EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY NRC PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE SITUATION REPORT – WEEK ENDING 19TH FEB 2006 Situation overview There was some rain during the reporting week, with snow at higher altitudes and some landslides blocking roads temporarily, but overall the weather was fine. Fruit trees have started to blossom (‘Pul’ in Urdu), and there is a feeling that spring is here. The potential for security problems associated with protests ostensibly about the 12 controversial caricatures of the prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) again disrupted NRC’s relief activities in Pakistan. NRC was one of the first humanitarian agencies to publicly condemn the publication of the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.. NRC has likewise condemned the violence against humanitarian aid workers and innocent individuals, which has come as a result of the publication of the caricatures. Despite these hurdles there were significant achievements during the week, with substantial quantities of corrugated galvanized iron sheeting delivered, and some very effective collaboration with UN OCHA on developing a framework for sustainable returns which meets international standards and is voluntary, dignified & safe. FOCUS – New House for Gul Sharif Jan Gul Sharif Jan, 50 years, lost everything in the earthquake. Now she’s looking forward to moving into a house built of materials from NRC. She speaks on behalf of the women of Koshgram, a small village, high in the remote Allai Valley. Women there have spent months living in tents during the coldest months of the year, and bear most responsibility for maintaining households. Ms Gul has been living in a canvas tent provided by NRC since 15 days after the earthquake. She says that, like other women in the village, she finds life very difficult. After around three months in the tent she is looking forward to moving into an emergency shelter constructed with corrugated galvanised iron sheeting provided and designed by NRC. Norwegian Refugee Council field staff gave villagers toolkits, built a model shelter, and assisted in construction of frames from timber salvaged from the rubble of old houses. Gul Sharif Jan is very pleased with the outcome. “We are just waiting for the mud floor to dry, and in two days I will be able to move,” she says, and there is the hint of a smile in her eyes before she turns them down again. Like everyone here, memories of the earthquake are still vivid. She recalls what happened: “There was dirt flying like smoke. People and children crying everywhere. And aftershocks, terrible aftershocks.” So what do the women of Koshgram think caused the earthquake? “It is God’s will” she says without hesitation. “Women talk a lot about the quake and why it happened. We ask if it was because of the bad habits of the people.” When asked what she would like to tell the women of Norway, if she could speak directly to them, she was silent and thoughtful for a long time. Eventually she spoke: “I have so many things I would speak about with the women of Norway, but this is not something I can tell a man.” NRC Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report, week ending Feb 19th 2006 1 NRC Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report, week ending Feb 19th 2006 2 Achievements This Week • Alpine Support Team: Pakistani mountain guides seconded to NRC continue to work with staff in the Allai Valley. • Camp Management: The Camp Management Coordinator returned from some well deserved R & R. During the week CM: distributed winterization items in Bagh and Muzaffarabad; prepared for the next distributions in Mansehra and Batagram; prepared of 4th and 5th sessions of CM trainings in Urdu between 18th and 21st in all four districts; conducted 4th session of CM training in Bagh, Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Batagram on 18th/19th; coordinated with Survey Coordinator regarding survey on return intentions (new Coordinator is former MSTC Toril Lund, she has already left Batagram; her office will be taken over by her lead PO Asad); evaluated of CM trainings and improvement of conditions in camps where camp mangers attended the CM trainings. • Distribution: Despite disruptions caused by strikes and demonstrations, teams: worked with the Army and CM teams in Chapergram; assisted CM teams with distribution in Muzzaffarabad and Bagh After significant pipeline delays, distribution of outstanding cgi sheets in Koshgram, Allai Valley took place with thanks to UNHAS/UNJLC helicopters equipped with slings. German Air Force personnel cooperated with NRC in Chatter Plain in preparing the pallets. 1095 cgi sheets were delivered (approx 14.5 tons), and distributed immediately. The next distribution of cgi sheets in the Allai Valley is planned for the Village of Kotgay, where assessments have already been carried out and frames erected. Delivery of the outstanding 3 000 cgi sheets (approx 39 tons) to Kumi, near Balakot also commenced, and after distribution of toolkits and blankets from the Kashtra Army camp helipad demand in the village will be finalized. Team 6 will then move on to Bagga, one of the villages closest to the epicenter of the earthquake, which is more than 95% destroyed. Although the Pakistani Army has done some work there, the village appears to have been a gap in the overall relief effort. Delivery of 1190 cgi sheets for Charbanda was planned for 17.2.06, but the helipad was not suitable for landing a MI8. Instead the helicopter was diverted to Kumi, where it completed the delivery of outstanding cgi sheets. Team 5 faced a problem from a local villager in Burj who attempted to get relief goods from NRC for those who had already received them from other NGOs. Following the intervention of the Pakistani Army the situation was resolved, and it is hoped that distribution in Burj will commence shortly with Army escorts for NRC staff. • Education: The Education project continued the roll out of schools in the Batagram area under the direction of the team leader as the Coordinator was delayed in returning from R&R because of the security situation. • Logistics: Coordinated distribution in camps in MZF and Bagh, and Coordinated closely with UNJLC and UNHAS on heli cargo movements of CGI sheets • Reconstruction & Shelter: The Reconstruction Coordinator has been in the field, and has not been able to report this week. With the delivery of substantial amounts of cgi sheeting, emergency shelter construction continues apace. See Annex B for details, and also details in Distribution section above. 2 NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL NRC Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report, week ending Feb 19th 2006 3 TARGET POPULATIONS / BENEFICIARIES Target areas: Activities this week: Activities next week AST Allai Assessments / monitoring of hard to Assessments / monitoring of hard to reach areas. reach areas. CM: Distribution this week Ongoing next week Muzaffarabad 1292 blankets; 204 clothes kits for 8.708 blankets; 2500 clothes kits; 8624 children; 376 underwear for children underwear Bagh 1.026 blankets; 1.004 clothes kits for Distribution to commence with Chappargram as children; 1004 trousers for children; distribution point. 173 jerry cans Distribution: Distribution this week Ongoing next week See annex A for details of all NRC distributions undertaken by the end of the reporting week. Education Activities this week (Battagram) See Annex C for full details on all educational operations until today. Reconstruction: See Annex B for full details on all reconstruction and shelter operations until today. FUNDING NRC’s earthquake relief work in Pakistan is funded by generous donations from DFID UK, ECHO, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Statoil, Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening, Wallenius Wilhelmsen ASA, and many private donors. WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR & RedR are supply or implementing partners in some NRC programs in Pakistan. 3 NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL NRC Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report, week ending Feb 19th 2006 4 Annex A N.W.F.P severally affected population Shelter / NFI Distribution SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION REPORT (FEBRUARY 21, 2006) Shelter / NFI Items Distribution District Tehsil Winter Blankets Shelter School Children Children Stoves Coal Jeri Can Winteriza- Total Tents Quilts Kits Kits Kits Trouser tion Pack Balakot Tehsil Tcode: 3180 3,527 4,016 4,419 20,590 351 - - - - - 32,903 Mansehra Tehsil Tcode: 3182 2,714 2,080 3,072 7,253 190 - - - - - 15,309 Dcode: 2072 Oghi Tehsil Mansehra District Tcode: 3183 914 911 288 9,140 - - - - - - 11,253 Abbottabad ATD ATD (2055) Tcode: 3153 156 156 - - - - - - - - 312 Sub-Total Mansehra 7,311 7,163 7,779 36,983 541 - - - - - 59,777 Allai Tehsil Tcode: 3155 2,139 2,139 6,014 9,550 324 1,865 - - - - 20,166 Battagram T Battagram Dcode: 2063 Tcode: 3156 - - 35,097 - - - 28,163 18,168 6,898 1,056 89,382 Sub-Total Battagram 2,139 2,139 41,111 9,550 324 1,865 28,163 18,168 6,898 1,056 109,548 Chakisar Tehsil Tcode: 3190 595 252 - - - - - - - - 847 Bisham Tehsil Tcode: 3189 443 193 - - - - - - - - 636 Alpuri Tehsil Dcode: 2074 Tcode: 3188 487 100 - - - - - - - - 587 Shangla District Poran Tehsil Tcode: 3192 475 475 - - - - - - - - 950 Sub-Total Shangla 2,000 1,020 - - - - - - - - 3,020 Unit Nos. Nos. Nos. Kgs. Pack Pack Pack Pack Pack Pack ⇓ Total Total Received 12,077 15,000 49,910 50,000 2,500 1,865 55,218 30,000 8,000 3,079 227,649 Distribution Total 11,450 10,322 48,890 46,533 865 1,865 28,163 18,168 6,898 1,056 172,345 Balance 627 4,678 1,020 3,467 1,635 - 27,055 11,832 1,102 2,023 55,304 4 NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL NRC Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report, week ending Feb 19th 2006 5 Annex B Norwegian Refugee Council N.W.F.P severly