Pakistan8th October Earthquake

Country OverviewPopulation: 162.42 million

Literacy Rate:48.7% (% age 15 and over that can read and write)

Affected Area Population: 5.7million (7 persons/HH)

Source: Geological Survey Pakistan

Earthquake StatisticsDead: 73,000 persons? This includes over 18,000 childrenInjured: 70,000 persons?Overall affected: 3.2- 3.5 million personsWithout Shelter: 2.8 million persons (approx.)Without adequate food: 2.3 million personsEmployment loss: 325,000 persons (30%)Housing : 400153 shelter units destroyed or seriously damaged.2.8 million persons without shelter Education : 4844 destroyed 2647 damaged Health : 455 destroyed 119 damagedRoads : 4429 km damaged (37%)

Source: Government of Pakistan - as of Nov 3, 2005

The National Citizens ResponseNation united in response to the natural disaster.

All segments of the society donated in cash and kind.

For the first time there is a strong demand from/awareness amongst members of the civil society for national/regional/local disaster mitigation and management strategies. This has presented new opportunities to mainstream disaster Risk Mitigation and Management in all programmes

Significant Causes of Infrastructure DamageEngineered(Institutional Buildings)

Quality of construction and construction materials

Lack of seismic considerations

Lack of monitoring

Building codes ( dichotomy ) ?? Governance weakness

Non-Engineered(Private Buildings/Homes)

Lack of awareness about seismically resistant design

Siting of structures

Aspiration to modernize with insufficient knowledge of safe construction

Cost

OpportunitiesThe donor agencies (World Bank/ADB/JICA et al) as part of the Damage and Need Assessment report have highlighted the need for Hazard Risk Management as an important cross cutting issue.

This is the right time to start building a culture of resilience and safety in all tiers of the society.

There needs to be a sustained effort to advice and strengthen the potential programmes of the government in multi hazard risk management.

Recommendations (learning from the disaster)Increase public awareness about hazard risk management.Urgent need for de-centralised Disaster Management Plan which decentralise Disaster Response Mechanism to the District/Town Nazims (mayors)

Build capacity of professionals and government officials.Safe building practices and earthquake resistant design.

Develop and enforce simple building codes for rural and peri-urban areas.

Vigilance in monitoring to ensure adherence to safe building codes.

Recommendations (contd)(learning from the disaster)Introduce effective communication mechanism amongst stakeholders.

Develop a preparedness program to minimize damage in case of future natural disasters.

Develop a school Earthquake Safety Programme.Build in Environmental issues as integral part of all sector re-building plans (200 million tons of rubble/debris), forest, eco-system

A short term programme is being firmed up to address the urgent needs of creating awareness about safe building practices, school earthquake safety programme and building up capacity of government officials .

Way forwardwithin the priorities of actions of Hyogo FrameworkThe Draft National Disaster Management Plan prepared by the Government with assistance from UNDP in 2003 should be urgently re-visited, updated and approved.Human and Institutional capacities at Local, Regional and National level needs to be built.Capacity of at least ONE center of learning in each province needs to be built to provide specialised courses in disaster management. Multi hazard risk assessment should be carried out at local level Systematic documentation of emergency response to 8th Oct. 2005 EQ should be carried out what worked and what did not workDisaster preparedness planning should be institutionalized in all Rehabilitation programmers and at all tiers

Way forwardwithin the priorities of actions of Hyogo FrameworkMainstream risk reduction in development planning of known potential hazard eg in known seismic zones.Urgent programme to advice/guide home builders in hazard (earthquake etc) resistant building techniquesDevelop all community infrastructure including schools, health units etc to high hazard resilient standards so that they can act as community emergency shelters in future disaster(s)Integrate environmental conservation and restoration.School Earthquake and hazard safety programme should urgently be instituted. It should target teachers, students and both structural as well as non-structural elements.Response and preparedness: Regulatory framework should be established emphasizing decentralised disaster management system.