Pakistan: Floods/Cyclone OCHA Situation Report No. 5

This situation report is based on information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority, the National Disaster Response Advisor of OCHA in Pakistan, the Pakistan Meteorological Department, World Health Organization, The American Refugee Committee, and media sources.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, weak low pressure area over central Rajasthan is still present over there. In the absence of moisture supply, it is not active. A monsoon deep low formed over Bay of Bengal has converted into a depression and lied yesterday over Bangladesh. It is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction. Under its influence, some moisture penetration in upper parts of the country may start in the next 36-48 hours and can cause rains in the areas.

2. On 5 July, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed the death toll at 245 (135 in Balochistan and 110 in Sindh). In Balochistan, 170 persons are reported missing. The total number of people affected by the floods is now estimated at 2.15 million (2 million in Balochistan and 150,000 in Sindh). The number of homeless in Balochistan is 100,000, while between 50,000-60,000 people are made homeless in Sindh. Substantial loss of livestock has also been reported in the flood affected areas.

Balochistan

4. According to the Frontier Corps and the Army, the situation in Balochistan has transformed from one which posed threat to a phase, which places demand on shelter and potable water, thus causing a gap between expectations and demands. While the main roads are trafficable, un-serviceability of many local roads is impeding the relief efforts. Balochistan C&W Department is being mobilized to address the problem.

5. Out of the 14 cyclone/flood affected districts, situation in Turbat, Kharan, Khurdar, Jhal Magsi, Sibi, Jaffarababd, and Gwadar remain critical.

6. Initial assessment has suggested that 5-6,000 houses in Turbat were destroyed, 4,000 in Kharan, and about 5,000 in Jhal Magsi, Sibi and Jaffarabad.

7. In Turbat, nearly 350 tons of relief goods were delivered to different parts of the district. However, there is still a critical shortage of tens and potable water. Relief from Gwador is possible.

8. In Kharan, road access to Kharan City is restored and relief goods are arriving from Quetta.

9. In Khurdar, about 1,200-1,500 houses were destroyed. More damage occurred in Nal due to flash floods.

10. In Gwadar, Pasni and western part of the district close to Iran require more relief attention.

Sindh

11. On 5 July, the situation during the day at Shahdadkot in Qambar District was critical as flood water breached Saifullah Distributary at 2 points, thus threatening Shahdadkot, a city of 75,000-80,000 population. The flood water was later contained, about 3 kms west of the city. Situation, though still critical, has stabilized.

12. The Provincial Government has set up 43 relief camps for about 25,000 people displaced by the floods.

13. A strength of one Army Brigade has been built up at Qambar-Shahdadkot and Larkana for relief duties. Larkana is being developed as the main logistic base for the area.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

14. The GoP and the Armed Forces continue to mobilize forces and their aircraft and sea vessels for relief operations. A total of 24 helicopters and 15,000 soldiers have been involved in rescue and relief activities in Balochistan.

15. From 6 July onwards, one boat will transport daily relief items to coastal districts of Gwadar and Omara.

16. On 5 July, 140 tons of food items and 350 tons of water were shipped to Gwadar.

17. In Balochistan, the Armed Forces have supplied 175,000 kgs of food to the affected people, while the GoP was stocking fuel. The government has already placed orders for the purchase of tens and blankets. On 5 July, the Pakistan Army started a relief operation in flood-affected areas of Kachho.

18. In Sindh, an Army Flood Relief Center has been established at the Circu Circuit House, Dadu, to monitor relief works. Medical teams comprising 4 doctors and other medical staff have been visiting villages, including the Qubo Qalandar village of Union Council (UC) Drigh Bala and the Noor Mohammad Rodnani village of UC Sawro of the Johi Taluka. The medical teams are engaged in provision of treatment to sick villagers and till now about 225 patients from different areas have been treated. The teams have also vaccinated 51 children under the age of 5.

19. The GoP is planning to facilitate the entry and distribution of relief goods offered by the international community and organizations.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT

20. The immediate needs in Balochistan and Sindh are provision of food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene promotion and non-food items.

21. Balochistan Governor announced that all relief agencies need to focus on supply of drinking water. As Turbat and Gwadar are well covered, the agencies were advised to divert their relief assistance to other areas such as Jhal Magsi, Sibi, Bolan, Nushki, Kharan and Awaran.

22. Gandawa, a small town in the eastern part of Balochistan's border with Sindh is reported to be worst affected and is without assistance.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

23. UN Resident Coordinator's Office has established senior national staff in Quetta in support of coordination of activities.

24. UNHCR completed distribution of tents in Noshki. In Killi Jamald'ini I, 186 tents were distributed among 93 families. Each family was provided 2 tents, while in Killi Jamadini II, 30 larger tents were distributed. The remaining stock of 23 tents would be distributed tomorrow. Distribution in Asianabad was completed with 250 tents provided to 225 families, 200 of which visited medical team from American Refugee Committee (ARC). WHO has provided Medical Trauma kits in the affected areas.

25. The American Refugee Committee's medical assistance camp has been set up near Nushki District. As of 1 July, ARC had distributed 550 UN tents and brought enough medicine for 10,000 people to the area.

26. As of 4 July, the Pakistan Red Crescent, with support from IFRC and ICRC, has been engaged in the following activities:

- Ongoing procurement and imminent distribution of 7,000 one-week family food rations for affected communities in Sindh and Balochistan. Rice packs for 500 families have already been distributed in Dadu and Thatta districts in Sindh.

- Five hundred one-week family food rations have been distributed in Gadaab in Karachi

- 5000 tents from PRCS disaster preparedness stocks for distribution in Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP

- 2.1 tonnes of essential medicines from IFRC stocks have been dispatched for use in Balochistan

- PRCS medical teams in Karachi and Thatta districts of Sindh have seen approximately 2,200 patients

- Non-food relief items (including tents, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, blankets) have been distributed to 400 families

- ICRC funded a 4-day medical camp in Karadin and Thatta

27. BHPB, a foreign petroleum company, operating from in the Johi Taluka, has engaged 6 boats to rescue people, who are marooned in different villages. Some 75 tents were also provided to people who lost their homes. Another 400 people were given medical aid by the company's medical teams.

28. Japan Agency for Development and Emergency (JADE) has responded by sending its relief staff to the affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan to assess the situation. JADE's Disaster Response Unit is preparing to provide shelter and non-food items such as jerry cans, and pots and pans to the flood victims. JADE tries to fill the gap between relief and reconstruction to avoid dependence of the affected population on external assistance. JADE also plans to assist the rehabilitation of the livelihoods of the flood victims in the longer-term assistance.

Cluster Activities

29. To effectively respond to the cyclone/flood disaster, UN Agencies and respective I/NGOs agreed under the IASC Country Team meeting to roll out the Cluster Approach for the ongoing emergency. Daily meetings are held to discuss the situation and humanitarian response coordination. NDMA is also on board with the Cluster Aproach.

29. The UNDAC team, which arrived in Islamabad yesterday, was given a briefing by the UNRC Office. The Team will work to strengthen the surge capacity of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. The team was also invited to a NDMA meeting and briefing with the donors.

31. NDMA plans that an inter-agency assessment team will visit the affected communities/ areas, assess the situation and gather first hand information of the damages/destruction and analyze the situation.

32. Working Group (WG) of Inter-Agency Assessment has finalized cross Cluster assessment forms. The WG also met with UNDAC yesterday to bring UNDAC team on board on the assessment operation.

33. NDMA will provide 2 helicopters for the 2-days joint assessment missions, which are expected to start on Saturday 7 July. One team will operate from Gawadar and other from Quetta.

34. The Assessment teams will comprise representatives of Government of Pakistan, UN agencies, UNDAC team, Cluster members, NGOs and International Organizations.

36. At a meeting of the Emergency Shelter Cluster (Global Level), the Cluster Lead noted that although Cluster Leads had been identified very quickly, the setting up of a mechanism for inter-cluster coordination by OCHA was still pending.

35. This situation report together with further information on ongoing emergencies is also available on the OSOCC Internet Website. http://www.unocha.org/vosocc and on the OCHA Internet Website http://www.reliefweb.int/

For detailed information please contact:

Desk Officer (New York)
Ms. Heidi Kuttab
Office Tel: +1 917 367 33 65
Office Fax: +1 212 963 36 30
Email: kuttab@un.org

GCMS (Geneva)
Ms. Guadalupe de Sousa
Tel: +41 22 917 4336
email: desousa1@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Rajan Gengaje
Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Office Tel. +66-2288-2572
Office Fax +66-2288-1043
Mobile + 66-8-1916-1271
Email: Gengaje@un.org

Press Contact: (NY)
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126

Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

(GVA)
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel + 41 22 917 26 53
Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org