South Asia earthquake: OCHA/UNJLC logistics bottlenecks as of 23 Dec 2005

Current issues
Visa Requirements

The Federal Relief Commission (FRC), considering the initial emergency phase to be over, advises all individuals and foreign NGOs to obtain a proper visa before entering the country. Aid workers who are already in the country will in all likelihood continue to benefit from the former regime. (UNJLC Bulletin 26)

Customs for Reconstruction

No formal system is in place yet for the clearance of reconstruction goods. UNJLC is liasing with the government to get a tax exemption in place. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05)

Flight to Bana

Agencies are encouraged to use the passenger service to Bana in order for UNHAS to be able to keep up the daily service. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05)

Police Escorts

No official confirmation has been given yet concerning a possible two-week grace period for police escorts in Bagh/Batagram. (UNJLC Islamabad, 23.12.05)

Surface Transport

Further to the decline in the availability of commercial trucking in Bagh reported on the 18th of December, a decline has now also been noticed in Muzaffarabad. WFP reports that this has not yet affected its operation and is looking into ways to expand the availability of local transport. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05; UNJLC Islamabad, 23.12.05)

Camps for Aid workers

The camps for aid workers continue to fill up. NGOs are trying to rent local housing, but there is little availability.

Developments

NATO Assets

Discussions on possible bilateral agreements to keep current NATO assets in country after the 1st of February are still ongoing. Among others, assets under discussion are the French fuel farm in Abbottabad, the German UNHAS-tasked helicopters and engineering units. One of the four German helicopters has left the country already due to maintenance requirements. As reported earlier, all helicopters will have to leave the country for maintenance, but two replacements will be brought in. The German minister of Defence has confirmed this. (OCHA, 23.12.05; UNJLC Islamabad, 23.12.05; Deutsche Presse Agentur, 22.12.05)

UNHAS

Under the current funding situation, UNHAS will be able to support the operation until the end of March. An office has been set up in Bagh that will assist in passenger and cargo movements. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05)

U.S. Military

The focus of U.S. Military activities is conducting helicopter operations using sling-loads out of Muzaffarabad. Furthermore, assessments will be carried out. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05; UNJLC Islamabad, 23.12.05)

Heavy vehicles

In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, movement of heavy vehicles (approximately > 7 MT) is restricted. Agencies can apply for a formal exemption from these restrictions. (Logistics Cluster meeting, 22.12.05)

This Logistics Bottlenecks report is a joint product of UNJLC and OCHA. For queries or comments please contact Ingrid van Beuzekom vanbeuzekom@un.org. Sources used are: contact with UNJLC staff, ReliefWeb, minutes from cluster meetings and sitreps, Pakistan Meteorological Department, press briefings.