Summary and Highlights
Days since October 8th Earthquake:102

• The recent spate of bad weather has severely disrupted road conditions in the affected area and prevented helicopters from flying.
• UNJLC continues to update and expand its map catalogue in service to the relief community. A daily road conditions map is available during periods of inclement weather at www.unjlc.org/pakistan/maps.
• There have been some recent delays on NOC applications for certain goods entering Pakistan.
• NATO has begun preparations for its February 1st withdrawal.
  

 
Contents
 
1.    Road Update
2.    NOC Delays
3.    Mapping
4.    NATO Withdrawal
5.    Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

1. Road Update

Many roads in the valleys have been cut off by the bad weather over the last few days and landslides, mud and snow have severely hampered road cargo transport. In the Bagh region, the routes from Lasdanna to Mehmood Ghali and Haji Pir are blocked. Muzaffarabad to Bagh, Muzaffarabad to Chakothi and Reshian to Lipa are also closed, as are those of the Lower and Upper Neelum Valley and the key route between Muzaffarabad and the airport. Batagram to Thakot is cut off along with many of the routes in the Allai Valley. In the Mansehra region, a bridge is out at Ghanol NE of Balakot. The Khagan Valley road is inaccessible past this point and will likely remain so for a minimum of four to six weeks, meaning other forms of cargo transport will have to be envisaged for this area. UNJLC is publishing a daily road status report and corresponding map during times of inclement weather. These are available by mailing list and at www.unjlc.org/pakistan/land.

2. NOC Delays

Recently there have been 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) delays for certain goods entering Pakistan. NOCs for goods not immediately identified as relief items (such as IT equipment) are being held up when the NOC application form shows the final destination as Islamabad due to the fact that these requests are being referred to senior management for authorisation. Those bringing goods into the country for the humanitarian operation are encouraged to note that it is not the destination on the airwaybill/bill of lading that matters in this instance but the final destination shown on the NOC application.

3. Mapping

The UNJLC GIS unit is working to improve its existing maps and create new maps of use to staff in the field. The updated maps include improved symbology and updated data for storage sites, settlements and HLZs.  Improvements have been made to settlement locations and the spelling of settlement names has been standardised across the FRC, HIC, UNJLC, ERA and NGOs working in the affected areas. All of these maps can be downloaded from www.unjlc.org/pakistan/maps. For further map requests or suggestions, please contact maps@unjlc.org.

In order to streamline the information necessary to the relief effort, the HIC has brought out a consolidated database of Place Codes (Pcodes) for the earthquake affected area. These codes use special data standards to provide a single, unified system for referring to locations. This in turn facilitates data sharing and helps eliminate any duplication of locations. The new database of Pcodes can be found on the HIC website at: http://earthquake05.un.org.pk.

4. NATO Withdrawal

The NATO withdrawal is underway in preparation for the end of its operation on February 1st. After two and a half months of providing medical care to earthquake survivors, the main staff members of the NATO Military Relief Hospital (NMRH) left Pakistan on January 17th. The hospital treated approximately 5000 patients and conducted 159 operations during its time here. It also provided support for Mobile Medical Teams (MMT) which deployed to remote villages to provide medical care. Medication and equipment have been donated to local medical care facilities in Bagh to help with the transition period.

NATO envisages being able to fulfil all existing requests for the NATO Airbridge within the next two to three weeks, however it is now closed to any new requests. The French fuel farm established in Abbottabad under NATO will now remain in Pakistan until March 31st on a bilateral agreement with the French government.

5. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

All flights in the relief operation were grounded on January 15th, 16th and 17th due to bad weather. Flights began again today and the forecast suggests that they will continue at least through the weekend.

The relief operation's air capacity has decreased slightly this last week with the departure of one of the German CH-53s in accordance with the NATO withdrawal. Negotiations are ongoing for the two remaining CH-53s to be kept until March 31st on a bilateral agreement with the German government. However the last two Mi-8s expected by UNHAS have now arrived and will soon be operational. These will be the final aircraft brought in for use by the relief operation.

UNHAS have begun sling load operations out of Bagh using four of its Mi-8s. As of now, the US Military has handed all of its nets over to UNHAS, bringing its current total up to 350. UNHAS will now facilitate all of the sling loads for both its own efforts and those of the US Chinook sling operations, which are scheduled to continue until March 31st. Two additional US teams are arriving this week and will be posted in Chatterplain to train members of the Pakistan Military and other key partners in the preparation of sling loads for air operations.