Update: Figures, Pakistan Earthquake

As of January 1st, 2007:

• Number of people left homeless by the earthquake: Different agencies have been updating these numbers as more information is available. The range of people reported without shelter immediately after the quake was put at 2.8 to 3.3 million. The government's lead reconstruction agency, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), now puts the figure at around 3.5 million.
  
  
• People still living in tent camps: Around 1% of those left without shelter are still living in tent camps run by government agencies with support from UN agencies. ERRA reports this figure currently stands at 33,000 which is less than 1% of the 3.5 million people originally having no shelter.
  
  
• Where people have found shelter: Those not housed in camps have been provided shelter at places of their choice (i.e., close to their homes and not in tented camps). The government--through the military and supported by a group of over 70 agencies-- delivered over half a million tents, 5 million Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) roofing sheets, 6.4 million blankets and 2.2 million tarpaulins (Source: IOM, Information Sheet Oct 2006).

With support from partner organizations, the government also helped build some 549,872 consolidated temporary shelters (Source: IOM Oct 2006) for people at sites of their choice - these mostly included small 1-2 room units built with stone and cement-sand mortar masonry, with CGI sheeting both for roofs and additional protection for the walls. Other variations of this kind of shelter included houses with bottom half of walls built of masonry and upper half with CGI sheeting reinforced with timber. In addition, less damaged houses were temporarily retrofitted/made liveable by army teams. So most beneficiaries are currently living in consolidated shelters. This includes both beneficiaries that have started to reconstruct their houses and those who are yet to begin.

• Number of houses damaged: 600,000 houses were estimated to have incurred damage/destruction as of September 2006, out of which 570,000 were rural houses. Although the damage assessment has been completed, yet fresh cases are still being sporadically reported through the program's grievance system. The latest figures including grievance cases is 618,000 affected houses in all, including 585,000 rural and 33,000 urban houses (Source: Recent Queries from ERRA).
  
  The lastest situation, according to ERRA/Army surveys is that between 200,000 to 250,000 people have begun reconstructing in all (between 35-42% of 585,000 rural houses). It is reported by ERRA that out of these, about 10,000 people have fully completed their houses.
  

• Housing Support: The second installment of the housing grants has been disbursed to over 95 percent of the eligible affectees. The third tranche for reconstruction of Rs. 25,000 will be released subject to the satisfactory completion of houses up to the plinth level. As of early January 2006, 52,000 such cases were cleared and are being processed (Source: ERRA/NADRA : Data Reports) - with many more pouring in.