Pakistan Humanitarian Bulletin - Issue 13, 12-20 Jan 2011

I. SITUATION OVERVIEW

Balochistan Earthquake

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck a sparsely populated area of south-western Pakistan in the early hours of 19 January, at a depth of 84km (U.S. Geological Survey). The epicentre was 60km from the border with Afghanistan, to the west of the town of Dalbandin in Balochistan's Chagai district, though shaking was reported in major population centres including Karachi and Quetta. There have so far been no reports of fatalities or major damage to buildings, though authorities in Chagai and surrounding districts are currently carrying out assessments.

IDP Vulnerability Assessment and Profiling

An IDP vulnerability assessment and profiling (IVAP) exercise is underway among conflict-displaced IDPs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Data collection has been completed in Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi districts, as well as Jalozai camp, and IVAP teams are currently in Charsadda and Nowshera. The data will be used to guide a shift from blanket assistance to more targeted support, based on levels of vulnerability, to conflict IDPs in these districts from next month.

FATA Returns

The programme of IDP returns from Kohat and Hangu districts in KPK to Orakzai agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) continues, though the rate of return has slowed in recent weeks as the target of 8,000 families during the current phase has almost been reached. A total of almost 18,000 displaced families have now returned to Orakzai. IDP returns to South Waziristan, in the south of FATA, have also slowed, with 1,066 families having so far returned.

Flood-displaced IDPs

Latest information from the camp coordination and camp management cluster indicates that approximately 170,000 flood-affected persons remain in camps and spontaneous settlements in Sindh, KPK and Balochistan. The majority of this number (128,000 persons, or 75 percent of the total) is in Sindh. These figures do not include displaced persons have returned to their areas of origin but are still unable to access their homes (e.g. due to standing water or damage to buildings) and therefore continue to depend upon emergency shelter and other relief support.

Winter Action Plan in Gilgit-Baltistan

Temperatures remain low throughout the country. An inter-agency "Winter Survival Action Plan for Gilgit - Baltistan" has been completed, setting out priority actions in terms of shelter, health, food, nutrition, WASH and coordination. The plan seeks to address residual vulnerabilities caused by the monsoon flash floods as well as potential humanitarian needs emerging from reduced access to parts of the region during the winter months. Targets include provision of shelter to approximately 3,500 of the most vulnerable families in seven districts, and food rations to a total of 25,000 families. The plan is a product of collaboration between regional and district authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan, relevant clusters, local NGOs and other humanitarian partners active in the region.