UNJLC Pakistan Earthquake
BULLETIN No. 21
Period, Friday November 25th - Monday, November 28th 2005

Summary and Highlights                     Days since October 8th Earthquake: 51

• UNJLC in conjunction with key partners will provide regular road updates to relief agencies on the status of vital humanitarian corridors to counteract the potential effects caused by the onset of winter.
• Muzaffarabad field update illustrates both the effect of the weather on the relief operation, but more positively an increase in the logistical capacity of the hub and coordination between the operational agencies.
• Helicopter assets, both in overall number and cargo capacity have remained at approximately the same level over the past fortnight (see Bulletins 16 and 19).

Contents

1.     Security Update
2.     UNJLC Road Updates
3.     NATO Air Bridge
4.     Field Update: Muzaffarabad
5.     Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

1.    Security Update: Batagram

Authorities in the Batagram District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) continue to require that international UN staff are accompanied by a Police escort when on mission outside of the towns. This is particularly problematic for agencies conducting operations that involve movements between Batagram and Chatterplain. The matter has been raised with Federal Relief Commission and the NWFP authorities, particularly that from an operational standpoint the limited availability of police cars could potentially inhibit the relief operation.

2. UNJLC Roads Updates

The deteriorating weather conditions are now a major source of concern to all parties participating in the relief effort. Poor weather, as expected, has already resulted in the loss of flying time for the helicopter assets entirely on Sunday and limited operations on Monday. This makes the onset of heavy rains and frost curtailing road access to key areas an even greater source of concern for the humanitarian logistics teams.

UNJLC in conjunction with various partners, including UN DSS and WFP, will provide regular updates on the conditions of the key humanitarian road corridors over the coming weeks and months. Emphasis will be put on two factors: the accuracy and verification of road reports and the consistency and timeliness of the dissemination to the humanitarian community.

UNJLC is also investigating the potential use of assets such as the NATO/Luxembourg MD-900 helicopter to conduct rapid verification missions subject to its availability. The key to the success of monitoring the road network will be the acquisition of information from all parties on the ground. UNJLC encourages all NGOs to submit road reports to either their local UNJLC field coordination team or to provide information via SMS to 0300 856 4252 or by e-mail to: pakistan.roads@unjlc.org

3. Nato Air Bridge

UNJLC advises that contrary to reports from some sources, the NATO air bridge has not closed. The military aircraft operating principally out of Incirlik, Turkey have been stood down, but remain subject to recall if necessary. In addition, civilian charter flights continue to be arranged as funds permit. So whilst the intensity of the operation has reduced, NATO will still consider validated requests for the transportation of high priority relief cargo.

UN agencies and NGOs wishing to avail themselves of this offer should contact the UNJLC Civil Military Coordination unit in Islamabad on 0300 856 0164.  To date the NATO air bridge has transported 2595 tonnes of humanitarian cargo to Pakistan on 146 flights, approximately 78% of this cargo has been for either UN agencies or NGOs.

4. Field Update: Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad was one of the many areas affected by interruptions to air operations on the 27th and 28th of November as a result of poor weather conditions, principally rain. However, on a more optimistic note, storage capacity at Muzaffarabad Airport has increased to an overall total of 1550 tonnes. Several organisations are also conducting assessments at Ghari Dopatta as an alternative warehousing area in the Jhelum Valley, (ICRC, WFP, UNHCR), to reduce the need for additional storage in Muzaffarabad itself and pre-position supplies in case road access becomes further restricted.

Linked to the UNJLC's overall road monitoring programme (see item 2) and particular concerns of the instability of many valley roads in the area,  UNJLC Muzaffarabad will act as a focal point to provide regular updates on road conditions and welcomes inputs from all operational partners. NGOs operating in the Muzaffarabad area can obtain road assessment forms either from the UNJLC team based at the UN compound or by contacting 0300 856 0168 or 0300 856 5968 for further details.

UNJLC is also conducting other assessments in the area, including a fuel survey. The UNJLC Muzaffarabad team also encourages all humanitarian agencies operating in the district to attend the logistics cluster meeting scheduled for 19:00 on Tuesdays in the UN compound.

5. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

Although both the overall number and cargo capacity has reduced slightly since last week, particularly due to the departure of five heavy lift Chinooks (3 UK and 2 US), though this reduction amounts to less than 7% of the overall capacity. Furthermore, owing to the success of the new Aviation Operations Centre (AOC) there have been no bottlenecks created by the reduction as a result of the increased efficiency in the tasking process through the de-confliction of air assets.

UNHAS tasked air assets are now expected to remain constant at 19 airframes until 24th December following the departure of the three Royal Air Force Chinooks following the completion of their last mission in Muzaffarabad (see Bulletin 20). The last two US military UH-60's have also now departed, but their departure along with the that of the two US MH-60 Seahawks last week has been offset by the arrival of four Australian S-70's, a version of the UH-60.

The impact of the departure of the three British Chinooks has been partially offset by agreement with Pakistan and US militaries through the AOC that allows up to four of the 19 deployed US Chinooks to carry UNHAS/UNJLC cargo requests - subject to spare capacity on the US Chinooks and a demand exceeding the capacity of UNHAS assets.