- Overview/Highlights
Numbers: 73,000 people dead; approximately 79,000 people injured; three million people homeless.
'Till November 1, a total of 34,088 patients had been received and treated at the Batagram field hospital since the earthquake struck on October 8. Save the Children is providing management support in running the hospital as well as playing a significant role in coordinating health activities in Batagram district. In Allai Tehsil, Battagram district the staff of the Bana RHC and volunteers have seen 26,300 cases (including PHC) since the earthquake.
Pakistan's President Musharaff met with INGOs November 2
The government announced that the road up to Kaghan valley is now open for traffic
II. Response
Education
Save the Children has established four safe play groups in villages in Batagram District and seven in Muzzafarabad. More than 150 boys and girls, ages 4-10, are participating in safe play activities in the four locations.
In the next month, Save the Children plans to open at least 20 more safe play spaces in Batagram and more in Muzaffarabad based on assessment findings (where two child protection coordinators are now employed). Most safe play spaces will be located in villages, but Save the Children is also supporting families who have moved from Allai Tehsil to Maira Camp as well as at the Abbas Hospital.
Further assessments include Tharik Abad, Thori park, Chaida Bandi and Merotonalia. Abbas. Additionally, two child protection staff have arrived in Bagh town and assessments will take place in the next few days.
In Muzaffarabad (Chera Pura and Muz Union Councils) school clearing kits have been provided and clearance has begun. Ongoing Discussions with TVO for identification of further school clearance - up to 100 in 4 Union Councils in Muzaffarabad and Bagh.
Bart Vrolijk, a Save the Children Regional Education Advisor, visited quake-affected areas of Azad Khashmir to meet with Alliance and Unicef education staff and assess the education situation.
Health
Save the Children is playing a major role in health coordination in Batagram district and will be providing health, education, protection, food and shelter support to up to 10,000 IDPs from Allai in Maira camp in Shangla district.
The government has asked Save the Children to work together with them to establish the rural health center (RHC), which was destroyed in the earthquake. Currently Save the Children is helping to facilitate the very basic setup in Banna for the provision of healthcare.
Shelter/Food Distribution
Rapid registration and distributions in Panjkot Valley planned to start Sunday November 7, with the potential of reaching up to 7,500 families
High altitude villages have not been reached and will be hit by snow soon. Urgent need to concentrate registration and distributions there
Virgin Airline flight with stocks arrived; awaiting distribution
5 Toyota trucks arrived; flown in courtesy of DfiD
Teams are cutting boxes of reinforced plastic sheeting donated by the US government into approximately 9000 sheets 10 meters x 3.7 meters in size for distribution to families to assist with improvised shelter construction. Tool kits and Household kits are being assembled.
Distribution activities impeded by ongoing government ban on tent sales and Eid holiday
Muzaffarabad (town):
10 shelter kits (trial for community participation and training of mobilizers). Further identification of sites/target villages with partners. Ongoing with SUNGI
Bagh ahub. Thopi and Haveli Union Councils):
4 distributions to over 1,000 families. Assessment/registration underway in more remote villages and further distributions planned for new areas in coming week
Batagram Trand. Smalalai and Ajmeyra):
Nov 1-2: 100 families in each council received 5 blankets/ sleeping bags, one tent and one food back for one week.
A cumulative distribution table for Shangla, Mansehra/Balakot and Batagram is appended at the end of this report.
In addition, Save the Children made four distributions of WFP commodities: 1 in Abbottabad 2 in Batagram and one in Mansehra, reaching 800 families with food for 45 days. The food parcels included the 45 day rations of wheat flour, pulses, vegetable oil, and high energy biscuits. WFP could not provide the dates and iodized salt, which are a recommended part of the rations. CBOs preidentified the most vulnerable families according to the criteria of house completely destroyed/unsafe and particularly women and child headed households.
A WFP Rub haul arrived in Bana, Allai on the 5th of November and was completely erected on the property rented by Save the Children by the 7th. Our community mobilizers have been in contact with representatives from all the Union Councils (UC) in Allai. These members have been constructing lists of beneficiaries within their UC and we have already received completed lists for several of the UC. The Biari UC has mobilized 200 families to receive food once it is delivered by WFP.
III. Security
Security focal person
Qamar Khurshid +92-300-8565823
IV. Media/Communications
Media contact
In Pakistan: Anita Cole 0300 9128993: acole@savechildren.org.pk
In U.S.: Mike Kiernan 202-460-0614: mkiernangdc.savechildren.org
Tammie Willcuts 202-261-4676: twillcuttsgdc.savechildren.org
In UK: Kathryn Rawe: k.rawegsavethechildren.org.uk
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