Attachments
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
Note: The last fact sheet was dated
10 October 2005.
BACKGROUND
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, on October 8, 2005, at 8:50 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of the national capital, Islamabad.
More than 140 aftershocks have been recorded. The delivery of humanitarian assistance is constricted by the mountainous area, cold weather, and damaged or collapsed infrastructure. The most affected areas are the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Northern Punjab, and Pakistani Kashmir in Pakistan, and Indian Kashmir in India.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE(1)
SOURCE</b>
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| Pakistan | 23,000-33,000 dead / 40,000-50,000 injured | Government of Pakistan - October 11 |
| India | 1,000 dead / 4,386 injured | Government of India - October 11 |
| Afghanistan | 4 dead | Government of Afghanistan - October 10 |
| Total Affected Population | 4 million homeless / 1 million in need of U.N. Office for the Coordination of immediate assistance | Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - October 11 |
U.S. Government (USG) Humanitarian
Assistance Pledged: up to $50,000,000
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed to Pakistan: $1,413,750
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed to India: $100,000
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed to South Asia: $1,513,750
CURRENT SITUATION
Pakistan
According to the U.N., the earthquake destroyed as much as 80 to 90 percent of cities and villages in the most affected areas -- Muzafarrabad and Mansehra. An estimated 11,000 people died in the city of Muzafarrabad alone. The earthquake resulted in massive destruction in six northern districts of NWFP and five districts of Pakistani Kashmir. Landslides have closed roads and limited rescue attempts.
Humanitarian assistance is reaching populations in and around Muzaffarabad and local organizations are conducting distributions. However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports that people are leaving Muzaffarabad in search of shelter.
The Government of Pakistan has appealed for tents, blankets, medicine, emergency food assistance, water purification kits and tablets, and field hospitals as well as prefabricated or mobile health clinics. The Pakistani authorities are evacuating the injured by helicopter to major hospitals in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other areas.
According to OCHA, 1,000 hospitals and medical facilities have been completely destroyed, and there is a severe shortage of medical supplies. Initial reports received by the U.N. indicate that all health facilities and schools in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot towns of Pakistani Kashmir and Balakot of Mansehra District have collapsed.
Both the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) are assisting the Ministry of Health and surgical teams have been deployed to the most affected regions. Those hospitals not destroyed by the earthquake are overloaded. Surgical teams, equipment, and supplies for trauma are needed.
A convoy of 16 Save the Children trucks containing relief supplies, including USG commodities, is moving through Mansehra to Batagram District, which has not yet received any assistance.
India
Government of India assessments indicate that 35,000 houses and buildings have been damaged in Srinagar and Jammu. In addition, communications, infrastructure facilities, and essential services have been disrupted. Immediate needs are shelter, food, drinking water, field and mobile medical, and relief items.
The Indian Army has launched a large-scale relief and rescue operation called Operation Imdad in the state of Jammu and Indian Kashmir. More than 4,300 people are reported injured in the affected areas. International Appeals
The U.N. launched a Flash Appeal for $271 million on October 11. The projects outlined in appeal focus on immediate-term life-saving issues. Priorities include health, nutrition, logistics, shelter, camp management, water and sanitation, protection, information and telecommunications, and recovery.
On October 11, the International Organization for Migration launched an appeal for $20 million for a six-month emergency operation focusing on transport, shelter for approximately 5,000 families, and medical evacuations.
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Pakistan
On October 10, a USAID airlift of relief commodities arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, carrying 250 rolls of plastic sheeting -- sufficient for approximately 2,500 families -- 5,000 blankets, and 5,000 water containers. The value of this assistance including transport is approximately $170,000. The commodities are consigned through USAID/Pakistan to Save the Children for distribution to affected populations in Mansehra and Batagram Districts.
A nine-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) has been deployed to Pakistan. The team leader arrived on October 10, and the other members will arrive on October 12: two operations specialists, two medical experts, a military liaison officer, an information officer, an administrative officer, and a communications officer. The mission of the USAID/DART is to assess humanitarian needs, assist with targeting and coordination of USG assistance in conjunction with USAID/Pakistan, and provide technical assistance as required.
The U.S. Department of Defense has dispatched eight military helicopters to assist in delivering relief to isolated areas in northern Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir. A C-17 aircraft and two C-130 aircraft arrived on October 10, carrying relief supplies, a 10-ton fork lift and two cargo handlers, and a humanitarian coordination team. Two additional C-17s are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan by October 11 and other military relief missions will follow.
A Contingency Response Group (CRG) from Maguire Air Force Base, New Jersey, arrived in Islamabad on October 10. The CRG will conduct an initial airfield capability assessment and establish the conditions necessary to receive U.S. military aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance.
On October 9, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) issued a Preliminary Emergency Appeal for $8.4 million. USAID/OFDA provided $1 million through the American Red Cross to support relief efforts identified in the appeal.
On October 8, 2005, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker declared a disaster due to the magnitude of damage caused by the earthquake. On October 8, USAID/OFDA provided an immediate $100,000 through USAID/Pakistan for emergency relief supplies to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the earthquake.
India
A USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor is in India to assist USAID/India to conduct damage assessments, identify needs, and make recommendations regarding any additional assistance.
On October 10, U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the October 8 earthquake across northern India. In response, USAID/OFDA is providing $100,000 through USAID/India to help meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the earthquake victims, $50,000 of which will be provided to the Indian Prime Minister's Relief Fund and $50,000 to support emergency relief activities.
OTHER DONOR AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION ASSISTANCE
In response to a request by the Government of Pakistan, an eight-member U.N. Disaster and Coordination Team (UNDAC) arrived in Islamabad on October 9 to assist in assessing the damage and to help coordinate the relief response in Pakistan. UNDAC is establishing a reception center for relief commodities at the international airport in Islamabad, and an On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) in Muzaffarabad.
The U.N. Disaster Management Team (DMT) is coordinating interagency rapid assessments. Teams have been sent to the NWFP, Pakistani Kashmir, and the Northern Areas.
Donors and international organizations have pledged the following: $100 million from Kuwait; $100 million from Qatar; $20 million from the World Bank; $20 million and two search and rescue teams from Japan; $10 million from the Asian Development Bank; $10 million from Australia; $6.2 million and a 49-person team from China; $4.3 million from by the European Union; $3.6 million from Ireland; $1.8 million and an 82-person team from the United Kingdom; $1.2 million and a search and rescue team from Germany; $1.2 million and a 60-member search and rescue team from the Netherlands; $1million from the Czech Republic; $1 million and a team of doctors from Malaysia; $930,00 and a search and rescue team from Switzerland; $300,00 from Belgium; $200,000 from Canada; $200,000 and a 44-person search and rescue team from Singapore; $100,000 from Thailand; $100,000 from Sri Lanka; a 30-person team and equipment from Russia; a 30-person field hospital from Italy; helicopter assistance and medicine from Afghanistan; emergency relief supplies from Iran; $30,000 from the Maldives; emergency supplies and a search and rescue team from Turkey, a 38-person team from Taiwan; and search and rescue teams from Greece, France, Poland, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Please note: The list above is representative and not exhaustive, as contributions are continuously changing.
Footnotes
(1) These figures are preliminary.
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