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 1 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. 3 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.