This Humanitarian Update covers the period from 29 May to 9 June 2010. The next Update will be issued on or around 25 June.
HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
Cyclone 'Phet' passed through Pakistani Coastal areas without causing major damages Water level in Hunza Lake is now decreasing slowly as outflow has exceeded inflow
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Cyclone Phet
The Tropical Cyclone 'Phet' entered Pakistan's coastal areas on 6 June 2010, with a sustained wind speed of 60 to 80 km/hour. Phet had already lost much of its intensity after hitting Omani coastal areas two days prior to reaching landfall in Pakistan.By the time it hit the coastal area of Pakistan the Cyclone had been downgraded to a tropical storm Nevertheless, 'Phet' caused heavy rain falls - as much as 370 mm in the coastal town of Gawadar in Baluchistan. It narrowly missed Karachi and made landfall near fishing town of Keti Bandar and then it hit Thatta, Badin and Hyderabad Districts in Sindh.
The storm disrupted life in the coastal areas of Baluchistan and Sindh, where several hundred mud houses collapsed and roads were blocked and damaged. Loss of life was averted due to effective early warning and evacuation of people by the Provincial Authorities. Most of the evacuees returned to their homes within a day or two of the passing of the storm.
The Government Authorities at provincial and district level led the relief operations. The humanitarian community offered assistance, but given the limited scale and impact of the storm, only targeted interventions were needed. Governmental assessments of the extent of the damages caused by Phet continues, and the humanitarian community remains ready to provide additional assistance if required.
Hunza Lake situation
On 29 May, the water started to flow through the spillway, which was created to drain the water from the lake. So far, the out flowing water has not significantly eroded the spillway and by 8 June, the water outflow had exceeded the inflow, causing the level of the lake to drop marginally; at a rate of five inches per day. Given the current situation both the population upstream and downstream of the lake barrier remains vulnerable. The road link to the upstream population continues to be cut off, while the downstream population is still under a constant threat of a potential dam break, which is still a possibility, particularly once the monsoon arrives in July.
Currently, relief items to the upstream villages in Upper Hunza are being supplied by helicopters and boats.
Some 3,100 families or 27,600 individuals remain displaced, due to the lake expansion and also as a precautionary measure against a possible dam break. Over 18,000 people are living in 24 camps, mostly downstream from the lake barrier. Government Authorities are leading the relief activities while the humanitarian community is providing assistance where needed. So far the humanitarian community has provided assistance in the form of tents, Non-Food Item (NFI) kits, WASH NFIs, medicines, food, logistics support, information management support and coordination.
Vulnerability assessment
The vulnerability assessment of the IDPs in the Peshawar Valley continues. To date, nearly 10,000 families have been assessed. The assessment focuses upon profiling individual IDP families to identify vulnerability and analyzes their intentions for return. The assessment will be used to target assistance to vulnerable families that require ongoing humanitarian assistance and to support the development of durable solutions for IDP families.
Hangu and Kohat
The registration of Kurram and Orakzai Agency IDPs remains suspended due to security concerns. However, Togh Sarai Camp in Hangu still continues to receive IDPs. Currently 983 families (4,490 individuals) are residing in the camp (29 families are from Kurram and 954 are from Orakzai agency).
