Pakistan: Emergency shelter and health care a priority for millions, one week after the earthquake

One week after the massive earthquake hit South Asia, the Government of Pakistan estimates that nearly 40,000 people have been killed, and 60,000 injured. The disaster has also left approximately 3.3 million people without shelter, only weeks before the harsh Himalayan winter is due to begin.

The Government of Pakistan responded immediately, deploying army and other resources to the affected areas, and requesting all possible international assistance. Pakistanis at home and abroad, as well as the international community, have responded swiftly and generously, but the magnitude of the disaster, exacerbated by inaccessible terrain, remote location, destruction of infrastructure and weather conditions have severely hampered the relief effort.

UN Under Secretary-General Jan Egeland, who visited Muzafferabad in the earthquake epicenter zone during his two day visit to Pakistan, stressed yesterday that priority needs continue to be emergency shelter and helicopters, especially for survivors stranded in remote mountain communities. Acute health risks are adding to the suffering, as many injured people remain untreated, developing gangrene and other life-threatening conditions.

The United Nations launched an appeal within three days of the disaster, and more than 50 million USD have already been committed by many nations including Canada, China, the EU, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and US, as well as private donors.

Mr. Egeland also stressed the critical need for the humanitarian community to coordinate within itself and with the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani Military. The Government has already agreed to simplify procedures for international relief organizations through customs exemptions, visa arrangements and flight clearances, for example.

In order to facilitate strong coordination of the relief and recovery effort, the United Nations in Pakistan has established ten 'clusters', in which UN agencies, international and local NGOs, relevant Government counterparts and other actors are participating. The key aim of this sectoral approach is to ensure that the real requirements of affected communities are assessed and responded to in a coordinated fashion, and that the use of available resources is planned strategically. The clusters are focusing on Emergency Shelter, Water and Sanitation (WatSan), Logistics, Camp Management, Health, Protection, Food and Nutrition, IT and Communications, Education, and Reconstruction. The Government has been invited to co-chair the clusters.

Three additional teams are being deployed this weekend to support cluster field coordination in Muzafferabad, Mansehra and Bagh, and a further two are on stand-by. While there are clearly massive logistical problems in the earthquake zone, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, notes that this approach is already benefiting people on the ground. The Health cluster notified Water and Sanitation of an urgent problem with potable drinking water in the Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Muzafferabad today: UNICEF were able to immediately deploy drinking supplies in response.

All detailed information on the cluster approach (including minutes, meeting schedules and contact information) is available on www.un.org.pk.

For further information, please contact Amanda Pitt, Public Information Officer:
Tel. + 92 (0) 301 532 3985, and e-mail pitta@un.org