US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD15254

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 015254 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
KABUL PLEASE PASS TO CFC-A 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AADP, AEMR, CASC, EAID, MASS, PK, PREL, SENV, ASEC, PA, Earthquake 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE - WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S NEXT 
 
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 15208 
     B. ISLAMABAD 15130 
 
1.  Summary and introduction:  The Government of Pakistan 
(GOP) says that it has confirmed 19,136 deaths and 42,397 
injuries from the October 8 earthquake; both figures will 
climb as rescue/recovery efforts continue.  The GOP has 
centralized disaster relief coordination in the Prime 
Minister's office, under the leadership of a military 
officer.  The UN estimates that a population of four million 
has been directly affected by the earthquake, with one 
million in the most severly affected zones.  USG assistance 
-- humanitarian and logistical assistance and eight 
helicopters to provide airlift -- has begun arriving in 
Islamabad, and DART disaster assessments are underway.  Post 
has facilitated press coverage of incoming U.S. assistance 
and the Ambassador has conducted a series of interviews with 
major U.S. and international media outlets.  As the GOP has 
now begun to organize itself to confront the full 
implications of this disaster, post will focus on determining 
the specific material and services required for the relief 
effort. 
 
2.  The U.S. announcement of an initial USD 50 million in 
relief and reconstruction assistance struck just the right 
chord.  The Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen. Hayat telephoned 
the Ambassador to express the GOP's gratitude for the 
contribution and the arrival of U.S. helicopters for air lift 
support.  Having just returned from a tour of affected areas, 
LTG Hayat indicated that Pakistan will require as many 
helicopters as possible for an indefinite period, as areas 
north of Mansehra and Muzzafarabad are inaccessible by road. 
In Gen. Hayat's words, "the U.S. offer of assistance has 
given both the Pakistani military and public a huge 
psychological boost," so much so that it is now possible to 
imagine that the country will pull through this crisis.  End 
summary and introduction. 
 
GOP and NGO Relief Efforts 
-------------------------- 
 
3.  Disaster Relief Structure:  Coordination for relief 
efforts is now centered in the Prime Minister's office, under 
the leadership of MG Faruk.  Thus far, the military has been 
the most visible agency on relief efforts, with other 
government agencies scrambling to get in the game.  The MFA 
and other agencies have established task force-style 
coordination centers.  Activity has shifted out to the 
airport, where the Interior Ministry has relocated its 
National Crisis Management Cell and other agencies are 
sending out liaison officers.  Various political parties have 
established relief funds; prominent politicians are following 
President Musharraf's lead in making large public donations 
to earthquake relief. 
 
 
4.  Donor Coordination:  Post will report on GOP outreach to 
the donor community septel. 
 
 
USG Assistance - October 10, 2005 
--------------------------------- 
 
5.  USAID Response:  A IL-76 carrying Office of Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) relief supplies arrived in 
Islamabad midday October 10.  Save the Children was 
positioned with trucks to transport the cargo (Blankets, 
plastic sheeting, water cans).  Disaster Assistance Reaction 
Team (DART) team leader arrived at post on October 9 and has 
been assessing damage; the remainder of the team will arrive 
October 11 and 12. 
 
6.  Military Assets:  The Office of the Defense 
Representative - Pakistan (ODRP) has coordinated the arrival 
of the following U.S. military assets: 
 
-- One (1) C-17 arrived early morning October 10, carrying 
relief supplies (Halal MREs, blankets, water), as well as a 
10-ton fork lift and two (2) enlisted cargo handlers who have 
remained to off-load relief planes at Islamabad/Chaklala 
Airport. 
 
-- Eight (8) helicopters from CFC-A arrived midday, but did 
not fly any relief missions today.  Helo crews will receive 
relief missions assignments on October 11, per coordination 
with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air operations center. 
 
-- Two (2) C-17s from McGuire AFB will arrive on October 10 
carrying a 23-person Contingency Response Team and airfield 
management equipment. 
 
-- One (1) C-17 out of Kuwait will arrive late October 10 
carrying blankets, medical supplies and water. 
 
-- One (1) C-130 out of Bahrain will arrive late October 10 
carrying RDML Lefevere and a humanitarian coordination team. 
 
7.  CFC-A Coordination:  CFC-A Commander LTG Eikenberry 
arrived in Islamabad midday for consultations with Embassy 
and GOP officials.  The GOP has accepted an offer of four 
helicopters by the Government of Afghanistan (GOA); CFC-A 
will provide support for the Afghan helos and ODRP will 
provide ground support to the crews while in Pakistan. 
 
8.  NAS Assistance:  Early on October 10, post's Narcotics 
Affairs Section (NAS) dispatched seven (7) vehicles and 
drivers to Manshera to assist with transportation needs at 
the request of the District Coordinating Officer.  The 
Ministry of Interior Air Wing, a joint NAS-GOP program, 
remains engaged in aerial relief support.  NAS helos have 
transported British search-and-rescue teams to remote areas 
and flown DART/Bill Berger on an aerial surveillance mission 
of the Muzzafarabad area. 
 
Public Diplomacy 
---------------- 
 
9.  Ambassador Crocker has given telephone interviews for the 
Monday morning shows on ABC, Fox, CNN and BBC Radio (UK and 
World Service).  The GOP has facilitated access by 
international media access to both the civilian and military 
sides of the Islamabad airport, allowing video and camera 
coverage of incoming international assistance, including the 
arrival of USG relief flights.  Post has distributed copies 
of the October 9 Statement by the White House Press Secretary 
to local media and to GOP officials. 
 
 
 
CROCKER