1. Security
2. Air Operations
3. Customs and Immigration
4. Roads
5. Logistics
6. Civil Military Logs
7. NFI Pipeline
8. Warehousing
9. Commodity Availability
10. Other Information

1.    SECURITY

Bagh

• A large political rally took place in Rawalakot on May 4th in preparation for the upcoming elections.
• UN staff were requested to avoid the gathering area, however no problems were reported.
  

Mansehra

• Due to a gathering of religious leaders for Friday prayers, all missions traveling to Bakakot on Friday, March 5th, were requested to avoid the town centre.
• It was also recommended that UN vehicles avoid the centre of Mansehra for the duration of the Friday Prayers (1300hrs - 1600hrs).
  

• After a tremor on the morning of May 3rd, all missions in the Mansehra region were halted while road conditions were assessed.
• The Pakistan Military later confirmed that no major landslides or rockfall were noted due to the aftershock.
  

• The application of police escorts is under discussion, primarily due to a lack of consistency between provinces and the poor quality of many police vehicles, which prevents them from making certain trips.
• The ASMT has recommended that the requirement for a police escort should be abolished.
  

• As of May 1st, a one-hour radio check on road missions has been instigated by UNDSS Mansehra to replace the previous 30 minute requirement.

Muzaffarabad

• On the advice of the national police, a 9pm curfew is now in place for the UN base camp in Muzaffarabad.

2.    AIR OPERATIONS

General

• UNHAS capacity has decreased with the redeployment of the four DFID Mi-8s tasked by UNHAS on May 3rd. This brings the UNHAS fleet down to only four Mi-8s.
• UNHAS has announced that it is planning to cease operations on May 31st due to lack of funding.
• Reduced passenger and cargo flights will continue until that date.
• Passenger booking procedures have changed and can now only be done in person at the UNHAS booking office in Islamabad.
• For more information please see UNHAS folder.
• NGOs and agencies newly in country are required to register with the Country Team in order to be eligible for UNHAS flights. All organisations using UNHAS services are also requested to provide UNHAS with up-to-date staff lists.
• No cost recovery will be implemented for cargo and passenger flights through the month of May.
• Special flights will be provided on a full cost-recovery basis.
• Feedback is encouraged from all users on their projected destinations over the next phase of the operation, especially regarding the suitability of the new passenger schedule.
• This information can be forwarded to Islamabad.unhas@wfp.org.
• The Merlin Mi-8 and ICRC Super Puma have now been redeployed.
• The ICRC Mi-8 will continue until May 10th, at which point ICRC will end its air operation.
  

Bagh

• Authorization to fly cargo to Azad Bara in preparation for IDP returns is still being denied by the Pakistan Military.
• The area remains inaccessible by other means, and IDP returns are due to begin in May.
• The UNHAS operation in Bagh is now focused solely on passenger flights.
  

3.    CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

Nothing further to report.

4.    ROADS

General

• Road access has generally improved in line with the good weather.
• UNJLC field staff are continuing road assessments to collect priority road GPS data and assist in transport requirements.
• For maps and detailed road assessments go to Road Conditions.
• For the latest road status updates and corresponding maps, see Road Condition Overview.
  

Bagh

• Most area roads are currently open and awaiting repairs, which are generally scheduled for the period before the monsoon season.
• The roads from Bagh to Dal and Bagh to Mohri Farman Shak and Rawala Kot have been assessed.

Mansehra

• All key Batagram area roads remain open.
• Access to the Naran Valley remains blocked 13 km past Kaghan Town, and the Pakistan Military estimates that road clearance will take another month.
• Road access in the Kaghan Valley is changing daily, in particular between Paras and Jared.  The potential for landslides remains high, with regular occurrences even without rainfall or tremors.
• A road assessment from Mansehra to Oghi and the KKH via Kathai has been completed.

Muzaffarabad

• Bailey bridges in the Neelum Valley lack maintenance and appear to be deteriorating, which could cause access issues in the near future.
• UNJLC has planned a recce to assess the problem.
• The issue has been brought to the attention of the local authorities and is now on a list of government priorities.
• The major routes are still in reasonable condition, with secondary routes improving through community action.
• The road to Kel is now fully open, with a driving time of 6 1/2 hours.
  

5.    LOGISTICS

General

• ERRA has officially approved the UN-ERRA Early Recovery Plan.
• Donors may now be approached for funding and activity levels are expected to rise again, along with an increase in the demand for cargo transport and other logistics services.
  

Bagh

• UNHCR indicates that 82% of the total registered camp population has been returned to their village of origin.
• A residual camp for the area has still not been fixed.
• Many locals and NGOs are still busy with rubble removal.
• Most plans for reconstruction have not yet been approved by ERRA.
• UNJLC assisted in the return of IDP families to Bedhi, which along with Azad Bara Bedhi is the last area in the hub presenting accessibility difficulties.
  

Mansehra

• The status of Mansehra region IDP returns is as follows. (Source: OCHA)

* Data as per UNHCR records as at COB on 3-May-06;
* UNICEF is monitoring 10% of Returnees in their place of origin;
* Returns 89% complete from 'official' camps (excluding Residual Caseload).

• IOM, UNJLC, UNDSS and OCHA have met to ascertain the best way of offering IOM road conditions support and assistance for the returns process.
• IOM are returning a daily caseload of 150 families from spontaneous camps, with the majority going to the Kaghan valley.
  

Muzaffarabad

• A total of 5568 families (32379 people) have returned from Muzaffarabad under the official program.
  
  

7.    CIVIL-MILITARY LOGS

Nothing further to report.


8. NFI PIPELINE

Nothing further to report.


9. WAREHOUSING

Bagh

• Local warehouses are full and the storage of cargo outside is causing an issue.
• Part of this may be due to a slowdown in distribution with the transition from relief to recovery.
• Interagency warehouse management in Bagh has been tabled for discussion at the next Logistics Forum.
• WFP has confirmed a need to reallocate temporary warehouses based on the current needs and plans presented by organisations.
• A fourth temporary warehouse is due to be established at the Boys College location.
  

10. COMMODITY AVAILABILITY

General

• For details of suppliers in the affected area see the UNJLC yellow pages at Yellowpages.

Bagh

• Prices of construction materials in Bagh appear to be higher than in other hubs.
• There is no local shortage of these goods at present, however most NGOs are expected to buy their materials straight from manufacturers in larger cities.
  

     
Mansehra

• All goods appear to be available, however the high cost of essential items remains an issue.

11. OTHER INFORMATION

Mansehra

• UNJLC is participating in a working group to finalize a 'Contingency Response Plan' for emergency situations during the IDP Return Process.
• The final version is expected to be completed by next week, with all emergency contacts briefed as to their potential role in such an emergency situation.
• The DCO has expressed an interest in reviving a Logistics Working Group (formerly the Logistics Cluster) in the Mansehra region.
• UNJLC & OCHA will meet with the DCO next week to discuss this matter.
• The three local residual camps (Kashtra, Meira and Siran Sialkot) are due to be handed over from the Pakistan Military to the local administration on May 15th.
  

Muzaffarabd

• The UN base camp is due to close on June 15th, meaning all agencies currently using this service will have to make other arrangements.
• UNDP has been tasked with preparing recommendations for alternative housing and office space.