary

International relief agencies have been mobilized in response to yet another major natural disaster on 8 October when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and wounded and left homeless many more in India and Pakistan.

The increased frequency of such natural disasters in recent times underscores the paramount necessity to maintain a coordinated and rapid response capacity to cope with the enormous humanitarian needs arising from such events.

The ICRC has made a provisional estimate of its initial needs in order to carry out emergency operations in response to the earthquake disaster. A more formal appeal will be launched at a later date when a clearer assessment of the most urgent needs becomes available.

Context

The earthquake centred in the Kashmiri border area between India and Pakistan, although the tremor was felt as far away as Kabul and New Delhi. The worst affected region appears to be in and around the town of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir close to the line of control with India. Muzaffarabad itself has been badly damaged and surrounding villages have been flattened. Many access routes to the region have been blocked by mudslides and earthquake damage making it difficult for relief teams to reach the victims.

Casualty toll estimates range from 20,000 to 30,000 dead and many more wounded but could rise since many affected areas have yet to be reached.

Immediate humanitarian response

Hours after the earthquake struck ICRC teams were dispatched to the region to make an initial assessment of the most urgent needs, in close cooperation with the Indian Red Cross Society and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

Based on preliminary assessments, the ICRC mobilized non-food items from ICRC stocks in Afghanistan (10'000 blankets, 2'000 tarpaulins etc.) as well as 10'000 tents from ICRC stocks in the Middle East. Other relief items were purchased locally in the two countries. Additional human resources (ICRC and National Society staff) have arrived in the region and a list of the most urgent relief requirements in terms of shelter, food, clothes and medical assistance has been established.

Logistical bases are being established in Islamabad and in Abbottabad close to the hardest hit area in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to receive and arrange for the distribution of emergency supplies airlifted into the country.

On 10 October, ICRC delegates travelled to Muzzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Other ICRC teams support the Indian Red Cross Jammu and Kashmir branch in distributing blankets, kitchen sets and medical supplies in the regions of Uri and Poonch.

Plan of action

Assistance

In the coming days the ICRC will dispatch and distribute shelter, food and clothes assistance to cover the needs of 15,000 households in India and 30,000 in Pakistan.

India

Initially, shelter, household and clothing assistance will include:

- 15,000 kitchen sets

- 60,000 blankets

Pakistan

Initially, shelter, household and clothing assistance will include:

- 30,000 family tents

- 30,000 kitchen sets

- 120,000 blankets

- 150,000 sets of clothing and 150,000 pairs of footwear for men, women and children

- 30,000 stoves

- 60,000 lanterns

- 120,000 bedsheets

- 150,000 towels

Initial food assistance (for three months) will include:

- 5,400,000 kg of rice

- 3,600,000 kg of lentils

- 900,000 kg of ghee

- 900,000 kg of mustard oil

- 450,000 kg of sugar

- 225,000 kg of tea

- 67,500 kg iodised salt

Health

The ICRC is establishing a field hospital in the area of Muzzaffarabad. It will also airlift medical supplies into the affected areas following further assessments of needs carried out with the local authorities and National Societies.

Restoring family links

Ten of thousands of persons in the area are either separated from their loved ones, missing or dead. Families around the world are worried about relatives in the affected region.

Plan of action

Telephones: The ICRC is currently assisting families to re-establish family contacts by making telephones available.

Red Cross Messages: In view of the current constraints in the field, RCM are not accepted for distribution in the affected areas.

Tracing requests: Priority is given to information coming out of the affected areas, hence for time being tracing requests are not accepted.

ICRC Website: In order to respond to the very important need of families to know the whereabouts of their loved ones, the ICRC launched a website today (in English at: www.familylinks.icrc.org). The objective of the website is two-fold:

- within the disaster area: persons may register themselves or with the help of Red Cross/Red Crescent staff to inform their relatives that they are safe and well; their families can consult the list of names on the website or paper lists;

- within the disaster area and elsewhere in the world: persons may register relatives themselves or with the help of the Red Cross/Red Crescent staff about whom they are seeking information.

The information available on the website may be displayed on lists in public places, or broadcasted by radio in order to be accessible to all persons with no access to internet. All information on this website is provided by relatives of persons sought or persons who register themselves, thus the ICRC cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the personal data given.

Field response

Pakistan: PRCS/ICRC teams are currently assessing the situation in Muzafarrabad to organize the RFL operation. The Pakistan RC and the ICRC are setting up a coordination unit in Islamabad.

India: IRCS/ICRC teams have been to Uri and Poonch to assess needs. Contacts are made with regional authorities in order to obtain information on the needs to be covered. According to information received from Jammu & Kashmir, the authorities made mobile telephones available for the affected population.