AIG Emergency Rapid Response Project Monthly Report – November, 2006

1. Community and Government Relations:

All ten Emergency Rapid Response Field Stations are operational. Communication networks through the emergency hotline, VHF and satellite phone telecommunications systems are in place and teams are distributing their contact information in trainings and informal meetings with NGOs and community leaders in the field. Publication of a double-sided Urdu and English summary of ERT operations and hotline numbers is underway, as is a more detailed brochure summarizing the objectives and primary geographic coverage areas of each ERT.

The communication network for trainings and emergency services has linked government authorities closely with the IOM teams. In Muzaffarabad, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, along with the Managing Superintendent of Rescue 1-5 (Muzaffarabad city equivalent of 911 service) were briefed on the project and the contact numbers have been passed through the police station networks. The Assistant Commissioner also granted ERT vehicles to be fitted with flashing lights and sirens.

Relevant Government Offices (Camp Management, Municipal Administration, District Commissioner etc.) NGOs and United Nations Agencies operational in NWFP and Kashmir have also been informed of the ERT services and contact information in case of emergency. UNDSS is particularly interested in the operations of ERTs for the safety and security of all staff.

A field level coordination mechanism has been set up with UNHabitat Reconstruction Centers, involved in rural reconstruction, whereby information on at-risk communities is shared for the mobilization of ERTs.

ERT doctors play a leading role in the Emergency Health Taskforce set up by the World Health Organization and Kashmir District Health for standby doctors, medicine and ambulance service throughout Muzaffarabad District.

There is continued coordination between ERT and Pakistan Military commanders in the Allai Valley.

An agreement has been made with UNHAS for medical evacuations by heli.

The findings of assessment work for the Rural Pre-Winter Shelter Security Survey were presented to the Government of Pakistan Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), the Transitional Relief Cell, heads of the humanitarian community in Islamabad and the field, UNHABITAT housing working group meetings and other venues.

2. Current Activities:

(i) Emergency Intervention

RAPID RESPONSE EMERGENCY INTERVENTION REPORT

Type of Date RR Team Dist UC Village Intervention Brief Notes of Incident

Due to heavy snow, the road up the Kaghan valley was blocked and 4 member GTZ team with guide and four-wheel vehicle were 28 Kaghan Baboo Sar Winter trapped in fresh snow. They spent 24 hours without food, water or Oct Mansehra Kaghan Valley Top Evacuation supplies for 24 hours as IOM ERT Kaghan valley hiked to the 06 location, did medical check ups, provided supplies and guided them to the field station and ensured safe return to Islamabad. 29 year old M Nazir was shocked by 11000 kv overhead power 8 Allai Electric cables while fishing in the Indus river. IOM ERT Allai valley Nov Battagram Peshora Kotgala Valley Shock revived and stabilized Nazir and once blood pressure returned to 06 normal, he was transported to Battagram hospital. Operational Manager (NWFP) Bashir Ahmed witnessed a RTA and mobilized Muzaffarabad ERT. The team reached the location in 25 minutes and searched for victims in the van. Ops manager had already transported 14 casualties to Gari Habibullah field hospital. The field hospital was without medical facilities, doctors 23 Road Muzaffara Gari Gari or medicine, as they were in process of closing operations. Nov Mansehra Traffic bad Habibullah Habibullah Muzaffarabad ERT reached the hospital and proceeded with 06 Accident emergency care. Two casualties had fractures in the mouth and hip dislocation. All had lacerated wounds. After immediate care and stabilization of wounds, all patients were shifted to Mansehra Civil Hospital. Two serious patients were referred to Abbottabad. There were no deaths from the incident. A Toyota pick up coming from Jabori to Shinkiari felll from the 28 Sirin Road road due to break failure. Naseem and his 4 year old son fell 70 Nov valley Mansehra Gugarrmang Dadar Traffic feet from the road. After revival from unconsciousness, first aid 06 (Jabori) Accident treatment was given and patients taken to the hospital. There is full recovery.

Fig 3.1 Muzaffarabad ERT surveys damage Fig 3.2 Ops Manager Bashir Ahmed and team to passenger van at Garhi Habibullah RTA assist in medical care

Fig 3.3 Dr Mushtaq (Muzaffarbad ERT) treats face fracture

(ii) Training

On 20 and 21 November, four ERTs were trained in Muzaffarabad on the AIG Project and responsibilities of work before deployment to the field (Battagram, Battal, Bagh, Dulli). This brought the operational capacity of ERTs up to 10 teams at 10 field stations. Dr Muddasser (IOM Islamabad) and Dr Waheed (Neelum ERT) conducted the First Aid, Trauma and Basic Life Support Training and mountain search and rescue guide Rehmat Ali (Muzaffarabad ERT/Pakistan Alpine Club) conducted fire safety, evacuation, mountain awareness and winter survival training.

Fig 3.4 Training new ERT team members Fig 3.5 NWFP teams discuss ERT Plan of Action

ERTs have continued the community-level first aid, fire safety and disaster management training through assessment data and also on call in requests. There were 21 trainings held in November by the ERTs. A total of 2231 community leaders, secondary school children and teachers have been identified and trained as first responders in at-risk communities. Modules include: first aid and life support, survival and fire safety. Please refer to training matrix.

Fig 3.6 Dr Waheed (Neelum ERT) demonstrates Fig 3.7 Correct Procedure for moving a patient Bandaging of Head Wound at Battal High School

Rapid Response Trainings Report 2006 Altitude Male Female Age Date RR Team Dist UC Village Type of Participants Type of Training (feet) Paticipants participants interval

19-Oct Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Talgran Rushpayan 6010 Students +Teachers First Aid 300 _ 13-55 19-Oct Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Talgran Rushpayan 6010 Students +Teachers First Aid 70 70 13-55 23-Oct Kaghan Valley Manshera Kaghan GHS Kaghan 6848 Student+Teacher First Aid 94 Nil 15-45 3-Nov Kaghan Valley Manshera Kaghan GHS Phagal 5432 Student+Teacher First Aid 78 Nil 15-45 10-Nov Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Heerkotli Chatter+Doba 4562 Community First Aid 35 _ 13-70 10-Nov Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Heerkotli Meramandgran 4719 Community First Aid 50 _ 13-70 11-Nov Siran Valley Manshera Sachan GHS Nawaz Abad 4065 Student+Teacher First Aid 100 Nil 16-45 13-Nov Kaghan Valley Manshera Jared GHS Mahandari 6023 Student+Teacher First Aid 80 Nil 15-45

13-Nov Allai Valley Batagram Bateela GPS Bateela 6134 Student+Teacher First Aid 2 Nil 15-45

16-Nov Siran Valley Manshera Sachan GMS Jabar 4020 Student+Teacher First Aid 43 Nil 16-45 17-Nov Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Heerkotli Batmang 4670 Community First Aid 73 _ 13-70 19-Nov Allai Valley Batagram Rashang BHU Rashang 5400 Technicination First Aid 2 Nil 15-45 20-Nov Allai Valley Batagram Pashtoo GHS Pashtoo 5426 Student+Teacher First Aid 57 Nil 15-45 23-Nov Allai Valley Batagram Bateela GHS Bateela 6100 Student+Teacher First Aid 34 Nil 15-45 Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Khori 23-Nov Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Talgran Battle 4600 Students +Teachers First Aid 562 60 13-55 Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Saidpur 24-Nov Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Heerkotli Khanian 4570 Community First Aid 50 _ 13-70 24-Nov Jhelum Valley Muzaffarabad Chikar Chikar 4300 Students +Teachers First Aid 80 Nil 16-50 27-Nov Allai Valley Batagram Biari P. School Karag 4600 Student+Teacher First Aid 15 Nil 15-45 27-Nov Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Langarpura Daban 5100 Community +Students+ Teacher First Aid +Survival Training 75 25 13-55 27-Nov Siran Valley Manshera Bogarmang GMS Bogarmang 4380 Student+Teacher First Aid 46 Nil 16-45 28-Nov Muzaffarabad Muzaffarabad Komikot Komikot 3850 Students +Teachers First Aid +Survival Training 130 Nil 13-55 29-Nov Siran Valley Manshera Bogarmang GHS Dadar 4216 Student+Teacher First Aid 100 Nil 16-45 Total 2076 155

(iii) Assessment

RURAL PRE-WINTER SHELTER SECURITY SURVEY With assistance from AIG and OCHA, IOM conducted a Rural Shelter Survey in October and November 2006 to create a snapshot of the conditions regarding shelter, migration, accessibility and other critical needs in the rural earthquake affected areas of Pakistan. Based upon criteria established by the Pakistan government’s Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (ERRA), IOM targeted the 50 most affected Union Councils in Kashmir and the 50 most affected Union Councils in NWFP. Within these 100 most affected Union Councils, IOM surveyed the four most damaged villages, for a survey total of 400 villages.

To avoid bias on the part of researchers, mixed teams of male and female professionals from several agencies conducted the survey. Teams held community meetings in each village with the village leaders for a community wide assessment. Interviewers then visited 5 vulnerable families in each village recommended by village leaders. Vulnerable cases included child (under 16) headed households, those whose land was buried under land slides, female headed households, elderly and handicapped. To qualify as vulnerable, a family had to meet at least one of the previous criteria.

Fig 3.8 Community focus group in Chakhama UC with IOM/AIG surveyors and OXFAM monitoring unit

The survey results are reported on Excel spreadsheets enabling users to sort results by any criteria in the survey. The summary spreadsheets contain pertinent data on population, vulnerable population, which can be expanded to the various criteria, whether the village is above snowline, the number of weeks the village is cutoff during winter, if any, the number of people planning to migrate and the number unsure of their destination. One spreadsheet gives major indicators by district, and the last two contain all the data from every form by tehsil and by village. Sorting by any of the criteria in the header will reveal the locations of most concern for that issue.

Since the survey was designed to identify and highlight the conditions of the most vulnerable people, the results are cause for cautious optimism. Fewer people report that they will migrate this year than in a normal year, indicating that people are confident of their ability to withstand the extremes of the winter season in their present location. Regular monitoring is required throughout the winter to ensure people have what they need to make it through the winter. Therefore, joint Pakistan Government and humanitarian community emergency preparation continues.

These findings support the conclusions from the Pakistan Government’s contingency planning process. While there are many families uncertain of their future accommodations and still suffering in most respects, the fact that fewer people are planning migration this winter indicates last year’s intervention, lead by the Pakistan Government and Pakistan Army with the cooperation of the humanitarian community was a success.

Finally, it must be noted that this survey is not comprehensive; it was designed to identify areas of greatest need within each union council, but there are inevitably villages of great need that did not get surveyed since they were not among the four most damaged villages in that Union Council. The survey reflects the self-reported conditions of rural residents. Time and resource constraints means thorough, independent verification of these results is impossible. Survey results must be verified by actors in the field. This survey is only a general guide to conditions on the ground and will require constant monitoring and updating throughout the winter.

DISASTER ASSESSMENT- VILLAGES AT HIGH RISK To date ERTs have assessed 241 at-risk villages. Assessment work has successfully led to the matching of emergency needs with training modules for the training operations of the ERTs.

Fig 3.9 Assessment Officer Aamir (Jhelum ERT) sets Training dates for at-risk community above 5000 ft.

Rapid Response Emergency Assessment Report Month Rapid Response Team No of Villages Assessed October Allai valley (Banna) 39 October Sirin valley (Jabori) 7 October Kaghan valley (Malakandi) 9 October Neelum valley (Patika) 15 October Jhelum valley (Hattian) 17 October Muzaffarabad 16 November Allai valley (Banna) 10 November Sirin valley (Jabori) 11 November Kaghan Valley( Malakandi) 55 November Neelum valley (Patika) 4 November Jhelum valley (Hattian) 31 November Muzaffarabad 27 Total villages assessed 241

3. Future planning

Training of Muzaffarabad Development Authority’s emergency workforce (23 members) will take place on 7 December. This workforce will assist in the urban emergencies this winter, while ERTs will continue their focus on harder to reach rural communities. Muzaffarabad ERT will also be involved in the urban scenario, if contacted for specific involvement in a particular emergency.

Fire safety training in the 40 camps in and near to Muzaffarabad city, with a total current population of 6000 families will start in collaboration with the Camp Support Team: CMO, NRC/UNHCR winterization process of camps.

Fig 3.10 Fire Safety Training handout (English trans.) used in Training Module

Logistical hubs (rub halls) will be set up in Mansehra and Muzaffarabad and stocked with winterized tents and plastic sheeting for ERT distribution in case of an emergency.

The rural relief working group, under the ERRA-UNHabitat led housing group) is already operational in Mansehra and the first meeting will be held in Muzaffarabad on 7 December, chaired by IOM. Using the platform of Goveenment Contingency Plans and gaps analysis through the Shelter Security Survey, this meeting is held bi-weekly to discuss emergency and targeted rural relief, stockpiles, logistics and distribution plans of all agencies and actors involved in shelter and NFI distribution this winter.

Fig 3.11 Rural Relief Response cycle for Emergency Shelter and NFI Coordination

4. IN FOCUS - BUILD TEAMS SUPPORT TENT SHELTER CONSTRUCTION IN IDP CAMPS

In the OCHA-funded Registration and Constraints Survey of IDP Camps (September 2006), IOM surveyed and registered nearly 6000 families still living in 44 camps in Kashmir and over 800 families in the 3 camps of NWFP. The most significant constraint for these families to return to their villages of origin is their claim to landlessness. Over 4700 families have claimed landlessness in Kashmir IDP camps. With the Commissioner’s office verifying the claims and the winter season approaching, ERRA, Camp Management and Camp Support Team were of the opinion that living conditions in tents, most damaged from over one year of living and exposure to conditions, was not feasible for these families.

IOM has a special connection to the IDP camp 25 kilometers outside of Muzaffarabad, Chattar Kalas Camp. In June, over 200 Kashmiri families living in Fateh-Jung Camp in Punjab were assisted in their return to Kashmir through IOM medical screening and transportation. They could not return ‘home’ due to their landlessness, but IOM welcomed them to Chattar Kalas Camp in Kashmir.

When Brigadier Warrich of ERRA requested IOM to be involved in the construction of tent shelters, designed by the Camp Support Team, 10 AIG-funded Rapid Response Construction Teams were formed, and following a 2 day builders training, teams were immediately mobilized for shelter construction in Chattar Kalas Camp from 27 November. Each team consists of 3 skilled carpenters and labor from the population in the camp. With assistance from CMO, NCR, Camp Support and local NGO Best, over 160 tent shelters have been completed in Chattar Kalas camp.

The target date for completion of all 336 shelters in Chattar Kalas is 20 December. Rapid Response Construction Teams will soon begin work in other camps, as directed by the Camp Support Team.

Fig 3.12 Carpenters cutting shelter bamboo Fig 3.13 Labor teams erecting shelter framework

Fig 3.14 Chattar Kalas Camp Tent-Shelter coverage

5. Media coverage

Below are online links to online coverage of the ERT Project. Also find attached a selection of the many articles published in national English newspapers. There was similar coverage in local Urdu newspapers as well. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\04\story_4-11-2006_pg11_8 http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=66696&catid=17&date=11/04/2006&fcatid=14 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EVOD-6V7EKL?OpenDocument http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\15\story_15-11-2006_pg11_3 http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=68478&catid=17&date=11/15/2006&fcatid=14 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6VJDCJ?OpenDocument

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