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Airlift brings tonnes of UNHCR aid to remote villages

November 16, 2005

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, November 16 (UNHCR) - A major United Nations airlift of relief supplies to thousands of families in the mountains of Pakistan-administered Kashmir got underway Wednesday, with UNHCR delivering nearly half of the 240 metric tonnes it will distribute in the remote Leepa Valley.

Two heavy-lift Chinook helicopters from Britain's Royal Air Force were used to carry the supplies from Muzaffarabad to helipads in the area where they were distributed to families with the assistance of the Pakistan Army.

UNHCR is providing 2,000 tents, 36,000 blankets, 4,000 plastic sheets, 4,000 kitchen sets and 4,000 jerry cans to the Leepa Valley, where an estimated 16,000 people, out of a population of 35,000, have been affected by the October 8 earthquake which left at least 73,000 people dead.

The airlift operation is due to last five days for UN agencies, with UNHCR completing its delivery in the first two days.

"It is extremely important that we provide shelter and other supplies to these high altitude communities as quickly as possible. Snow is already accumulating on the peaks and soon these areas will be under several metres," said the UN refugee agency's emergency coordinator in the region, Christine Neveu.

The areas where UNHCR supplies were delivered Wednesday were until recently cut off by landslides. Many of the residents of these remote communities are reluctant to leave their land and livestock, despite having received little assistance since the quake.

As the areas targeted by the airlift are too mountainous for the large Chinook helicopters to land, the supplies were loaded into nets which were then suspended from the aircraft and dropped at their destinations.

As part of the joint UN relief operation, UNHCR is responsible for camp management. Together with partner agencies, Pakistani non-governmental organisations and the army, UNHCR is involved in a total of 20 camps across the quake-affected area with a capacity to shelter some 32,000 people.

Since the start of its emergency operation, UNHCR has provided 19,356 tents, 152,325 blankets, 71,395 plastic sheets and tens of thousands of jerry cans, kitchen sets and other supplies.

The refugee agency needs US$18 million by the end of the month to fund its relief activities and maintain the pace of aid to affected areas. It has so far received $8.6 million in cash and pledges.