AIG Emergency Rapid Response Project Monthly Report – March 2007

1. Community and Government Relations:

The late arrival of winter in the earthquake affected areas proved March to be the busiest month for the ERTs. Cycles of heavy rain and snow resulted in countless life threatening and road blocking landslides, medical emergencies, fires and food shortages. The first ten days of month had the message of spring. After that the weather turned to furious rains. The whole country of Pakistan, particularly northern affected areas were under threat. Many causalities and property loses were recorded in Kashmir and NWFP. Valleys and high altitude villages were in great danger due to slide areas. ERTs were on high alert emergency standby for two third of this month, often cut off from operational centers and IOM sub- offices due to landslides blocking the roads. Disaster struck Kashmir and NWFP at various locations during third week of March 2007. 45 persons died, 38 injured and more than 200 families were rendered vulnerable and at risk from future landslides. Three landslides and a flash flood were triggered by excessive spring rains and snow fall on the hill tops. Kashmir earthquake affected districts received heavy precipitation with Muzaffarabad getting 82 mm of rain fall. Landslides occurred in Muzaffarabad City, Bagh area, Doba Sayyedan and Neelum Valley. Bagh also suffered from a flash flood. The ERT response was prompt and well coordinated.

Fig. 7.1. ERT NFI Ditribution in Naran

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On March 21 ERT Bagh started over mission by creating an emergency cell in the hub with the help of MWF and District Government and this was announced on radio that ERT has started the rescue missions.

ERT Muzaffarabad closely coordinated with Army, Camp Management Organization (CMO), Development Authority Muzaffarabad (DAM), Edhi Welfare Trust and AIMS Hospital to handle the problems of landslides in the area and families affected by them.

The ERTs established coordination mechanisms with control room nerve centers led by the District Administration in Muzaffarabad and Bagh to monitor and respond to emergencies as reports came in, involving the district Commissioner, Police, Army, Camp Management, Development Authority and the humanitarian community.

ERTs continue to expand the networks of first responder community level trainings, lead assessment ventures and response to difficult emergency situations in harsh conditions.

2. Current Activities:

(i) Emergency Intervention

Interventions this month included: landslide/rescue and relocation, emergency relocation, major road clearance, road traffic accidents, medical treatment, medical evacuations and fires. Emergency shelter kits were distributed in all cases of fire. NFIs and tent packages were also organized for emergency relocations.

Major Responses reported:

Landslide occurred at Doba Sayyedan about 1600 hrs on March 20. Doba Sayyedan is a far flung area 32 km from Hattian Tehsil (sub district) headquarter. Initially the landslide hit three houses and buried 10 people alive. Community members rushed to rescue the buried but unfortunately a second landslide trapped another 17 people Fortunately a mobile telephone connection was working in the area and information reached to ERT Jhelum Valley at 2330 hrs. ERT already provided the community the hotline numbers to contact them in case of an emergency. IOM Muzaffarabad got the information at 2345 hrs and immediately informed CMO, Army (1 AK Brigade) and district administration and held an emergency meeting at midnight to discuss the situation. IOM also informed key partners through an email circulated at 0335 hrs on March 21. Media (Geo TV and BBC urdu.com) flashed the news at 0400 hrs on March 21. Army response team comprising of 27 persons along with a doctor reached Doba Sayyedan by foot and animal transport on 21 March (morning) and started rescue mission with the support of 70 local community members. Wireless and telephone remained major communication and information sharing tools. As per initial report, 350 families were under serious threat of landslide and likely to displace at Doba Sayyedan and needed humanitarian assistance. 50 families needed immediate relief in situ.

Continuous rain hampered quick relief operation due to closure and blockade of roads on March 21. District Administration Muzaffarabad arranged an army helicopter but due to bad weather and poor visibility it could not fly on March 21 Govt placed machinery to clear the roads as soon as possible. Road was re -opened up to Haitian on March 22 afternoon. Chinari to Chham is 12 km fair weather jeep able road and it remained closed till 24 March. Relief goods for 50 families were placed at the helipad by ERTs by March 21 afternoons in anticipation of helicopter flights. The helicopter was made available on March 22. Its use was coordinated by local brigade major. The first sortie carried relief items for 16 families and evacuated 19 injured to Muzaffarabad. Relief goods for 200 families were transported by ERTs by road and placed at Hattian on March 22. ERT arranged USAID helicopter at their own and placed their team in Doba Sayyedan by the evening of March 22. ERTs contributed useful information which formed the basis of the subsequent relief operation. The ERTs reported that the actual damage was three houses destroyed by the landslide and rest of the area was out of any imminent threat. The community had responded by accommodating the affected persons in their houses. Most of their immediate needs had been met by the initial response. However 70 to

2 80 families stood in need of warm clothing, blankets, gloves and wood cutting saws to retrieve bodies needed to be retrieved from under the wooden frames of the destroyed houses. ERTs, AKDN, Army and government medical teams provided medical support to injured people at Doba Sayyedan and set up a medical station.
The situation at Doba Sayyedan stabilized on March 24 with the necessary relief goods delivered, dead bodies recovered and buried. ERTs assessed surrounding villages also at risk and coordinated relocation to safe places and relief goods on Kashmir Army helicopter sorties over the next days.

There was one medical evacuation of a woman from Doba Sayyedan because of excessive external bleeding. She had a miscarriage and was continuously bleeding for 3 days. ERT arranged a USAID Helicopter to evacuate her to AIMS Hospital Muzaffarabad from Doba Sayyedan.

Additional Chief Secretary Development (ACS (D) held a meeting at 1730 hrs on March 24. Government officials, IOM and UN Area Coordinator attended. The meeting was called to prepare for a subsequent meeting with the Prime Minister. It was decided that “Quick Response teams of IOM (total five teams each consisting of three individuals with capacity to communicate, carry out quick assessment, emergency first aid and medical care, search and rescue) were recommended to be integrated into disaster response of the government”.

Landslide at Tariqabad- suburb of Muzaffarabad city:

On March 20 a landslide damaged 80 houses (24 completely) and displaced 103 families. Tariqabad is a locality of Muzaffarabad City and suffers from the hazard of a known landslide. Development Authority Muzaffarabad (DAM) had conducted a survey on the second week of March 2007 and identified 104 families under the potential risk of landslide. DAM provided the list to ERT Muzaffarabad for verification. ERT made re assessment and categorized 39 families at high risk. On a call from the community on March 20, DAM informed ERT at about 2230 hrs on March 20 that the landslide had become active in an area called Khisker, Tariqabad. ERT immediately rushed to area and found two tented families affected. The families along with their belongings were rescued and moved to safer place. Commissioner Muzaffarabad, Commissioner CMO, Chairman Development Authority Muzaffarabad, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner, IOM and UN Area Coordinator visited the landslide area in Tariqabad on mid day March 21 and took on the spot decisions to move 103 families to safe areas if required. Relief goods needed by them were arranged by IOM, NRC-CST and CMO. No loss of life occurred due to proactive actions and coordination between ERT, CMO and DAM.

Jabrray, village Nazarpur, UC Dharray , District Bagh :

11 lives were lost (4 men, 3 woman, 3 boys and 1 girl) and two girls seriously injured due to landslide/flash flood in Mohallah Noopur Jabrray, village Nazarpur, UC Dharray of Bagh on March 20. At 1700 hours ERT Bagh rushed to the spot and rescued people and evacuated dead bodies. Local community and civil administration also took part in the rescue operation. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) convened daily meetings on March 21 and 22 March; WHO, UNDSS, UNICEF, WFP, ARC, MSF-B, Action Aid, IOM, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, participated in the meetings. An Emergency cell was established at ERT field station. ERT and Maqsood Welfare Foundation conducted a joint assessment of villages in Union Councils Birpani and Islam Nager, Bagh from March 24-26. The assessment revealed that the land of these areas had been destabilized and prone to landslides. The residents (100 families) of these areas were not ready to vacate the threatened area. Preference was for the provision of tents and plastic sheets, to be coordinated with Islamic Relief.

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4 Rapid Response Emergency Intervention Report

Date RR Team Dist UC Village Type of Intervention

15 Emergency Medical Treatment

10 Medical Evacuation

10 Road Traffic Accident BRIEF INCIDENT Oct to Jan NWFP and Kashmir 8 Fire REPORT 3 Landslide/Rescue/Relocation 1 Winter Evacuation 1 Electric Shock 1 Emergency Medical Screening

16 years old boy in severe pain Sirin valley Emergency Medical with fresh elbow fracture 1 1-Mar Mansehra Sachan Maira (Jabori) Treatment stabilized by medic ERT Sirin Valley.

Belgium Red Cross vehicle fell off the road. Driver and 2 9-Mar Batagram valley Batagram Battamori Battamori Road Traffic Accident passenger were safe. ERT pulled the vehicle from the side drain.

A child with Respiratory Tract Neelum valley Karriyan Infection was moved to the 3 14-Mar Muzaffarabad Badi Medical Evacuation (Patika) Darar AIMS hospital Muzaffarabad after providing first aid.

5 An old lady with asthma was Neelum valley moved to BHU Gajju after 4 16-Mar Muzaffarabad Noraseri Ghajju Medical Evacuation (Patika) provision of first aid for further treatment.

An old lady severe pain due to Sirin valley Emergency Medical fever and cold was given 5 18-Mar Mansehra Sachan Maira (Jabori) Treatment emergency medical treatment by ERT Medic.

An infant with high fever was Neelum valley Karriyan 6 18-Mar Muzaffarabad Khori Medical Evacuation shifted to nearest BHU by (Patika) Darar ERT. Due to heavy rains population settled in Tariqabad nearby Muzaffarabad by pass road became under the threat of Landslide heavy landslide .ERT helped 7 20-Mar Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Tariqabad Rescue/Relocation CMO in shifting families out from hazard zone and also provided tents and warm clothing and monitored landslide authority. Two men got stuck in the middle of river were rescued by Flash Flood 8 20-Mar Bagh Bagh Bagh Bagh ERT after a long effort as the Rescue water level was increasing rapidly due to heavy rain. ERT helped in recovering bodies and provided tents, bedding, heating and warm Landslide 9 20-Mar Bagh Bagh Dharay Jabray clothing to the survivors. ERT Rescue/Relocation also coordinated with Govt. and other relief agencies for further action.

6 ERT evacuated 6 families from different areas of Bagh to safer Landslide locations which were under 10 21-Mar Bagh Bagh Bagh Bagh Rescue/Relocation threat of land sliding and flood due to heavy rains .Tents and NFIs provided.. ERT Jhelum reported a big landslide in Doba Seydan where there was no road access.ERT Muzaffarabad coordinated with the Government (CMO) ,Army and WFP due to which a big relief operation started right after the Doba Landslide rain stopped .ERT 11 21 to 25- Mar Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Kuchha Sayyedan Rescue/Relocation Muzaffarabad and Jhelum reached on the site by a USAID helicopter and recovered 26 bodies with the help of community. Medical screening, NFIs and food distribution and medical evacuation by heli was done by ERTs.

A patient of aortic stenosis was Neelum valley Karriyan provided first aid by ERT medic 12 25-Mar Muzaffarabad Khori Medical Evacuation (Patika) Darar and referred to AIMS hospital Muzaffarabad.

A house caught fire due to short circuit. ERT reached on the site and rescued residents. First aid provided to the minor 13 26-Mar Bagh Bagh Chowki Bagh Fire injures .3 of the family members had major injuries. Family was given tent and bedding immediately by ERT.

7 ERT received a call about fire break out due to oil lamp explosion .Team reached immediately to village Thub 14 27-Mar Bagh Bagh Thub Thub Fire shifted two serious injures to the district hospital and one severe injured to Islamabad. Only two injured were able to survive.

Fig 7.2 IOM ERTs Allai and Battagram clearing the road to Allai valley Fig 7.3 ERT Bagh examining a child after rescuing from fire in Thub blocked due to major landslides

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Fig 7.4 ERT Muzaffarabad In evacuation of injured from Doba Sayyeda Fig 7.5 Emergency shelter kit offers rapid coverage in the post-fire rain in Kahuri

Fig 7.6 ERT Muzaffarabad and ERT Jhelum with Chairman Fig 7.7 ERT Bagh Distributing tents and NFI’s among the land ERRA Lt. Gen. Nadeem in Doba Syedan slide victims in Dheray

9 (ii) Trainings

On the basis of assessment and call-in requests, ERTs in Kashmir and NWFP have trained 17386 first responders (14373 male / 3013 female) in Kashmir and NWFP. Modules include: disaster management, first aid, BLS, mountaineering, survival and fire safety. A total of 45 trainings were held in March.

There are trainings arranged by ERT Muzaffarabad including trainings in Neelum District on request from MERLIN. In these trainings overall 67 male and 57 females were trained.

ERT Muzaffarabad attended Five days training on Disaster Management held by National Volunteer Movement .

Battal ERT conducted four trainings of volunteers and Lady Health Workers (LHW) of Mercy Corps.

Training Course with Pakistan Alpine Club :

To enhance the mountaineering and search and rescue capabilities of ERTs, one week training was arranged by the Alpine Club of Pakistan on the last week of March. 10 members of NWFP ERTs and 8 members of Kashmir ERTs participated in the training. Certificates were distributed among the ERTs on the last day of the training.

Fig 7.8 Allai Assessment Officer, Haq Nawaz abseiling

Fig 7.9 ERT Member conduct search and rescue scenario training

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Fig 7.10 AIG ERT Group Photo with Nazir Sabir, President of Alpine Club of Pakistan

Rapid Response Trainings Report

Rapid Response Altitude Male Female Age Dates Team Dist UC Village (feet) Type of Participants Type of Training Paticipants participants interval

BLS + Disaster Community + Students + Oct to 3000 to Management + First NWFP and Kashmir Teachers + NGO and 11533 2150 14-70 Jan 7000 Aid + Fire Fighting + Government Workers Mountaineering

First Aid + Fire 1-Mar Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Gojra Sarar 3769 Students + Teachers 260 Nil 14-60 Fighting

11 Neelum valley 1-Mar Muzaffarabad Khori Balsairi 4271 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 108 Nil 14-55 (Patika) Jhelum valley 1-Mar Muzaffarabad Langla Nowshara 2847 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 70 Nil 16-40 (Hattian) 1-Mar Kohistan Kohistan Dassu Dassu 2596 Students + Teachers First Aid 68 Nil 15-50

3-Mar Bagh Bagh Hari Ghel Jaglare 3765 Community First Aid 35 Nil 17-40 First Aid + Fire 5-Mar Muzaffarabad Neelum Chaliana Chaliana 6550 Community 30 5 20-45 Fighting Neelum valley 5-Mar Muzaffarabad Bhairi Bhairi 4554 LHV's + NGO workers First Aid + BLS 14 9 20-30 (Patika) Jhelum valley 5-Mar Muzaffarabad Langla Langla 3488 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 87 18 14-40 (Hattian) First Aid + 5-Mar Batagram valley Batagram Ajmaira Ajmaira 3497 Community 7 Nil 15-60 Mountaineering First Aid + Fire 6-Mar Muzaffarabad Neelum Ashkot Ashkot 4258 Community + Students 60 25 15-50 Fighting Neelum valley LHV's + Community + 6-Mar Muzaffarabad Bhairi Batdara 4209 First Aid + BLS 15 10 20-35 (Patika) Students 6-Mar Dulli Bagh Sangal Darakhas 4347 Students + Teachers First Aid Nil 66 16-40 First Aid + Fire 7-Mar Muzaffarabad Neelum Chaliana Leswa 6699 Community + BHU staff 15 35 15-51 Fighting 7-Mar Kohistan Kohistan Seo Seo 2896 Community First Aid 58 Nil 15-60 Battal valley 7-Mar Manshera Battal Khakhoo 4634 Community First Aid 42 Nil 18-45 (Battal) First Aid + Fire 8-Mar Muzaffarabad Neelum Mirpura Mirpura 3800 Community + BHU staff 12 35 15-52 Fighting Neelum valley LHV's + Community + 8-Mar Muzaffarabad Sarlisacha Konkan 5794 First Aid + BLS 23 28 16-45 (Patika) Students 8-Mar Dulli Bagh Sangal Nakhradi 5616 Community First Aid 36 7 20-80 Jhelum valley 8-Mar Muzaffarabad Chinari Chinari 3476 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 177 Nil 14-40 (Hattian)

12 Sirin valley First Aid + 8-Mar Manshera Jabori Jabori 3900 Students + Teachers 20 40 15-60 (Jabori) Mountaineering First Aid + 9-Mar Batagram valley Batagram Shamlai Shamlai 5034 Students + Teachers 75 Nil 15-60 Mountaineering Jhelum valley 10-Mar Muzaffarabad Chinari Chinari 3400 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 55 Nil 16-40 (Hattian) First Aid + 10-Mar Batagram valley Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community 85 Nil 15-60 Mountaineering 11-Mar Bagh Bagh Topi Topi 6000 Community First Aid 56 Nil 17-40 Kaghan Valley( First Aid + 11-Mar Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community 55 Nil 15-60 Kowai) Mountaineering 12-Mar Dulli Bagh Sangal Karsandara 5149 Community First Aid 30 Nil 20-90 Kaghan Valley( First Aid + 12-Mar Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community 111 Nil 15-60 Kowai) Mountaineering Jhelum valley 13-Mar Muzaffarabad Chinari Chinari 3500 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 2 155 14-35 (Hattian) Kaghan Valley( First Aid + 13-Mar Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community Nil 111 15-60 Kowai) Mountaineering First Aid + Fire 14-Mar Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Chanalbung Matahi 4740 Students + Teachers 120 90 14-60 Fighting First Aid + 14-Mar Batagram valley Batagram Shamlai Lower Shamlai 5020 Community 22 Nil 15-60 Mountaineering Hama 15-Mar Bagh Bagh Rawli 3100 Community First Aid 48 Nil 17-40 Mohra 15-Mar Dulli Bagh Sangal Chikyas 4450 Students + Teachers First Aid Nil 25 16-40 Kaghan Valley( First Aid + 15-Mar Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community 50 30 15-60 Kowai) Mountaineering First Aid + Fire 16-Mar Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad LangarPura LangarPura 2752 Students + Teachers 280 Nil 15-55 Fighting Jhelum valley 16-Mar Muzaffarabad Gujar Bandi Gujar Bandi 3900 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 340 Nil 14-40 (Hattian) Kaghan Valley( First Aid + 16-Mar Manshera Balakot Garihabibullah 4161 Community 85 Nil 15-60 Kowai) Mountaineering

13 Battal valley 16-Mar Manshera Battal Battal 4690 LHV's First Aid 2 17 20-40 (Battal) 18-Mar Dulli Bagh Sangal Chirikot 5458 Students + Teachers First Aid 60 Nil 16-50 Jhelum valley 19-Mar Muzaffarabad Gujar Bandi Gujar Bandi 3847 Students + Teachers First Aid + BLS 2 157 14-35 (Hattian) 21-Mar Kohistan Kohistan Seo Upper Seo 2944 Community First Aid 26 Nil 15-60 First Aid + 22-Mar Batagram valley Batagram Thakot Thakot 5643 Students + Teachers 75 Nil 15-60 Mountaineering 26-Mar Bagh Bagh Naryola Rawli 5000 Community First Aid 64 Nil 17-40 Battal valley Nazaray 29-Mar Manshera Hillkot 6063 Community First Aid 35 Nil 16-80 (Battal) (Balimang) Battal valley 29-Mar Manshera Hillkot Balimang 5927 Community First Aid 25 Nil 18-60 (Battal)

Total 14373 3013

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Fig 7.11 ERT Community training in Kashtra Camp Fig 7.12 ERT Jhelum conducting First Aid Training in Girls High School Nowshera

Fig 7.13 ERT Muzaffarabad in Basic Life Support Training in Sarrar Fig 7.14 ERT Kaghan in Kashtra Camp

(iii) Assessment

DISASTER ASSESSMENT- VILLAGES AT HIGH RISK

To date ERTs have assessed 703 at-risk villages. Assessment work has successfully led to the matching of emergency needs with training modules for the training operations of the ERTs, as well as targeted winter distributions and mapping of needs passed on through the government and humanitarian community coordination and planning meetings.

Most assessments this month concentrated around areas affected by heavy rains and landslides. Assessment of landslide areas was conducted to deal with the expected emergency.

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Assessment Report

Month Rapid Response Team No of Villages Assessed

Oct to Feb NWFP and AJK 586

Allai valley (Banna) 9

Sirin valley (Jabori) 10

Kaghan Valley( Kiwai) 18

Battal valley (Battal) 27

Batagram valley 9

March Kohistan 16

Neelum valley (Patika) 1

Jhelum valley (Hattian) 0

Muzaffarabad 2

Bagh 11

Dulli 14 Total 703

Fig 7.15 ERT Kohistan during village assessment Fig 7.16 ERT Allai in the field

16 3. Future planning

Approximately 3.5 million people have been affected by the earthquake that struck northern areas of Pakistan and India on October 8, 2005, with some 73,000 people losing their lives. Available statistics indicate that over 297,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently living in camps in NWFP and KASHMIR and other areas of Pakistan in 44 IDP camps. As the end of winter approaches and the emergency phase of the humanitarian operation begins to wind down, the attention of the Federal and Provincial authorities and the response community shifted to the return of the internally displaced and to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their areas of origin. In this connection, the authorities in NWFP and KASHMIR began the process of return and camp closure and consolidation (for those unable to return, pending a more durable solution) as of 10 March and 31 March respectively. Based on existing international standards, particularly those contained in the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement , there are a number of key elements that must be taken into account by the authorities and the response community in the planning and implementation of the return process in order to ensure that the return or resettlement of the internally displaced is voluntary, safe and dignified as well as sustainable.

A return of IDPs is starting from April 1 and humanitarian community is facilitating Camp Management Organization (CMO). ERTs are going to monitor the return points (areas f origin of IDPs) as well as return routes. ERTs are going to help in Returns public information campaign in the camps of District Bagh. Control room at CMO office for returns and Operations Manager ERT will be over seeing the return process in terms of accessibility and assessment of routes and areas of origin of the returning IDPs.

Training of the staff members of the Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dassu (Kohistan) is planned for next month. Training on Camp Safety for FC staff in UC Jabbori is planned upon request from the concerned authorities

The recent harsh weather will mean the continuation of ERT interventions and targeted distribution in at- risk locations through the beginning of April.

Continued involvement of Operational Managers and ERT members in provincial level Disaster Management training of trainers programs put on by the National Volunteer Movement will strengthen the links with national and provincial level disaster planning. There are plans for intensive skill improvement trainings for ERT members, to be facilitated by consultants such as the Alpine Club of Pakistan etc.

4. Media coverage

Below are online links to online coverage of the ERT Project in March. The press note was carried in English media by Dawn, Daily Times, The News, The Frontier Post, The Statesman and Pakistan Observer, besides the Urdu press. http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/featureArticleAF?entryId=13386&titleHolder=Happy%20to%20be%20Home %20with%20the%20Living%20and%20the%20Dead http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6ZK9RX?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=Kashmir http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\24\story_24-3-2007_pg7_15 http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=88776&catid=17&date=03/24/2007&fcatid=14 http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=hn&nid=1562&ad=24-03-2007 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6ZPD9S?OpenDocument http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\28\story_28-3-2007_pg7_18

Geo TV ran live tickers on IOM ERTs providing assistance in Muzaffarabad.

Project information, updates, media coverage, press briefings, feature stories and reports can also be accessed on the IOM/AIG Emergency Rapid Response Project website: http://iom.int/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/1548

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