UNJLC Pakistan Earthquake
BULLETIN No. 25
Period, Friday December 9th - Friday, December 16th 2005

Summary and Highlights
Days since October 8th Earthquake: 69

• Winterization procedures are being highlighted to ensure that all cargo transport can continue to function once the weather deteriorates. 
• UNJLC has begun a "road-show" to inform and train smaller NGOs about the free relief supply trucking and air transport service at their disposal.
• The NATO humanitarian operation is in full swing with the full deployment of an Italian heavy engineering battalion. 
• Only a three-week window remains to deliver all Non Food Items (NFIs) before the onset of winter.
  

Contents

1.    Winterization
2.    UNJLC "Road-Show"
3.     Logistics Supply System
4.     Cargo Update
5.    NATO Operation
6.    Pakistan Military Handover
7.    Aviation Update: Helicopter Status

1. Winterization

There is currently a short deadline for all those involved in cargo transport to prepare for the coming winter. Supplies of tyre chains and antifreeze will be needed for vehicles, and it is essential for landing sites to be adequately maintained and drained in preparation for incoming helicopters. UNHAS will shortly be posting details on the required procedure. A current problem is de-icing equipment, which is in short supply. Requests have been made to NATO and the Swiss government, but for now UNHAS is faced with the possibility of having to build its own.

The US military has brought in cargo bags and slow-falling copter boxes to ensure aid drops to areas which will soon be inaccessible. It has also imported 150 nets for sling operations. 70-80 will be reserved for the US humanitarian effort, the rest will be shared among other agencies who need them. This will significantly increase the number and effectiveness of helicopter sorties. However, additional nets will still be required. (see Bulletins 20 and 22, items 2 and 4 respectively)

2. UNJLC "Road-Show"

Many smaller NGOs are not using the free cargo movement plan coordinated by UNJLC. This system organises the free delivery of relief goods by road (through Atlas and IOM) and air (through UNHAS) to its final destination, including interim storage if necessary. It seems NGOs may not understand how to use the system or are simply unaware of it. UNJLC is therefore staging a "road-show" through the base camps to inform and train them on the process. The existing Field Cluster network will also be charged with spreading this information. To expedite the process, donors are requested to pass the details on to the NGOs they fund. UNJLC is hoping that this will increase the number of agencies using the service and speed up the delivery of essential goods before the onset of winter.

3. Logistics Supply System

The Logistics Supply System (LSS) is a computerised NFI tracking system currently being used in Pakistan by WHO/PAHO (the Pan American Health Organisation). UNJLC has begun gathering agency pipeline information from humanitarian organisations and is investigating the use of this system to consolidate available data into one format. This will hopefully provide a broad overview of the current situation and allow the information to be made available to all who need it.

4. Pipeline Update

The US military has begun helicopter sling operations out of Muzaffarabad. A big push on Non Food Items (NFIs) is needed since there is only a three-week window to deliver everything necessary before the onset of winter. Agencies are urged to submit their cargo movement requests and to move their NFIs forward to the hubs in preparation for rapid delivery. There is currently adequate trucking capacity through Atlas and IOM to meet delivery requests, and UNHAS is reporting no NFI backlog.

However, ATLAS has warned that due to the high demand to date, it may be forced to cease its activities in March if additional funding is not forthcoming. Currently Atlas is transporting an average of 360 tonnes a day, with an additional 80 tonnes moved by IOM. As of now, there is available space in the Chatterplain inter-agency warehouse and a new rubhall for NFI storage in Muzaffarabad. Actors should report to the Clusters if they are facing any space problems.

5. NATO Operation

The NATO operation in Pakistan is now running at full capacity. An Italian heavy engineering battalion is currently working out of Chakala. The French fuel farm at Abbottabad is functioning well and providing valuable assistance to the air operation. Plans for the future of this
fuel farm and other NATO assets are being formulated
for when NATO ends operations in Pakistan on February 1 at the end of its agreed mandate.

6. Pakistan Military Handover

The Pakistan Military are to gradually hand over its relief operation to the civilian provincial government. It has provided assurances that it will not pull out completely, but remain available for support wherever necessary during the transition period.

7. Helicopter Update

The relief operation's air assets have dropped slightly over the last week with the redeployment of four US CH-47 Chinooks. However, UNHAS has brought in two new Kamov 32's and one additional Mi-8 is expected to arrive on December 24. MSF Holland will be keeping its two AS-350 Squirrels until January 5. If requested, they may be prepared to sub-charter them out after this date.

UNHAS will also be opening offices in Bagh and Batagram by mid next week in order to improve services provided to passengers.