Information about quake affected areas in NWFP

 Key Issues at a glance

• International assistance community has agreed that a total of 4 million people are affected by the disaster in Pakistan of which 1 million are most vulnerable and heavily impacted.
• The number of earthquake victims reported by the government and other sources is continuously on increase. And the death of 48,000 is confirmed with 75,000 casualties. However, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has feared the figure could reach to 40,000 with 25, 000,00 people left homeless.

• Thousands of people, mostly children are still reportedly trapped under rubbles and relief operations are yet to start in many areas. Thousands shelter-less are passing cold and rainy nights under the sky. 
• The health infrastructure in most of the affected areas has been badly damaged making it almost impossible for thousands of injured people to access even emergency health relief.
• International aid workers have supplemented the ongoing relief operations and a number of children have been recovered alive from under the rubble in AJK, but hundreds of people are still lying buried. With every passing day, their chances of survival are being minimized.
• No. Of most vulnerable families in Shangla district increased by 3,000 brining the total to 9,000.
• Neelum valley in AJK is completely cut off as the road is damaged seriously. Estimates suggest it would take three months to rebuild the road, which might become longer due to weather conditions.
• Heavy rains reported from parts of the affected areas and areas in logistical route are delaying assistance delivery. This might push displaced population to leave their places of origin and move closer to urban centers and set up camps.

Introduction

On the morning of 8th October 2005 a high intensity earthquake with 7.6 on rector scale struck the whole country and specifically northern districts of NWFP, federal capital and Azad Kashmir. The devastation was also caused on the other side of the border in Kashmir valley. The most effected districts reportedly are Abbotabad, Mansehra, and Battagram in Hazara Division and Shangla in Swat. Similarly Muzafarabad, Bagh and Rawlakot in Azad Kashmir and federal capital were also hit badly by serious tremors.  

Epicenter of the earthquake was in Hindu kash range somewhere between Mansehra and Muzafarabad in the north nearly 100 KM of Islamabad. It is worth to mention that most of these villages were also badly effected with the heavy snowfall and raining during December-January this year.

Continues tremors are coming with half and hour interval and people are compelled to live under open sky even after 48 hours have been passed. Since then there are continues tremors and about 161 prominent aftershocks have been felt during the first 48 hours, which have traumatic effects on the effected people.

 1. Abbotabad:

Introduction (1998 census)

Total Area                                                                 1967 square kilometers                                            

Total Population                                                       880,666

Total Males                                                               440,718

Total Females                                                           439,948

Severely affected Areas:                                           546,000 (60%of the total population)

Population Density                                                    447.7 square kilometers

Average House Hold Size                                          6.4

Tehsil                                                                         1. Nawan Shehr

                                                                                   2. Havelian

No of Houses                                                              135,575

Cultivated Area                                                          63372 Acres

Forests                                                                       83201 Acres

Uncultivated Area                                                      115029 Acres 

Literacy                                                                      74.52%

Religion                                                                     Muslim 99.55%

Water is available to                                                  34189 HH

• In Abbotabad city 7 huge buildings including Best Western Hotel, Chen One, Dr. Plaza, large mosque, Gateway Public School, a guesthouse, a gym and adjacent shops and flats, PICIC Bank etc. have been collapsed and many more houses and buildings are partially damaged and received huge crakes which compel people to live under the open sky.

• 60 people are reported dead and 300 injured, which have been reported, admitted in Ayub Medical College, Abbotabad. The government has established emergency cell and declared state of emergency in district hospital. Bakot and Galyat are reported to be severely affected areas.

• All regular patients and those who received injuries due to earthquake have been kept in tented wards due to crakes in the buildings and continuous tremors.

• Heavy losses to infrastructures and livestock’s are reported. However, the exact numbers will be determined at the later stage.

2.  Mansehra:

Introduction (1998 census)

Total Area                                                               4,579 Square Kilometers

Total Population                                                     1,1,52,839

Total Males                                                             571881

Total Females                                                         580958

Severely affected population:                                 903,000 (75%of the total population)

Population Density                                                  252 Square Kilometer

Average House Hold Size                                       6.7

Tehsil                                                                      1. Oghi

                                                                                2. Balakot

                                                                                3. Mansehra

                                                                                4. F. R Kala Dhaka

No. of Houses                                                           172,040

Cultivated Area                                                        80,747 Square Kilometers

Forests                                                                     332,252 Acres

Uncultivated Area                                                    358,676 Acres

Literacy                                                                    21.4 Percent

Water is available to                                                32.1 inside

                                                                                 67.9 Outside

• The 150-bed District Hospital building has received serious crakes and all the patients were evacuated and kept in the open tented in the hospital compound. Team of doctors and volunteers were providing treatment in the open area without proper equipment and arrangements. Though, they have stock of medicines in the hospital, but were running short of the following items as these medicines were not available in the Abbotabad and Mansehra markets:
  • Gaypsona 6”, 4”
  • Crip Bandages 6”
  • Cotton
  • Cathederin 14, 16 12
  • Urine bags
• According to some report Batal and Garhi Habibullah are the worst affected part of the districts. According to some initial information, two high schools buildings were fully collapsed in the Batal where in 150 children are reported dead and many more injured. A large number are also stranded under the debris. 
• Further to above, Balakot Tehsil (Baralkot, Utter sheesha, Batrasi, UC Mahandri, Jaraid, Paris and Dadhar are among the most affected areas. In Dadhar and Batrasi roads are block and accessibility to the affected areas is a big challenge.

3. Battagram:

• Battagram is the most affected district in Hazara division being reportedly close to the epicenter of the earthquake. According to the Met department, the epicenter was between somewhere Mansehra and Muzafarabad.
• 100 deaths and 500 are reportedly injured in Battagram. This number is increasing with an alarming rate.
• All the 20 Union Councils are badly hit and got severe destruction as per different sources of information. Hothal and Bazar villages are completely destroyed and at 2-3 people are dead in each house.
• There are many remote villages like Bani and other villages in Alai Tehsil in general are among the worst affected areas.
• The hospital building has been collapsed and the patients are reported being treated in the open sky with a very chaotic situation.
• 3 schools building are reportedly collapsed and many children are trapped. There are fears that many children may be dead or severely injured. No support has yet been reached due to difficult terrain and cut off roads and other infrastructure losses.

4.  District Shangla

Introduction:

District Shangla is situated in the northern part of Pakistan in NWFP. District Shangla is found in the northern part of NWFP and is one of the most affected districts by the earthquake. There are 5 Tehsils in the District called Alpuri, Bisham, Chakesar, Martoong, and Puran. There are 28 Union Councils in the District with a population of 510,000 (District Government 2004).

The approximate number of dead in the district is 300 and 303 injured (District Government). Most of the severe injury cases have been referred to the hospitals in Swat and Abbotabad. The most affected areas are Tehsil Bisham, Alpuri and Chakesar

The breakdown of population and estimated number of affected families in badly affected areas of district Shangla given below:

Please note that these are just initial figures from the district government. Remote villages are inaccessible so this number is most likely to rise.

Please note that these are just initial figures from the district government. Remote villages are inaccessible so this number is most likely to rise.

5.  District Kohistan

• Total population of District Kohistan is approximately 450,000 consisting of 3 Tehsils namely Pattan, Palas and Dasu. 
• Tehsil Palas and Pattan are the most affected ones. The reported number of deaths in Kohistan up till now is 177, with number of injured around 150. Complete information is still not available due to lack of access.
• Maximum death toll is from Tehsil Palas (149). 16 deaths reported from Pattan and 12 from Dasu.
• The key issue highlighted by the SP was the accessibility within and from outside Kohistan. At present, the road is completely blocked and District is cutoff from the outside world. The only means of communication is through telephone and that too is not reliable.
• According to the information by SP and DSP, a group of 200 people are stuck in Dara Mudha Khel and need immediate attention and assistance. The only possible means to access these people is through air, using helicopters.

Immediate Needs:

As per the initial information assessed, the following are the immediate needs:

• Search & Rescue First Aid 
• Shelter (tents, reinforced plastic sheeting’s)
• Medicines with particular focus on orthopedics and bandages etc
• Blankets/quilts
• Jerricans
• Food
• Clearance of roads
• Water and Sanitation

Available support:

Government is trying their best to provide relief assistance and clear the roads to enable access of relief to the victims in the remote areas. Provincial government high officials including Chief Minister NWFP has Aerial visit to the affected areas, but cut short his tour due to bad weather. Prime Minister and President are also visiting the affected areas every now and then.

Future Needs:

• Trauma Healing and recovery
• Reconstruction (community mobilization and self help activities along with international Community support
• Rehabilitation: Micro credit scheme, small scale/cottage industries,

Just Peace Contribution:

1. Distribution of tents, food items, blankest and clothing to 1000 families in collaboration      with Catholic Relief Service

2. Cleaning of Balakot, the most affected area, in collaboration with ILO

3. 3-days training on “Focusing and Building Resiliency” for NGO relief workers in the affected areas

4. Founder member of Just Peace team was the first to reach the most affected area, Balakot, Mansehra, Battagram, Shangla and Bisham. The updated situation was shared with colleagues around the world on day to day basis not only by the staff of Just Peace International Inc but also the children (Awais Ali, 13 Grade 8 Bacon House School System) was sharing the information with the conflict transformation EMU network through CTP ALL @EMU.EDU

5. Pictorial story of the Balakot was shared with the world community for easy assessment

6. JP with the local support at Balakot has set Tent office and started collection of information of the five worse affected Union councils. The volunteers also organized male female committees in different affected villages of the area to streamline the rescue and relief activities. It will also help the donor agencies to avoid duplication and assess the vulnerable communities on priority basis. For any assistance for updates and any other activities the two resource persons of Just Peace’s local partners from Balakot Mr. Munir 0092-301-8102754 Mr. Munawar 0092-300-5620412 can be contacted.

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