Pakistan - Monsoon Rains Information Report No.4

1. UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE RAINS/FLOODS IN ALL PROVINCES, INCLUDING JAMMU AND KASHMIR, THE TOLL, AS OF 9 AUGUST 1995, IS:

HUMAN LIVES LOST: 451
VILLAGES AFFECTED: 4,585
PERSONS AFFECTED: 1.255m
AREA AFFECTED: 3.472
HOUSES DEMOLISHED : 55,473
CROPS AFFECTED: 1.126 MILLION ACRES
HOUSES DAMAGED: 76,982
CATTLEHEAD LOST: 15,375

2. INCESSANT RAINS IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS HAVE AGGRAVATED THE SITUATION AND SOME THE DAMAGE INDICATORS ARE CLOSE TO THE PEAK LEVEL OF THE FLOODS OF 1992 AND 1994. ACCORDING TO DHA/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE REMAINING MONSOON SEASON (UP TO SEPTEMBER ,1995), THE SITUATION MAY CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE.

3. THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN ORGANIZED ANOTHER VISIT FOR ABOUT 15 DONORS AND THE UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, TO FLOODED AREAS IN THE GUJRANWALA DIVISION OF THE PUNJAB PROVINCE, WHERE THE FLOODS WERE ALREADY RECEDING, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD HANDLED THE SITUATION. NEVERTHELESS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE STOCKS BEING RUNNING LOW, FEARING FOR ANY RECURRENCE IN THE REMAINDER OF THE MONSOON SEASON.

4. THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN ANNOUNCED TO DHA ITS DECISION TO DONATE USD 300,000 (YEN 29,400,000) FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECTS, AS WELL AS 100 TENTS, 2,000 BLANKETS AND 2 MEDICAL KITS, UP TO A VALUE OF USD 227,840 (YEN 20,050,000).

5. ON AUGUST 9 THE UNDP OFFICE ARRANGED A JOINT MEETING OF DONORS, THE UN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT, ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 23 INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES AND 5 GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES.

DURING THIS MEETING THE PAKISTAN AUTHORITIES INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED 438 CAMPS, WHERE RELIEF ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED TO 93,726 PERSONS. THE ESTIMATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AT AROUND USD 29 MILLION, FOR MEETING THE COST OF DEATH COMPENSATION, HOUSES DAMAGED/DESTROYED, RELIEF STORES AND HELICOPTER SPARES. THE COST OF DAMAGE TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY IS ESTIMATED TO BE USD 14.61 MILLION.THIS REPRESENTED A HEAVY BURDEN ON THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET.

IT WAS STRESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE WORST AFFECTED AREAS WERE RELATIVELY POOR DISTRICTS WHERE PEOPLE LOST EVERYTHING (SUMMER CROPS, HOUSES AND LIVESTOCK). THIS WOULD IMPLY THE NEED TO CREATE CAPACITIES FOR THEIR ECONOMIC UPLIFT UNTIL THE NEXT CROP SEASON, REHABILITATE THEIR HOUSING FACILITIES AND PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR THEIR PERISHED LIVESTOCK.

6. CONTRIBUTIONS ANNOUNCED AT THE MEETING:

UNDP OFFICE IN ISLAMABAD ANNOUNCED A GRANT OF USD 50,000 ASA CONTRIBUTION FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF RELIEF SUPPLIES/REPLENISHING RELIEF ITEM STOCKS OR PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR LOGISTICAL COSTS

UNHCR HAS APPROVED THE RELEASE OF 100 LARGE TENTS OUT OF WHICH 35 HAVE BEEN DESPATCHED TO JHAL MAGSI IN BALOCHISTAN

WHO HAS PROVIDED MEDICINES VALUED AT USD 50,000

UNICEF HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE 400,000 SACHETS OF ORS (VALUE USD 30,000)

WFP IS ARRANGING THE RELEASE OF 588 M. TON OF WHEAT AND 35 M. TON OF BUTTER OIL WHICH WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF 10,000 AFFECTED PEOPLE IN KHUZDAR IN BALOCHISTAN FAO WILL PROVIDE VEGETABLE SEED AND VACCINATION FOR ANIMALS ON THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT

7. IT WAS FURTHER AGREED THAT THE FLOOD SITUATION WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE UN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EMERGENCY RELIEF CELL OF THE CABINET DIVISION AND RECORDS OF ALL THE RELIEF ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM FRIENDLY COUNTRIES WILL BE SHARED BY THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN ISLAMABAD TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN THE NEEDS AND SUPPLY OF RELIEF ITEMS.

8. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF MISSIONS/PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TELEPHONE +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: CARLOS PEREIRA, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-2917-13.83.
PRESS TO CONTACT: MRS. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, TEL: +41-22-917-28-56

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: INTERNET DHA GVA AT UN.ORG

DPR 310 PAK'95 (1)