Summary
Content
Summary and Highlights
Days since October 8th Earthquake:144
- Heavy rains over the weekend caused landslides and road blockages across the affected area and more are expected over the coming weeks as the March rains and spring snowmelts begin.
- The French fuel farm was deployed under NATO and has been operating since late November. It was kept in country after the NATO withdrawal under a bilateral agreement between the French and Pakistan governments and has now completed a total of 1,600 refuels in service to the relief community.
- Helicopter capacity has dropped once again this week with the redeployment of an ICRC Mi-8.
Contents
1. Road Update
2. Security
3. French Fuel Farm Update
4. UNJLC Mission Update
5. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status
1. Road Update
Heavy rains over the weekend of February 25th caused numerous landslides and roads were cut off across the affected area, hampering road cargo transport and general relief operations. Lasdanna to Kahutta in the Bagh region has now been cleared, but Muzaffarabad to Ghari Duphatta remains closed as do Hattian to Chakothi, Hattian to Lipa and Patika to Nauseri in the Muzaffrabad district. Slopes in the affected area have been loosened by the earthquake and landslides and falling rocks will be inevitable over the next two to three months as rainfall increases and the spring snowmelt begins. This is likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of humanitarian supplies by road. For daily road updates and corresponding map see www.unjlc.org/pakistan.
2. Security
The arrival of President Bush in Pakistan this weekend will be accompanied by strict security measures in Islamabad. Many areas of the capital will be closed off from March 3rd through the weekend, however it is not yet known whether access in and out of the city or airport operations will be affected. A nationwide strike has been organised for March 3rd to coincide with this visit. Rallies are expected to be held across the country to protest cartoons of the prophet Mohammed which were published in certain European newspapers. The situation is likely to be somewhat tense across the affected area for the next few days and international humanitarian staff have been advised to pay attention to their personal security.
3. French Fuel Farm
NATO deployed in Pakistan to lend assistance to the relief mission. As part of this operation, on November 24th the French brought in an SEA (French fuel supply service) which was established in Abbottabad to provide a forward base for helicopter refueling. The purpose was to save the additional costs and flying time required by refueling aircraft in Islamabad and to allow for more sorties per day. The site is manned by 14 personnel and can accommodate up to 16 helicopters at one time. To date the operation has achieved 1,600 refuelings, delivering a total of 3 300 cubic metres of Jet A-1 to UN and now also ICRC helicopters. When NATO withdrew at the start of February the Pakistan government asked that the fuel farm remain in country under a bilateral agreement between the French and Pakistan governments. The current end of mission date for this service is planned for March 31st. Beyond this time its future remains subject to further bilateral agreements.
Meanwhile, as mentioned in previous bulletins, the US Military fuel farm at Shinkiari has now closed down. The US fuel farm in Muzaffarabad is in the process of being handed over to the Pakistan Military, who will operate it after the US Military withdrawal on March 31st.
:. Click here for a photo impression of the French Fuel Farm (courtsy of Major Pierre Giraut)
4. UNJLC Mission Update
UNJLC deployed to the Pakistan operation on October 14th, six days after the earthquake. Its mandate has been to assist the humanitarian mission in aspects of logistics. The UNJLC Cargo Movement Cell was established to coordinate the cargo transport provided by UNHAS, Atlas and IOM and to rationalise cargo, mode and destination. The GIS section has been providing maps of logistical significance to the relief community. The LSS pipeline tracking system is being used to give an overview of NFI data with the goal of identifying potential gaps and aiding in transport prioritisation. UNJLC has also been providing customs and immigration assistance to agencies and NGOs working in Pakistan and continues to produce a full range of information products concentrating on logistics updates and infrastructure. These are published on the website at www.unjlc.org/pakistan and available in hard copy from the Islamabad office and field representatives in the hubs. UNJLC's mandate is due to end on April 12th. Work is currently underway to determine which of these functions, if any, will be required beyond this date.
5. Aviation Update: Helicopter Status
The relief operation's helicopter capacity has decreased once again this week as ICRC has cancelled the contract of one of its Mi-8s. The ICRC Mi-26 will also be leaving on March 13th. UNHAS is still awaiting funding approval for the extension of its project. In the meantime UNHAS helicopters will no longer fly more than 80 hours a month, which will significantly reduce its overall cargo capacity. The UNHAS passenger schedule which was revised as of February 18th will remain the same until March 15th. For details please see www.unjlc.org/pakistan. UNHAS continues to task the two German Stallions, two Australian S-70s and four of the US Military Chinooks.
UNJLC apologises for an error in last week's helicopter update. The Mi-8 attributed to MSF is in fact operated by Merlin.
| As of 1st March | Number of aircraft | Cargo Capacity, tonnes | |||
| Aircraft Type | 1st March |
22nd Feb | 1st March |
22nd Feb | Comments |
| UNHAS Tasked Assets: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi-8 MT | 14 | 14 | 52.50 | 52.50 | A reduction in UNHAS chartered assets can be expected over the coming weeks due to lack of funding. |
| Mi-26T | 1 | 1 | 18.00 | 18.00 | |
| Kamov 32 | 2 | 2 | 8.00 | 8.00 | |
| CH-53 | 2 | 2 | 10.00 | 36.00 | German Military, until March 31st |
| S-70 | 2 | 2 | 6.00 | 6.00 | Australian Military |
| Sub-total | 21 | 21 | 94.50 | 94.50 | |
| Government of Pakistan Assets: | |||||
| Mi-17 | 6 | 6 | 22.50 | 22.50 | Pakistani Government assets are deployed both in the forward field locations and from Chaklala Air Force Base in Islamabad. |
| Bell 412 | 2 | 2 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| UH-2H | 3 | 3 | 6.00 | 6.00 | |
| Alouette –III | 1 | 1 | 1.50 | 1.50 | |
| Lama | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| SA-330 Puma | 1 | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 | |
| AB 205 | 1 | 1 | 0.50 | 0.50 | |
| Sub-total | 16 | 16 | 37.50 | 37.50 | |
| Foreign Government and Foreign Military Assets in Support of the Pakistani Government: | |||||
| Blackhawks | 2 | 2 | 6.00 | 6.00 | US and Australian Military. Four or more of the US CH-47 Chinooks may work with UNHAS through the AOC. |
| CH-47 – Chinook | 8 | 8 | 48.00 | 48.00 | |
| Sub-total | 10 | 10 | 54.00 | 54.00 | |
| Other: | |||||
| Mi-8 MTV | 1 | 2 | 3.75 | 7.50 | Operated by ICRC |
| SA-330 Puma | 2 | 2 | 6.00 | 6.00 | |
| AS-332 Super Puma | 1 | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 | |
| Kamov 32 | 1 | 1 | 4.00 | 4.00 | |
| Mi-26 | 1 | 1 | 18.00 | 18.00 | |
| AB-139 | 4 | 4 | 22.00 | 22.00 | Operated by Agha Khan Foundation Pakistan |
| AS-350 Squirrel | 2 | 2 | 0.50 | 0.50 | Operated by AirServ for MSF Holland |
| Mi-8T | 1 | 1 | 3.25 | 3.25 | Operated by Merlin |
| Sub-total | 13 | 14 | 60.50 | 64.25 | |
| Overall Total | 61 | 68 | 246.50 | 250.25 | |