US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD16881

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 ISLAMABAD 016881 
 
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 JONATHAN DWORKEN 
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 
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN - EARTHQUAKE:  USAID/DART WATER AND 
SANITATION SECTOR ASSESSMENT 
 
 
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Summary 
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1.  From October 19 through November 13, a water and 
sanitation officer (WSO) was deployed to Pakistan as part of 
the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).  Through 
numerous trips through affected areas; assessments, and 
interviews with representatives of non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), Government of Pakistan (GOP) officials, 
and others, the USAID/DART WSO has determined that the 
greatest water and sanitation needs are in urban camps, 
particularly those in Muzaffarabad.  The lack of water and 
sanitation facilities in these camps places the internally 
displaced persons (IDPs) in the camps at risk of acquiring 
sanitation-related diseases.  The U.N. Children,s Fund 
(UNICEF) and other relief groups are gradually addressing 
this critical issue, although progress is slow.  In rural 
areas, the water and sanitation situation is not ideal, but 
people appear better able to cope with existing conditions. 
The primary risk to the rural population is the damage to 
spring systems, which forces rural residents to obtain their 
water from contaminated streams.  The primary water and 
sanitation intervention in rural areas is the distribution of 
hygiene kits and individual water purification materials.  In 
rural areas with denser populations, the quick repair of 
heavily used spring systems is necessary.  End summary. 
 
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Coordination of Water and Sanitation Interventions 
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2.  The coordination of water and sanitation interventions is 
being conducted at the five humanitarian hubs:  Mansehra, 
Balakot, Batagram, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh.  Overall water and 
sanitation coordination is being conducted out of Islamabad. 
The following information is based on site visits made from 
October 22 through November 9. 
 
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Islamabad: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
3.  At the national level, water and sanitation activities 
focus on acquiring and delivering resources to implementers 
at the humanitarian hubs, developing a national disaster 
strategy, and allocating UNICEF human water and sanitation 
resources.  At present, the critical resource shortage is the 
limited supply of latrine slabs.  However, the USAID/DART has 
purchased plywood for the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion,s 
(Seabees) construction projects in earthquake-affected areas. 
 Additionally, UNICEF has investigated numerous options to 
resolve the shortage, including procuring locally 
manufactured sheet metal slabs, obtaining plastic latrine 
slabs manufactured in Dubai, arranging for the local 
manufacture of plywood slabs, and accessing slab construction 
materials.  UNICEF is aggressively addressing this issue. 
 
4.  UNICEF has developed an immediate water and sanitation 
relief strategy that involves four major interventions.  The 
first is the delivery of hygiene kits with basic instructions 
to rural populations.  Where feasible, rural gravity-flow 
spring systems will be repaired.  Where this is not feasible, 
individual water purification supplies will be provided to 
families.  The second intervention is providing basic water 
and sanitation interventions to residents of spontaneous 
camps in urban areas.  Basic interventions proposed include 
providing a chlorinated water supply, simple pit latrines 
designated by sex, hygiene kits for each family, and 
rudimentary solid waste collection.  The third intervention 
is providing water and sanitation interventions in planned 
camps.  Given the more permanent nature of planned camps, 
proposed interventions include potable water sources on site, 
pour flush latrines designated by sex, washing areas 
designated by sex, hygiene kits for each family, and solid 
waste collection.  The fourth intervention is coupling 
simple, standard hygiene education programs with all water 
and sanitation interventions delivered to affected 
populations. 
 
5.  UNICEF is actively recruiting and assigning water and 
sanitation professionals for the relief effort.  UNICEF water 
and sanitation professionals who deployed at the beginning of 
the relief effort are due to return to their permanent 
positions.  UNICEF says it will replace them with locally 
recruited staff. 
 
6.  The USAID/DART will continue to monitor UNICEF,s 
progress in resolving the latrine supply issue.  UNICEF has 
requested that USAID provide 10,000 sheets of marine-grade 
three-quarter-inch plywood and plans to construct latrine 
slabs from the plywood.  The USAID/DART has sourced a local 
supply of marine-grade plywood for the Seabees and UNICEF. 
 
7.  The USAID/DART will also monitor UNICEF,s replacement of 
field staff.  Failure of UNICEF to replace field personnel in 
a timely manner will result in disruption of water and 
sanitation coordination activities at the humanitarian hubs. 
 
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Muzaffarabad: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
8.  The USAID/DART WSO reported that UNICEF is coordinating 
water and sanitation activities in the Muzaffarabad 
humanitarian hub, where water and sanitation cluster meetings 
are held twice weekly.  Addressing unacceptable water and 
sanitation conditions in the urban tent camps is the priority 
water and sanitation issue in the region around Muzaffarabad. 
 The Muzaffarabad city water plant is operating, and the 
water distribution system is functioning. Tanker trucks are 
delivering water to tent camps. 
 
9.  In the Muzaffarabad urban area, over 19 camps are a 
temporary home to more than 10,000 people.  With many 
residential, government, and retail structures destroyed, 
Muzaffarabad city sustained extensive damage in the 
earthquake.  While drinking water has been provided in the 
tent camps, sanitation conditions in the camps have been 
neglected.  The poor sanitation conditions in the urban camps 
are due to several factors:  the lack of camp managers and 
latrine slabs, limited water and sanitation human resources 
among the relief agencies due to NGO focus on rural areas, 
and the failure of NGOs to monitor and ensure proper 
maintenance of the urban camp latrines. 
 
10.  Recent outbreaks of diarrhea in urban camps have brought 
increased attention and resources to bear on improving 
sanitation conditions in urban camp areas.  The U.N. World 
Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, USAID, and the rest of the 
relief community are actively working to improve sanitation 
conditions in urban camps.  The relief community is 
refurbishing or replacing latrines.  UNICEF has coordinated 
the reassessment of the urban camps, using a survey tool 
approved by the water and sanitation cluster group.  The 
reassessment will allow the cluster group to appropriately 
target resources and water and sanitation interventions. 
 
11.  Water and sanitation interventions in rural areas of 
Muzaffarabad District are limited to providing basic hygiene 
items and dispatching emergency response teams.  These joint 
WHO/UNICEF teams take specimens to investigate the cause of 
severe diarrhea cases, provide water purification materials, 
and conduct basic hygiene education. 
 
12.  The USAID/DART will closely monitor water and sanitation 
activities in urban camps in Muzaffarabad and, when possible, 
provide technical support.  The Seabees, construction of 
latrines and latrine slabs for urban camps is an excellent 
example of directing U.S. military assets towards addressing 
critical needs. 
 
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Mansehra: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
13.  Mansehra city was not as severely damaged by the 
earthquake as was Muzaffarabad.  Because the urban population 
in Mansehra was not heavily impacted, sanitation in urban 
camps, while an important issue, is not a priority.  Rather, 
the priority in the region is the water and sanitation issues 
at planned camps in the area.  The GOP military has assumed 
responsibly for management in many camps.  Unfortunately, 
camp managers have allowed IDPs to settle in these camps 
prior to the completion of the camp infrastructure.  This has 
led to rapid unplanned construction of inadequate water and 
sanitation facilities.  The cluster group in Mansehra focuses 
much of its efforts on responding to the water and sanitation 
needs in these camps. 
 
14.  In Mansehra District, UNICEF has assumed responsibility 
for coordination of the water and sanitation sector. 
However, UNICEF appears to be more a passive participant than 
the coordinating agency.  In Mansehra, the water and 
sanitation cluster meeting occurs twice weekly and is led by 
the Mansehra District Water, Environmental, and Sanitation 
Department (WES) manager.  Water and sanitation cluster 
meetings focus primarily on water and solid waste.  When the 
USAID/DART WSO asked the WES manager whether latrine-related 
issues were ever discussed at these meetings, the WES manager 
stated that Oxfam was building   latrines.  Oxfam told the 
USAID/DART WSO that they were building latrines but that the 
latrine construction program was poorly coordinated and NGO 
resources were scarce. 
 
15.  In Mansehra District, the local Rural Water Supply and 
Sanitation Program has identified a total of 107 camps, each 
of which has more than 20 tents.  Of these 107 camps, the 
cluster group is focusing its efforts on 47 camps designated 
by the government as critical camps.  IDP camps in Mansehra 
region are in rural areas and appear to have adequate space 
for planned sanitation facilities. 
 
16.  According to UNICEF, the UNICEF Hygiene Promotion 
Specialist for Mansehra District held a Hygiene Program 
training on November 12 and 13.  NGO hygiene promotion 
specialists attended the training, where they were trained on 
implementing a standardizeD hygiene promotion program. 
 
17.  The USAID/DART has encouraged the water and sanitation 
cluster in Mansehra meeting to include latrine construction 
activities in its meeting agenda.  The USAID/DART has also 
encouraged the establishment of a latrine working group, if 
time constraints do not allow this issue to be discussed at 
the regular cluster meeting.  Such a group could tackle 
latrine construction issues and report at the water and 
sanitation cluster meeting. 
 
18.  The USAID/DART closely monitors progress on the 
development of water and sanitation in planned camps.  It is 
highly likely that camp managers will allow tent camps to 
become overpopulated.  If the USAID/DART determines that the 
population of a camp is overloading the camp,s sanitation 
facilities, the team can take immediate action to encourage 
the camp management to stop settlement in the camp or, if 
possible, increase the number of sanitation facilities in the 
camp. 
 
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Batagram: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
19.  In Batagram District, the earthquake significantly 
damaged rural homes.  However, Batagram town itself does not 
appear to be severely damaged.  The commercial district of 
Batagram does not appear to have sustained significant 
damage.  Local shops are open, and business appears brisk. 
The Batagram city water plant is functioning.  Only one major 
urban camp with approximately 100 tents was observed in 
Batagram city.  The USAID/DART WSO received reports that 
residents of this camp were IDPs from the hills surrounding 
the town. 
 
20.  UNICEF is coordinating water and sanitation sector 
issues in Batagram District.  Water and sanitation cluster 
meetings are held twice weekly.  The priority water and 
sanitation issue in Batagram District is increasing NGO 
presence in the region and at Mehra tent camp, located one 
hour north of Batagram on the Indus River.  The GOP is 
planning Mehra tent camp to accommodate 40,000 IDPs, who the 
GOP expects will arrive from higher elevations in the Allai 
Valley.  In Mehra tent camp, Save the Children/US has done an 
excellent job providing basic sanitation interventions in a 
timely manner as residents have begun to arrive at the camp. 
The Austrian Red Cross is providing safe water at the camp. 
 
21.  In rural areas of Batagram District, the water and 
sanitation priority is the delivery of hygiene kits and water 
purification supplies to remote areas. 
 
22.  As in Mansehra, the USAID/DART will closely monitor 
progress on the development of water and sanitation in 
planned camps in Batagram District.  It is likely that camp 
managers will allow overpopulation of tent camps if left 
unmonitored.  If the USAID/DART determines that the 
population of a camp is overloading the camp,s sanitation 
facilities, the team will take immediate action to encourage 
the camp management to stop settlement in the camp or, if 
possible, expand the camp,s sanitation facilities. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Balakot: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
23.  A town of approximately 50,000 people, Balakot was 
completely destroyed by the earthquake.  Local NGOs reported 
an 80% fatality rate in the urban area.  The lack of large 
numbers of urban camps in the city of Balakot supports this 
figure.  The absence of urban IDPs may also be the result of 
previous residents evacuating Balakot city. 
 
24.  ACTED reported that in Balakot, the GOP military is 
coordinating relief operations, and Action Contre la Faim 
(ACF) is holding informal water and sanitation coordination 
meetings.  Representatives of ACF stated that they are 
constructing 100 latrines per week for the IDPs located in 
Balakot.  ACF is combining the latrine construction ) the 
informal sector priority in Balakot ) with a hygiene 
promotion program.  In Balakot, the German Red Cross is 
providing clean water 
 
25.  In rural areas of Balakot, the water and sanitation 
priorities are repairing gravity-flow spring systems in 
valleys north of Balakot and supplying remote rural residents 
with hygiene kits. 
 
26.  The USAID/DART is encouraging UNICEF to place a water 
and sanitation professional in Balakot to coordinate sector 
activities and assist NGOs with the implementation of water 
and sanitation interventions.  UNICEF must take an active 
role in the coordination of water and sanitation activities 
in the area, as the Balakot water and sanitation sector 
cannot be effectively managed from Mansehra, as is currently 
the case. 
 
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Bagh: Current Water and Sanitation Situation 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
27.  The USAID/DART WSO visited Bagh but had insufficient 
time to assess the area.  Like Balakot, Bagh is a small rural 
community.  Although the town sustained significant damage, 
businesses appeared to be operating.  The displaced urban 
population did not appear to have access to latrines. 
Displaced urban residents are living in spontaneous camps 
along a mountain stream and at a larger camp near the center 
of town.  UNICEF is the lead water and sanitation sector 
coordinator in Bagh.  Cluster meeting are held regularly but 
meeting dates and times were not available at the time of the 
visit. 
CROCKER