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Pakistan Floods/Cyclone Report No.

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Situation Report 1 – PAKISTAN FLOODS/CYCLONE – 2 JULY 2007

This situation report is based on information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in
Pakistan, the National Disaster Response Adviser of OCHA in Pakistan and media sources.

SITUATION OVERVIEW Winderwala Dam, in Lasbella district, has been


damaged resulting in displacement of population to
1. The monsoon weather system over Indian adjoining districts. The Coastal Highway and Quetta
Gujraat entered North Arabian Sea on 23rd June – Karachi highways remain closed. More than
2007. Cyclone Yemyin made landfall in Balochistan 800,000 people affected by flooding.
province on Tuesday 26th June 2007, bringing rain,
flooding and winds of up to 80mph (130 kph). As of 5. Sindh
29th June 2007, wide spread rain in Balochistan The flood waters from Baluchistan are seriously
while isolated light rain have been reported in Sindh. affecting adjoining districts of Sindh especially
Jacobabad and Qambar, which emerge as high
2. According to Pakistan's Relief Commissioner, priority districts for relief. Water level in Manchar
the official death toll is 100 but unofficial reports Lake is also on the rise.
indicate around 200 people killed. Some 1.5 million Following the storm that hit Karachi on 23 June, the
people have been affected, while 250,000 have Sindh government has confirmed 100 deaths so far,
become homeless in Balochistan. of which 89 in Karachi. Some 29 fishermen who
were in high seas before the Cyclone are still missing.
3. Sindh and Balochistan Provinces were the two In the rainstorm, 224 houses collapsed completely
areas where Cyclone Yemyin caused most damage and 1,127 suffered partial damages. The situation was
during 23-26 June. A weather advisory dated 2 July exacerbated by prolonged interruption in electric
from the Pakistan Meteorological Department states supply in many areas of Karachi. Some 3,750 people
that the earlier reported weather system in India, were provided medical treatment in 19 medical
though weakened, is proceeding possibility towards camps.
lower Sindh, Balochistan and the catchment regions While life in Karachi is slowly returning to normalcy,
in lower Kashmir. It is likely to result in strong rains excessive breaches in the irrigation canals and flood
in Sindh and Balochistan, accompanied by gusty protection bunds are observed in regions adjoining
winds over the next four days peaking on 3-4 July. Baluchistan, particularly in Shadadkot Bund,
Jacobabad district, which has been breached at six
4. Baluchistan locations rendering more than 15,000 villagers
According to the Baluchistan Provincial Relief homeless while washing away standing crops of
Commissioner, 14 districts have been affected by vegetables.
flooding, including and in order of priority: Turbat,
Sibi, Kech, Jal Magsi , Gawador and Ormara. 6. North-West Frontier Provinces (NWFP)
Most rivers including Kabul, Swat and Gambila are
There are reports of breaches occurring in Kirthar past the peak and the water levels are receding. There
canal as hill torrents impact on the irrigation system are reports of nearly 90 houses collapsed in the
in Jaffarabad district. Similarly, reports indicate that Province due to recent rains and loss of property and
livelihood. The situation in Sanober, Chitral, has
Pakistan Floods/Cyclone Report No. 1
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stabilized as relief efforts are underway. In all 23 districts were provided funds to mobilize need based
fatalities have been officially confirmed. relief efforts.

9. Army troops have been deployed in all


vulnerable districts of Balochistan and Jacobabad.
Army Engineers are also working on restoring local
road links. Army medical support troops are
operating in all cyclone-affected districts of
Baluchistan and Sindh assisted by provincial and
district health authorities.

10. The National Highway Authority (NHA) is


working to restore the Quetta – Karachi Highway.
The road is likely to be opened in next 2-3 days. The
work to restore the coastal highway is being impeded
by water level which has not receded and the
extensive damage and is likely to take two weeks due
to extensive damage. The following roads have been
opened for traffic by Army engineers: Sukkur –
Quetta; Turbat – Gawador and Peshawar – Landi
Kotal.
The Pakistan Red Crescent Society is dispatching
relief goods worth Rs 6.13 million which includes
1,000 tents.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
NATIONAL RESPONSE
11. The National Disaster Management Authority
7. A massive relief effort is underway led by the (NDMA) has expressed an urgent need of additional
Pakistan Army. However, the weather remains an helicopters to help increase sorties of supplies to
impediment to relief operations. In all, 16 relief affected areas.
sorties are being carried out which include 3 each for In addition the following items would be needed in
Turbat, Gawador, Sibi, Jacobabad and Ormara. Aerial descending order of priority:
relief operations will be intensified weather 1. Tents and water proof tarpaulins for sheltering the
permitting. Karachi has been mobilised as the base displaced
for generating relief sorties for most locations in 2. Medicines, against diarrhea and other gastric
Balochistan. Some 12 helicopters are being mobilized infections, vaccinations, anti tetanus vaccinations and
for relief operations in Baluchistan and Jacobabad. serum
3. Water purification tablets
8. Overall nearly 2,000 stranded people have 4. Emergency health kits and trauma kits
been rescued so far and rescue operations are 5. Anti snake venom
accompanying relief operations. Sea borne relief is 6. Mosquito nets/Mosquito/insect repellent
being planned from Karachi to Gwador. A relief base creams/candles.
is also being established in Sukkur. By 25 June, two
relief camps for 200 persons were set up at Gadap
City and District Commissioners Offices of affected
Pakistan Floods/Cyclone Report No. 1
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INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

12. The Government of Pakistan has not 19. International NGOs and local NGOs are
requested any international assistance, however, it contributing to the relief efforts. Some have presence
welcomes assistance, if offered. in Turbat and other cyclone hit districts. Save the
Children UK is carrying out an assessment in Chagai
13. The IASC Country Team in Pakistan has district in Baluchistan. Plan International will be
recommended using cluster approach in addressing providing Non Food Items, shelter and hygiene kits in
the cyclone/floods emergency. Two field affected districts. Mercy Corps will provide
coordination hubs will be established in Quetta and assistance on food and basic NFI in Baluchistan.
along the coast. The National Disaster Management Church World Service is carrying out assessments in
Authority (NDMA) has structured itself by cluster. Gadap, Tattha and Turbat, and provision of
immediate food package and plastic sheets in Gadap
14. UNICEF is providing tents, blankets, for those affected in Karachi.
medicine and water purification tablets as well as
food supplements. By 30th June, UNICEF had 20. This situation report together with further
already handed over to the provincial authorities in information on ongoing emergencies is also available
Balochistan 740,000 water purification tablets, on the OSOCC Internet Website
33,600 blankets, 4,000 jerry cans, 12 tents and 50 MT http://www.unocha.org/vosocc and on the OCHA
of Unimix, two new emergency health kits, 10 water Internet Website http://www.reliefweb.int/.
bladders, 10 water bladders, hygiene supplies and 12
bales of cloth for water filtration.

15. WHO provided 8 trauma Kits, 1 cholera and


health emergency kit, 20 new emergency health kits
and 450,000 chlorine tablets.

16. A UNHCR convoy of relief items (270 tents,


100 quilts and 150 kitchen sets) left Quetta for
Dalbandin on 30 June.

17. IOM has made available two Rapid Response


Teams. WFP is planning for the distribution of wheat
flour, High Energy Biscuits (HEB), dates, pulses, salt
and oil.

18. OCHA is putting on stand by a five person


United Nations Disaster and Coordination
Assessment (UNDAC) Team as well as some surge
capacity from the OCHA regional Office in Bangkok,
to support the Resident Coordinator’s Office. OCHA
has also allocated USD 100,000 emergency cash
grant for local procurement of emergency relief
goods.
Pakistan Floods/Cyclone Report No. 1
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For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details
Desk Officer (New York) Ms. Heidi Kuttab Office Tel: +1 917 367 33 65
Office Fax: +1 212 963 36 30
Email: kuttab@un.org

GCMS (Geneva) Mr. Erik Kastlander Office Tel: + 4122-917-1587


Email: kastlander@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Mr. Rajan Gengaje Office Tel. +66-2288-2572
Asia and the Pacific Regional Disaster Response Adviser Office Fax +66-2288-1043
Mobile + 66-8-1916-1271
Email: Gengaje@un.org
Press Contact: (NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126
Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel + 41 22 917 26 53


Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org

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