US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD15730

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 015730 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA 
SOUTH ASIA RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM 
SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE TASK FORCE 
DCHA/FFP FOR LAUREN LANDIS 
ANE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD 
BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER 
ROME PASS FODAG 
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH 
NSC FOR JMELINE 
EUCOM FOR POLA/J3/J4/J5 
BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER 
NEW YORK FOR TMALY 
SECDEF FOR SOLIC/PKHA, USDP/J3 
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC FOR J3/J4/J5 
HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE FOR J3/J5 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, ASEC, MASS, ECON, KMDR, KPAO, OIIP, OPRC, PGOV, PREL, PK, Earthquake, Earthquake: USAID/DART Situation Report 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE:  USAID/DART SITUATION REPORT 
4 
 
 
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Summary 
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1.  The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there 
are 100,000 to 250,000 people who are not receiving relief 
in remote areas.  UNICEF will be assessing these un-accessed 
areas.  The Government of Pakistan (GOP) requested that the 
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) establish camps 
at sites in Balakot, Batagram, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, 
Shangla, and Gari Habibullah.  The shelter cluster group 
reported that 2 million people need shelter.  The Pakistani 
military plans to establish camps in Balakot, Gari 
Habibullah, and Batagram within the next 24 hours.  End 
summary. 
 
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Logistics 
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2.  On October 18, a U.S. Embassy/Pakistan representative 
attended the Logistics cluster group meeting and reported 
that the lack of information regarding needs of earthquake 
affected residents as well as the specific areas affected is 
still the major problem.  The group reported that it is 
difficult to determine what relief supplies are in the 
pipeline. 
 
3.  One group participant estimated that on the civilian 
side of the airport, there are 300 metric tons or 120 
pallets still on the ground.  In response to increasing 
traffic, the GOP has just announced that non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) have six hours to clear cargo after it 
arrives.  Cargo that is not moved during that time will be 
picked up by the Pakistani military, presumably for 
distribution. 
 
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Water and Sanitation 
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4.  On October 18, a USAID/Pakistan representative attended 
a water and sanitation cluster group meeting and reported 
that UNICEF has set up a team to assess un-accessed areas. 
UNICEF estimates that there are 100,000 to 250,000 people 
who are not receiving relief in remote areas.  The UNICEF 
team will conduct a rapid assessment of these villages. 
Meeting participants reported that there is no additional 
need for mobile treatment units in Muzaffarabad. 
 
5.  UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) are 
collaborating to provide safe and clean drinking water in 
affected areas.  The MOE has constituted a survey team that 
has already surveyed Muzaffarabad and is currently surveying 
Balakot in order to assess the feasibility of installing 
water purification plants.  The survey team will identify 
the water source, quality, and the capacity of the treatment 
plant in terms of the treated water output.  The MOE has 
ordered four plants, one of which will be installed in 
Muzaffarabad on October 19. 
 
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Camp Management 
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6.  On October 18, UNHCR briefed the diplomatic community on 
its efforts as leader of the camp management cluster for the 
relief effort.  UNHCR reported that it needs funding for the 
camp management category of the U.N.'s 2005 South Asia 
Earthquake appeal in the amount of $22 million.  The food 
cluster appeal contains funding for food for those in the 
camps, but the camp management appeal includes funding for 
all other elements needed to establish camps logistics, 
water and sanitation, health, shelter, and emergency relief 
supplies such as kitchen sets and blankets.  UNHCR has 
already spent USD 7,584,000 from its operational reserve, 
which must be replenished. 
 
7.  UNHCR reported the following main points: 
 
--UNHCR's main goal is to discourage additional displacement 
by providing technical and organizational assistance to 
informal settlements and tents and emergency relief supplies 
to individual families who want to remain near their homes; 
 
--The GOP requested that UNHCR establish camps at sites in 
Balakot, Batagram, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Shangla, and Gari 
Habibullah; 
 
--UNHCR will plan camps of 5,000 persons except in 
Muzaffarabad where there is limited space.  UNHCR will not 
erect tents until people request to stay in the camp.  UNHCR 
will not object if those in the camp decide to leave and 
take their tents nearer to their homes; 
 
--UNHCR has already distributed 3,000 winterized tents and 
2,000 kerosene stoves.  UNHCR has an additional 10,000 
tents, 20,000 blankets, and other emergency relief items on 
the way; 
 
--UNHCR plans for the camps to remain open only six months; 
after this period, UNHCR anticipates that the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) or another agency will 
assume management of any camps that may still be necessary; 
 
--Camp size will be limited to 5,000 persons because of the 
difficult terrain, and UNHCR will rely on the GOP to 
identify appropriate locations for camps; 
 
--UNHCR has no plans to establish camps in Islamabad, 
Rawalpindi, or other urban areas; however, UNHCR will 
provide technical assistance to the GOP if it decides to 
construct urban camps. 
 
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Shelter 
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8.  On October 18, the USAID/DART Structural Specialist and 
the U.S. Military Officer Liaison to the USAID/DART attended 
the shelter cluster meeting and reported that 300,000 tents 
are necessary.  The cluster group reported that some 
residents who live in higher altitude areas are trying to 
relocate to camp cities in lower areas as they fear 
landslides and snowfall.  Blankets and tents are the most 
critically needed items.  The shelter cluster reported that 
2 million residents need shelter, and 500,000 people may 
need to move to camps.  The Pakistani military plans to 
establish camps in Balakot, Gari Habibullah, and Batagram 
within the next 24 hours.  UNHCR reported that they will be 
operating here on a temporary basis for six to seven months. 
 
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USAID/DART Assessment Trips 
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9.  On October 19, the two USAID/DART team members and U.S. 
Embassy/Pakistan representatives deployed to Muzaffarabad to 
conduct follow-up assessments and coordinate relief 
activities with the U.N. 
 
 
CROCKER