Days since October 8th Earthquake:228

Summary and Highlights

• In Muzaffarabad, the AJK government has announced more stringent security measures for travel of internationals.
• It has been confirmed that the population of 18 villages in the area of Muzaffarabad will be moved into camps.
• WFP has announced that the UN camps in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Batagram will be retained until 31 August.
  
  

Contents

1.    Security
2.    UNJLC Mission Update
3.    IDP Returns
4.    Commodity Availability
5.    ATLAS Logistique
6.    UN Camps
7.    Aviation Update: UNHAS


1. Security

The AJK government has announced that in Muzaffarabad all travel for internationals outside of the city centre requires the approval of four government agencies. Security clearances should be submitted to UNDSS before 17.00 hrs. for next day missions. Travel inside the city centre is to be limited.

2. UNJLC Mission Update

As reported earlier, UNJLC will cease its operations on 30 June. UNJLC will maintain a presence in the hubs Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Bagh during the month of June.

UNJLC is currently determining its priorities for mapping over the month of June. Input on agencies' needs for further mapping can be sent to unjlcmapping@gmail.com. Map requests can be sent to the same address until 15 June.

Applications for the QuakeZone MapKit training taking place on 30 and 31 May in Islamabad and in Mansehra on dates to be confirmed are still welcome. Please send an e-mail to zaineb.malik@wfp.org specifying your name, agency, projected duration of stay in the earthquake affected area and experience with MS Excel, GPS and/or GIS.

3. IDP Returns

In the Mansehra area, IOM has suspended the movement of families from spontaneous camps of under 50 families and host families until 1 June. Meanwhile, IOM is concentrating on moving families from the 17 camps of over 50 families as assistance to these camps will not be continued past 31 May. This is the final opportunity for families from these camps to return as IOM will not offer them transport free of charge again. In the Mansehra area of operations, three residual camps are retained.

In Bagh, the landowners of the current IDP camps have been paid. No residual camp has been designated yet.

It has been confirmed that the population of 18 villages in the area of Muzaffarabad will be moved into camps. The AJK Camp Management Organisation (CMO) is planning to finish this operation before 1 July. This will bring the total caseload of IDPs in Muzaffarabad to approximately 91,000. Private land has been identified on which new camps will be constructed. Both the residual caseload and the population from these villages will possibly remain in camps until 31 March 2007. NGOs are currently holding onto NFI stocks in anticipation of the distribution in these camps.

4. Commodity Availability

ERRA has been negotiating with manufacturers of reconstruction materials (for example cement) to establish benchmark prices and avoid major price increases with the start of the recovery phase. There are concerns about the cost of sand as it is transported from outside of AJK and NWFP. Sourcing sand locally should bring prices down. ERRA has identified sourcing locations for sand in NWFP, but not yet for AJK. ERRA have advised they will publish benchmark prices for materials on its website www.erra.gov.pk

5. ATLAS Logistique

ATLAS Logistique, funded by ECHO, has been providing free surface transport to the humanitarian community since October 2005. ATLAS has cooperated with IOM and UNHAS in providing transport under the coordination of the UNJLC Cargo Movement Coordination Cell (CMCC). ATLAS will cease its operations by 31 July; transport services will be ceased before, on a date to be confirmed. Only cargo which has already been forecasted will be moved.

6. UN camps

WFP Islamabad has advised that all three UN camps (Bagh, Batagram, Muzaffarabad) will be retained until 31 August. National staff are advised to find alternative accommodation by 1 June.

7. Aviation Update: UNHAS

As UNHAS is ceasing operations, its last flying day is 31 May. Cargo movement requests can be filed with the UNJLC CMCC up till 27 May 12.00 hrs. The UNHAS passenger schedule and booking procedures can be found at ->booking procedures