Pakistan: Earthquake OCHA situation report No. 2

HIGHLIGHTS

- The earthquake in Balochistan province has left 150 dead and 250 injured so far (government confirmed figure). Approximately 3,000 people are currently displaced and over 15,000 mud/wood houses have been completely destroyed.

- According to preliminary results from the inter-agency needs assessment, urgent needs of the most affected population include winterised tents, blankets and warm clothing, food, provision of health services and restoration of water supply schemes.

- The Frontier Corps (FC) has set up camps in Wam and Kawas in Ziarat district which are currently being used as storage depots. Four additional camps are proposed in Ahmadon, Jangle Banda, Zanbra and Panian in the district.

SITUATION

1. An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 has hit Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan on 29 October. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was in Chiltan mountains, 80 kilometers northwest of Quetta. The first tremor struck at 4:09 am local time (23:09 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometer while the second one came at 5:15 am. The affected region is the mountainous area extending from Ziarat, about 110 KMs northeast of Quetta to Pishin, Qilla Abdullah to Chaman (border town along Afghan border). Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reports that the worst hit area falls within villages Khanozai and Topa Achakzai in eastern Pishin district and Wachun Kawas village in Ziarat district and possibly Harnai district (east of Ziarat).

2. Media and civil organisations are putting the death toll at 200 with over 350 injured. Government has confirmed 150 deaths and 250 injured so far. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority reports that 149 persons have died in Ziarat and 1 in Pishin.

3. The Inter-Agency Joint Assessment Mission (UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, FAO and WHO) has compiled an initial report on the 3 affected villages of Khanozai, Zarghoon and Khusab in Pishin district. Most urgent needs of the affected population include winterised tents, blankets and warm clothing for 7,500 families, food items for 5,500 families and restoration and rehabilitation of water supply schemes.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. PDMA Balochistan has made immediate arrangements for the provision of relief items to the affected population. 6,000 blankets, 4,300 tents, 5,600 warm jackets, 4,000 plastic mats and 1,000 sleeping bags have been transported to relief stores in Quetta. PDMA has distributed 700 tents, 900 blankets, 50 kg bags of sugar and rice. 10 army helicopters and 748 army personnel are engaged in the relief operation.

5. The Government of Balochistan has dispatched 18 medical teams and ambulances with emergency kits and medicines worth Rs 3.1 million (USD 38,570).

6. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has dispatched three rapid assessment teams along with 27 volunteers to Ziarat and Pishin areas. Two medical teams with medicines have also been dispatched to Ziarat. PRCS provincial branch in Quetta has dispatched emergency stocks (NFIs) for 300 families to Ziarat on 29 October. The stocks include 300 tents, 1,800 blankets (six blankets for each family), 1,200 plastic sheets (four for each family) and 300 coal stoves. More shelter kits will be sent based on assessment by PRCS Team. PRCS Balochistan Provincial Branch has sufficient stocks of shelter, blankets, tarpaulin sheets, stoves and other NFIs for distribution amongst the affectees. On 30 October, NFI stock for 300 additional families consisting of the same items and including 994 quilts has been dispatched to the affected places.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

7. Based on the initial assessments, WFP is planning to distribute 366 MT of food as one month ration to about 20,000 victims. The food ration contains wheat flour 270 MT, Pulses 30 MT, Oil 18 MT, Salt 3 MT and Biscuits 45 MT.

8. WHO is sending two truckloads of essential medicines and supplies for 50,000 people for three months to the most-affected districts of Ziarat and Pishin. The agency is also flying trauma supplies stored at the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai to treat 400 people into the region. The two affected areas remain accessible for convoys carrying relief supplies and the rural health centre in the town of Kawas in Ziarat is functioning as the referral hospital. WHO is also concerned about low immunization coverage in the region, especially for measles and tetanus. The agency and its UN partners are carrying out field assessments in the affected area to obtain a clearer picture of the health needs.

9. UNFPA has deployed two Mobile Surgical Units (MSUs) from other UNFPA program districts including Qila Saifullah and Nushki in Balochistan to two of the worse earthquake affected districts of Ziarat and Pishin. These MSUs are equipped with all emergency medicines including antibiotics, pain killers, surgical items, dressings, intra-venous fluids, antiseptics and all essential medicines required in managing basic emergency obstetric care services. Two additional MSUs are ready and would be mobilized from two nearby program districts Jaccobabad and Muzaffargarrh to the field.

10. 3,000 Hygiene kits have been dispatched by UNFPA along with the two MSUs. Each kit comprises a woolen shawl, a cotton roll, guaze piece, dettol soap, a towel, comb and a jar of Vaseline. Additional 350 hygiene kits will be dispatched along with additional MSUs in the field. UNFPA is purchasing additional 25,000 hygiene kits for the affected women. 450 clean delivery kits have been provided with MSUs. Additional 500 kits will also be provided. A total of 25 RH kits (to serve reproductive health care need of 50,000 population for three months) are being sent to the affected districts to support health care provision at first level and referral level health facilities. UNFPA is purchasing additional 25 such RH kits. UNFPA will deploy 2 District Program Officers in the two most affected districts in Balochistan to assist district health authorities in coordination and providing technical inputs.

11. UNICEF has sent 10,000 vials of measles vaccine in Quetta for measles vaccination campaign. UNICEF is also sending 4 New Emergency Health Kits from Karachi to Quetta.

12. CWS has dispatched 1,000 winterised tents, 4,000 hygiene kits and provided food package for 100 families on immediate basis. CWS team members and implementing partner are conducting initial needs assessment in affected areas. ARC rapid response team of medics and paramedics are provided trama and first aid treatment to the affected in Ziarat.

13. A joint International Federation IFRC/PRCS team is being sent to Balochistan today from Islamabad. This team comprises disaster management, health and communication personnel. PRCS National Disaster Management Team trained personnel are also on the stand-by.

14. The Government has not yet requested international assistance.