Summary and Highlights

Days since October 8th Earthquake:179

• After a successful operation dating from the first days of the humanitarian mission, the US Military ceased operations in Pakistan on March 31st. USAID will remain to assist in the relief and recovery phase of the operation.
• Official confirmation has now been received for the extension of UNJLC's mandate in Pakistan until June 30th. 
• Humanitarian air capacity decreased significantly this week when the 8 Military aircraft tasked by UNHAS ceased operations on March 31st. The new UNHAS fleet plan of 12 helicopters has been funded for the month of April, however further revisions may be required.
  

  
Contents

1.    US Military Mission
2.    IDP Returns
3.    Security
4.    UNJLC Mission Update
5.    Aviation Update: Helicopter Status


1. US Military Mission

The US Military deployed to Pakistan immediately after the October 8th earthquake to support the Pakistan government in its efforts to assist the affected population. Its operation officially ended on March 31st and the final US aircraft serving in the mission have now left the country. During the last few weeks, many US assets including the MASH hospital and the fuel farm at Muzaffarabad have been handed over to the Pakistan Military for continued humanitarian use. Over the course of its mission, US Military helicopters transported 14,742 MT of relief cargo, carried out 3,754 medevacs. Their fuel farms delivered 1,239,431 US gallons of fuel to humanitarian helicopters. US aircraft, including the four Chinooks tasked by UNHAS, performed a total of 5,195, of which 1,900 were sling missions. US Military logistics and aviation experts worked closely with UN agencies throughout the mission to ensure the full efficiency of the combined relief effort during what is seen as one of the most successful disaster responses to date. USAID will remain in Pakistan to assist in the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase of the operation.

2. IDP Returns Update

The process of IDP returns is currently underway in all of the hubs. IOM is providing most of the transportation for those who cannot return by foot, and it has additional vehicles at the ready should they be required. In Batagram the majority of camps have now been closed and IDPs returned to their locations of origin. Rain in the area has hampered transportation over the last week, but overall things have gone smoothly and only a small residual caseload is expected to remain by the weekend.

In Bagh, UN assisted returns began on April 1st. UNJLC is conducting road status assessments for transport safety management and coordinating the provision of safety vehicles for areas at risk of landslides. IDP returns along roads considered to be dangerous are escorted by UNOPS guides with UNJLC, UNDSS or UNOPS providing escort vehicles. UNJLC is also providing information on initial route check requirements for returns which details road conditions, type of vehicle required and whether or not guides and/or traffic control are considered necessary. Most of the landslides in the area have currently been cleared, however the key route from Lasdanna to Haji Pir and further up to Bedhi remains blocked by snow and rockfalls.

In Muzaffarabad only a small number of UN assisted returns have taken place and the process is likely to be slowed by road inaccessibility. Most of the routes in the Jheelum and Neelum valleys are considered dangerous and at risk of landslides. One IOM convoy transporting IDPs got stuck in a volatile landslide zone for 90 minutes last week due to a combination of difficult road conditions and heavy traffic. UNJLC is continuing its work on road assessments to provide ongoing road status updates.

3. Security

The security situation in the Batagram area is somewhat tense due to local unrest. Rumours that certain goods distributed by UNICEF were inscribed in a way which insulted the Muslim religion led to an INGO vehicle in the area being stoned last week. The rumours have been proven false, but the items were nevertheless burned in protest. Local religious leaders have also requested that foreign women do not frequent the local markets and UNDSS have advised expatriate females to limit their movements. Meanwhile an earthquake of 4.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Batagram on April 4th. Many buildings in the area suffered damage, including the hotel where the majority of local UN organisations shared office space. This location has now been officially closed by UNDSS.

In Bagh, there have been demonstrations over government compensation for returnees, along with some discontent from IDPs over camp closures. So far UN staff have simply been asked to avoid the procession areas and the impact on activities has been minimal, but it is feared that if these protests spread it could affect both operations and the speed of return process.

4. UNJLC Mission Update

As reported in bulletin 39, item 3, the Heads of Cluster have expressed a continuing need for UNJLC support in the relief operation. As a result of this the Humanitarian Coordinator officially requested the extension of UNJLC's mandate in Pakistan until June 30th, 2006. The budget revision for this extension was forwarded to the regional bureau in Cairo and official confirmation of UNJLC's extension has now been received. Under this new mandate, UNJLC will continue its operation until June 30th, with full withdrawal by August 1st, 2006.

5. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

Helicopter capacity decreased dramatically this week as the 4 US Chinooks, 2 German Stallions and 2 Australian Blackhawks formerly tasked by UNHAS ceased operations on March 31st. The new UNHAS fleet plan has also been reduced from 13 to 12 helicopters effective April 17th. This fleet plan has been approved by the UN Country Team and is designed to carry the humanitarian operation through to June 1st. Passenger flights were cancelled on June 3rd and 4th pending financing for the plan. Sufficient funds for the month of April have now been released and passenger and cargo flights have resumed.

As reported in item 1, the US Military fuel farm at Muzaffarabad was handed over to the Pakistan Army on March 28th, along with 27,000 gallons of fuel for relief air operations. However since April 1st, humanitarian access to this fuel has been denied. UNHAS is currently working on a system of bowsers and is prepared to offer a bill-back service to other operators, but without access to the fuel farm supplies, refuelling at Muzaffarabad will remain an issue until this can be put in place. Meanwhile the humanitarian community is currently unable to serve the villages of Banamula, Chaqmuqam, Jabber Buruha and Chilehana due to the fact that the Pakistan Military is not authorising flight plans to these locations.