I. SITUATION OVERVIEW
Background
7.6 earthquake (depth 10 kilometres) hit at 08.50 Pakistan time (03.50 GMT), on 8 October with the epicentre in Muzaffarabad, 95km north-northeast of Islamabad (highly populated).
Area affected approximately 30,000 sq. miles.
The earthquake affected nine districts in total: Abbottabad, Batagram, Mansehra, Shangla, and Kohistan in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Poonch and Bagh in Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
Worst affected districts are Muzaffarabad (epicentre), Mansehra and parts of Bagh. Abbottabad is the least affected district by the earthquake.
International assistance requested by Pakistan at 00.00 GMT 9 October.
Pakistan latest death toll has reached 56,805, with 78,881 injured (Government). One British citizen killed. (FCO)
Nearly 2.5 million people have lost their houses, the majority of them live now in tents and makeshift shelters. 2.2 million people - 84% of the affected - are in rural areas, 100,000 in semi-urban areas, and 200,000 in urban areas. (WFP)
2.3 million people are in need of food assistance for at least 2 months in urban areas and at least 4 months in rural areas. (WFP)
Shelter and logistics remain urgent priorities.
The prospect of a secondary humanitarian disaster continues to loom as thousands of injured remain stranded in isolated mountainous areas, without food, shelter or sanitation. (OCHA)
Relief agency presence on the ground falls short of requirements. (OCHA)
Funding shortages remain. (OCHA)
UN Flash Appeal for $549 million over six months. $70.7 million committed (13%); $51.6 million pledged. Total $122.3 million (22%).
At the 26 October donor conference in Geneva, UN Member States announced additional pledges totalling $580 million. The timing for receipt and purpose (emergency, rehabilitation, reconstruction) of pledges has not been confirmed.
DFID has pledged =A333 million towards the relief effort. =A322.3 million committed.
II. KEY RESPONSE ISSUES
Pakistan
Priority Needs
Winterised tents, blankets/sleeping bags, generators and diesel, tarpaulins, ground sheets, stoves, fuel and kitchen sets, latrines, water, food, tetanus vaccines, hospital tents and surgeons for remote areas. Logistics: Helicopters, shovels, snow chains, antifreeze.
Access/Logistics
Access constraints continue. Access via primary roads has improved and influx of helicopter assets has also assisted this process.
Airlift capacity: Latest figures indicate 81 helicopters in operation, additional 44 in the pipeline. The number of helicopters in operation on a certain day varies due to maintenance and weather. Average lift capacity is increasing with the introduction of Chinooks and Mi26s. (UNJLC)
Abbottabad agreed with Government as site for UN airbase, to be operational from 1 November. (UNJLC)
As much as 30% of the areas affected have not been reached, which could translate into at least 200,000 people not getting the assistance they need. (OCHA)
Concern that many of the population in the Allai Valley, outside of Batagram, particularly those above the 5,000 ft or higher (the snow line) will not survive the coming winter months, due the lack of suitable shelter. (OCHA in Batagram)
Shelter
181,000 tents distributed by Government (157,461), UNCHR (2,400) and international NGOs (19,287), US (2,500). (Government)
78,180 tents awaiting collection; 300,000 in the pipeline (no estimate of delivery date). (Government)
10 Government camps (varying in size from 60-3,000 people) have been established in and around Mansehra, Muzaffarabad and Bagh. Spontaneous camps in hundreds of locations. (UNHCR)
Government intending to establish the first of three large camps in and around Batagram. The initial camp will accommodate 40,000 people. (OCHA)
Health
23 international field hospitals functioning with bed capacity for 1,057 patients. There are 10 mobile medical teams through the affected area. (WHO)
Physical trauma accounts for more than 40% of consultations at health facilities. (WHO)
25% of patient consultations at health facilities have been diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARI) and 17% with Acute Diarrhoea. (WHO)
Measles, tetanus, impetigo and scabies have also been reported. 368 cases of scabies in one location alone due to related overcrowding and hygiene issues associated with camps. (WHO)
Coordination
Humanitarian hubs operating in Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Bagh. New hub established in Batagram. (OCHA)
Cluster leadership needed by UN agencies in humanitarian hubs. (OCHA)
India
Official reports indicate 1,307 dead, 4,500 injured. Reports from the field indicated that these figures are accurate. (ECHO)
Up to one million people affected across four districts. (Save the Children)
The Government has not called for international assistance.
III. DFID RESPONSE TO DATE
Current Operations
DFID has pledged a contribution of =A333 million towards the relief effort. =A322.3 million committed.
DFID has sent 14 flights to the region carrying over 900 tonnes of relief supplies, including: 3,500 winterised family tents; 9,700 collapsible 10-litre jerry cans; 40,000 sleeping mats; 30,000 tarpaulins; 27,230 wool blankets; HIC module; 13 vehicles; one trailer; 2 forklift trucks; and 50 Global Positioning System units.
20,000 tarpaulins and 2,000 winterised tents have been released to NGO partners from DFID stocks in Lahore.
UK Search and Rescue teams have returned home. UK teams made 14 of the 24 live rescues made by international teams.
We have made arrangements for 45 flights in support of the following DEC organizations: Oxfam, Merlin, Save the Children, British Red Cross, Christian Aid and Islamic Relief.
DFID Secondments: HIC Liaison Officer (OCHA), Air Operations Expert (UN Joint Logistics Centre); 2 Shelter Experts (IOM); 4 Military Logistical Planners (UNJLC); 1 Civ/Mil Officer (OCHA Military Civil Defence Agency).
Ministry of Defence
Three military CH-47 Chinook helicopters operational as of 28 October. The helicopters will carry out humanitarian assistance flights for 28 days (until 25 November) throughout the affected area. Three medical technicians have deployed in support of the Chinook operations. They will transfer casualties from landing zones to Islamabad after aid has been delivered. DFID will pay marginal costs.
Airlift of 20,000 UNHCR tents (300 tents per airlift) to be flown by Royal Air Force C-130 from Incirlik, Turkey to Islamabad. Seeking clarification as to when the task will be completed. (As part of the NATO Air Bridge; no cost to DFID).
40 tonnes of MOD vegetarian rations purchased by DFID to be flown via NATO Air Bridge in Ramstein.
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