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Earthquake Relief Update
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The South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund was formed when five distinguished private-sector leaders, supported by President Bush, launched a nationwide effort to encourage private donations for relief and reconstruction in response to the devastating earthquake in South Asia that occurred on October 8, 2005. |
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, on October 8, 2005, at 8:50 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad.
Aftershocks continue in the affected areas. The delivery of humanitarian assistance is constricted by the mountainous area, cold weather, and damaged or collapsed infrastructure. The most affected areas are the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Northern Punjab, and Pakistani-administered Kashmir in Pakistan, and Indian-administered Kashmir in India.
| U.S. Government (USG) Humanitarian Assistance Pledged: | $100,000,000 |
| USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed to Pakistan: | $46,533,997 |
| Total USAID Humanitarian Assistance Committed to Pakistan: | $50,260,597 |
| USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed to India: | $600,662 |
| Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed to South Asia: | $50,861,259 |
Updates:
11/15/05 - Photo Galleries from Pakistan and India
11/15/05 - Fact Sheet #24 (PDF - 94kb)
11/15/05 - Map of Affected Areas and Relief Activities (PDF - 406kb)
11/10/05 - Weekly Update #3 (PDF - 366kb)
CURRENT SITUATION
Pakistan
- The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Water and Sanitation Officer reports that the greatest sanitation needs are in urban camps, particularly those in Muzaffarabad, as latrine construction has fallen behind the provision of drinking water. In rural areas, the primary risk to the rural population is the damage to spring systems, which forces rural residents to obtain their water from contaminated streams. The USAID/DART WSO notes that distribution of hygiene kits and individual water purification materials is needed in rural areas. In rural areas with denser populations, heavily used spring systems should be repaired quickly.
- According to the USAID/DART Shelter and Settlements Advisor, reports of homeless people are rare in the affected areas, suggesting that affected families have resorted to a range of shelter solutions including, rebuilding, migration, and host/guest family living arrangements. The USAID/DART is working with implementing partners to promote shelter-in-place options, in which families rebuild or repair their homes with plastic sheeting and corrugated galvanized sheeting. In addition, the USAID/DART is encouraging the use of debris as a valuable building material. The USAID/DART notes that when tents are needed, locating the tents near damaged or destroyed homes will assist recovery efforts in allowing for families to watch their possessions, care for animals, repair and reconstruct homes, and maintain livelihoods to the greatest extent possible.
- The USAID/DART reports that due to livestock’s importance as an economic asset and source of food security, a key determinant in decisions to stay through the winter or move to lower elevations is the care and survival of livestock. As a result, shelter for livestock as a means of reducing the economic impacts of the disaster, and maintaining a vital food security source is needed.
- According to the Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment released by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank on November 12, the overall cost associated with the earthquake is estimated at approximately $5.2 billion, which includes more than $1 billion for the cost of the relief efforts alone.
- The USGS reports that a landslide caused by the earthquake has blocked a large valley near Muzaffarabad. As a result, the water level of two lakes in the area has risen, creating the potential for serious downstream flooding.
- On November 14, the GOP announced that Pakistan Army Engineers have opened the Neelum Valley road from Muzaffarabad to Nauseri. All major roads in the Muzaffarabad sector have now been opened.
US GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Pakistan
- A USAID/DART has been on the ground in Pakistan since October 10. The mission of the USAID/DART is to assess humanitarian needs, assist with targeting and coordination of USG assistance in conjunction with USAID/Pakistan, and provide technical assistance as required. Headquartered in Islamabad, the USAID/DART has also established bases of operations in Muzaffarabad and Mansehra.
- To date, USAID has provided more than $50.2 million in humanitarian assistance to earthquake-affected communities in Pakistan. USAID identified shelter, relief supplies, health, water and sanitation, and logistics as priority sectors for immediate relief operations.
- From October 10 to 31, USAID completed nine airlifts of emergency relief commodities to Pakistan. The airlifts delivered a total of 45,000 blankets, 1,570 winterized tents, 6,150 rolls of plastic sheeting for approximately 30,750 families, 15,000 water containers, 17 water bladders, 2 water purification units, 10 WHO emergency health kits, and 20 concrete cutting saws. The total value of the completed airlifts, including transport, is more than $4 million.
- USAID is providing 5,000 plastic tarps (1,000 each) to USAID-partners ACTED, Mercy Corps, Catholic Relief Services, GOAL, and Action Against Hunger for shelter projects at a total cost of $93,614.
- In response to the U.N. Flash Appeal, USAID/OFDA has provided $19.3 million in funding to support transitional shelter programs, food, health, water and sanitation, humanitarian air service, logistical coordination, and the movement of supplies to affected populations and movement of those populations to safe areas.
- To date, USAID/Office of Food for Peace (FFP) has responded to the WFP emergency operation for Pakistan with 2,400 MT of vegetable oil and 480 MT of wheat soy blend. The total value of this contribution is approximately $3.4 million.
- On October 20, USAID and Procter & Gamble announced a $600,000 public-private alliance to provide safe drinking water for those affected by the earthquake. Through this partnership, USAID and Proctor & Gamble are supplying a point-of-use water purification product that significantly reduces diarrheal illnesses. Through the Global Development Alliance (GDA), USAID contributed $300,000 toward this partnership, which provides safe drinking water for more than 50,000 households for 3 months.
- As of November 14, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has flown 1,592 helicopter missions, delivered 3,677 short tons of humanitarian relief supplies, evacuated 3,509 casualties, and transported 9,327 passengers for humanitarian missions. The 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH), established October 25 in Muzaffarabad, has performed 164 surgeries and treated 1,836 non-surgical patients. Medical elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force arrived in Shinkiari (90km north of Islamabad) to establish another medical facility. Engineering teams (approximately 125 personnel from a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion) are operating with 73 pieces of equipment to clear school and university sites, construct airport berms, and prepare tent sites. To date, DOD has expended $79.3 million on relief operations.
India
- From October 11 to October 17, a USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor was in India assisting USAID/India with damage and needs assessments and making recommendations regarding USG assistance.
- On October 10, U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the October 8 earthquake across northern India. As of November 1, USAID has provided more than $600,000 to relief organizations for emergency relief supplies and shelter.
- To date, India has not requested international assistance.
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