US embassy cable - 05ISLAMABAD18492

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ISLAMABAD 018492 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA 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 WASH 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 MONITORS 
DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF COMMODITIES IN ALLAI VALLEY 
 
REF: Islamabad 18328 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. On December 11, 2005, the US Military provided helicopter 
transport to Pashtu and Gangwal villages in the remote 
earthquake-affected Allai Valley for three USAID/DART 
members, the Commander of the 3rd Marine Hospital Shinkiari 
and Mansehra, and the US Embassy's Mansehra Forward 
Operating Base Officer in Charge (OIC).  The team was 
accompanied by a representative from USAID partner NGO, Save 
the Children US (SC-US), which is working in eight Union 
Councils in the Allai Valley.  Due to access constraints to 
this area, air support is imperative for transport of 
emergency relief.  SC-US is distributing urgently needed 
household and shelter kits and food to these areas, and 
plans to cover the eight union councils by December 23. 
Distribution is ongoing, and is addressing the particular 
issue of women's access to relief in these communities.  The 
USAID/DART will continue to conduct field visits to monitor 
humanitarian conditions in affected areas. End summary. 
 
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Limited Access to Pashtu and Gangwal 
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2. On December 11, the US Military facilitated site visits 
by helicopter to two villages in the remote earthquake- 
affected Allai Valley for three USAID/DART members, the 
Commander of the 3rd Marine Hospital Shinkiari and Mansehra, 
and the US Embassy's Mansehra Forward Operating Base OIC. 
The team was accompanied by a representative from USAID 
partner SC-US, which is working in eight Union Councils in 
the Allai Valley, including Pashtu, a village located at 
5,161 feet, with a population of approximately 17,000 
people, and Gangwal, which had 12,000 residents, and is 
located at 5,413 feet. 
 
3. Descent into the valley was striking in that homes 
throughout the region were nestled into steep hillsides-many 
close to the tree-line on snow-clad mountains.  Gusts of 
wind made landing difficult in Pashtu, and provided a strong 
indication that winter conditions are at the doorstep of the 
valley's residents.  The USAID/DART noted that helicopter 
assistance is imperative for transporting relief items to 
this area.  According to SC-US staff, the one road providing 
access to Pashtu has been blocked since the October 8 
earthquake, and the primary means of movement between the 
larger town of Banna, located in the main Allai Valley, and 
Pashtu village is a steep trail that drops deeper into the 
valley. 
 
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Distributions In Progress 
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4. During the USAID/DART's visit to Pashtu, a distribution 
of non-food items (NFIs) was underway for a targeted 2,000 
households to receive winter shelter and/or household kits, 
containing plastic sheeting, saws, hammers, picks, wire, 
nails, axes, stoves, shawls, and blankets.  (Note: SC-US is 
targeting distributions of food and shelter and household 
kits to an estimated 12,288 households in Pashtu, Bateela, 
Rashang, Banna, Biari, Sakargah, Jambera, and Batkool union 
councils in the Allai Valley. End note).  SC-US is providing 
the kits to 2-3 villages a day, with plans to cover all 25 
villages by December 23 if weather conditions permit. 
 
5. SC-US has also completed a survey in Gangwal village, 
Rashang Union Council, and already delivered shelter and 
household kits to half of the 1,700 families identified for 
assistance.  Similar to the distribution strategy employed 
throughout SC-US operational areas, households at higher 
elevations-as high as 7,000 feet in Rashang-are receiving 
priority for distribution of the kits. 
 
6. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has been 
providing the necessary helicopter support to airlift these 
relief commodities.  SC-US staff reported that in the past 
week, UNHAS delivered a combination of food and emergency 
supplies, with airlifts of NFIs exclusively in the last four 
days in response to the urgent need for transport of shelter 
and winterization materials.  The USAID/DART observed that 
the GOP military, CARE, and Swiss Humanitarian Aid have also 
provided relief to this village, and another NGO has just 
arrived to help the Pashtu people construct dome tents. 
 
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Women's Access to Relief and Services 
------------------------------------- 
 
7. During the course of the visit, USAID/DART members 
observed only a few women in the distance, in the midst of 
hundreds of men and boys who were lined up to receive 
household and shelter kits.  The ability of women to access 
relief remains one of the foremost concerns of the 
USAID/DART.  In an effort to ensure that women are not 
excluded, SC-US worked with community members and local NGOs 
to identify beneficiaries through a community survey.  Among 
the most vulnerable population, widows and female-headed 
households received priority.  In Pashtu, SC-US identified 
214 widows with the assistance of the local population.  As 
these women were registered, they were given three "chits", 
or colored pieces of paper, which entitled them to a special 
relief package containing shelter and household kits and 
food.  At the same time, the women were asked to select a 
trusted family/community representative who would be 
authorized to submit these chits for commodities to 
transport to the women's shelters.  SC-US is following-up 
with monitoring activities and home visits to ensure that 
the materials reach each widow. 
 
8. On December 6, SC-US established a temporary hospital in 
nearby Banna, staffed with male and female physicians, 
several of whom are Pashtu and Urdu speaking.  Of particular 
note is that more than 60 women are lining up daily to 
access health care as a result of the presence of female 
doctors at the hospital.  SC-US staff noted that some women 
in the community are receiving health services for the first 
time, as this access to services did not exist in the past. 
To improve access even more, SC-US plans to add a separate 
hospital entrance for women in the coming days. 
 
9. SC-US efforts to ensure access for women to shelter 
materials and health services demonstrate how USAID/OFDA 
partners are providing equitable life-saving relief while 
respecting cultural sensitivities.  In early January, a 
gender specialist will join the USAID/DART as a Protection 
Officer to address this and other gender concerns. 
 
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Shelter Remains Priority Concern 
-------------------------------- 
 
10. The USAID/DART paid special attention to the issue of 
food availability during the site visits to Pashtu and 
Gangwal and the flyover of the Allai Valley.  Through SC-US, 
WFP has provided a 45-day ration for blanket distribution in 
Pashtu.  Throughout the valley, the team observed mounds of 
recently reaped maize and wheat on the terraced rice paddies 
next to damaged homes.  Some of the mounds were covered with 
plastic tarpaulin to protect the harvests from the elements. 
While it is unclear what percentage of the normal crop 
yields were lost as a result of the earthquake, the 
USAID/DART continues to find in interviews with villagers 
that food needs appear to be adequately addressed.  At this 
juncture, shelter is the primary concern. 
11. According to several residents who were waiting to 
receive their shelter kits, people generally want to stay in 
their communities, even in high elevation areas.  This 
sentiment was corroborated by SC-US's field staff in Pashtu, 
many of whom are from the affected village. 
 
12. Supplies for construction of sturdier shelters are in 
great demand.  The USAID/DART continues to raise related 
questions about the viability of tents to withstand the 
harsh winters and whether or not villagers are "saving" 
tents.  It may be that some people are safeguarding the 
tents that are too flimsy to live in, but could serve as 
shelter for livestock and/or grain storage.  The USAID/DART 
will continue to follow this issue in order to assure the 
best use of commodities distributed at these high 
elevations. 
 
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Water and Sanitation 
-------------------- 
 
13. Traditionally, villagers in these remote communities 
walk several miles to obtain potable water.  Although there 
were some functioning pipes in Pashtu that provided a 
trickling of water, SC-US noted that pipes had been damaged 
and water availability is limited.  In discussions with SC- 
US staff, the team learned that it is not uncommon for men 
to bathe infrequently during the winter months.  Some men 
bathe when visiting the larger town of Banna, where they can 
purchase a bucket of hot water at a barber shop with special 
rooms for washing.  However, this is reportedly not an 
option for women.  These cultural hygiene habits are likely 
to have health implications for communities in "spontaneous" 
camps if more people move to these areas. 
 
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Conclusions 
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14. With the rapid onset of winter conditions, the 
USAID/DART continues to address the shelter needs of 
vulnerable populations.  Based on the monitoring visit to 
Pashtu and Gangwal, distribution of key survival shelter and 
household kits appears to be proceeding on schedule.  In 
particular, SC-US is recognizing the needs of women in 
obtaining relief commodities, specifically shelter materials 
and health services.  On December 11, USAID airlifted an 
additional 6,000 sheets of tarpaulin and 2,500 blankets that 
can be used to insulate the walls and floor of tents or 
shelters per reftel.  The USAID/DART will continue to 
conduct field visits to monitor humanitarian conditions. 
 
15. The USAID/DART extends a special thanks to the US 
Military in Pakistan for its services in enabling the team 
and its partners access to conduct rapid assessments and 
monitor program progress. 
 
 
CROCKER