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Subject: Sunday morning Nepal update

Dear All,
Here is a summary of a chat I had with Silke this morning. There were logs and coordination meetings in Bangkok and I also snatched a quick word with Pippa Bradford, the Country Director, who is going back to Kathmandu tonight.

* Operationally, still no real estimate of how many people affected. VAM hopes to have clearer idea this afternoon. Especially outside K, it's hard to assess the scale. NOT, however, the mega quake that some had feared. For WFP it is an L2 but growing.
* Some damage even to the east of Kathmandu. VAM says still no info of lots of smallish provincial towns (15 - 30,000 people) where we have no info yet.
* The airport is operational and since we spoke, Baptiste from logs has sent us some pix from the Humanitarian Staging Area that was opened by Manoj last month and is already up and running with a generator, electricity, comms etc. Already receiving cargo. If we decide to do a news release, this is a strong angle. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/nepal-opens-first-humanitarian-staging-area-built-government-uk-aid-support
* Commercial flights are operational and message to journalists is that that's how they should go in. Cargo flight from Dubai HRD with non-food items should go Tuesday but won't carry passengers. So no talk of international air bridge.
* Big fear is that airport will become congested a la Haiti.WFP will play major role.
* Logs say preliminary reports say roads are mostly OK, which would mean we use trucks hired locally. May set up alternative pipeline via road to avoid congestion at airport.
* On the ground right now, it's shelter, health and sanitation that are priorities, with food some way behind.
* HEB(Hi energy biscuits) stocks are available in Bangladesh, Dubai and Afghanistan. 50 mt of HEBs on plane out of Dubai Tuesday
* Programme plan for first ready to eat (HEBs, then basic food rations, then cash/vouchers later.
* Won't need UNHAS internationally but may set up passenger helicopter service.
* All staff accounted for except for one person. They are OK but several have lost family members or friends
* Engineer from Rome flew out today to check status of wfp office. Staff reported to be sleeping in garden.
* Marco Cavalcante, who is acting Dep CD, is flying back in with Geoff Pinnock and Baptiste Burgaud of logs. They will catch up the the UNDAC assessment mission.
* CD Pippa has designated Marco as the CO spokesperson - Silk- says he's a very good media performer. As some of you saw, Baptiste has ALREADY sent some photos of the HAS.
* Silke has tried to get hold of Sakun Gujarel, the comms/advocacy officer, but has not got any reply. Frustrating as her predecessor, Deepesh, who is now working for uNHCR, and according to Yuko has posted stunning photos on his Facebook page.
* David Kaatrud is "response coordinator"
* Big thanks to Sarah, Sandy, Antonio , Gioacchino Rein and all those who worked to get the appeal up on the website - Silke says the country office was thrilled.
o Silke will work on media messages and a possible press release
o We will finalise deployment plans for the next few days liaising with the country office.
o Dan is working on something for the home page
o Please use the dedicated URL in any tweets or interviews: wfp.org/nepal<http://wfp.org/nepal>

I hope to talk to Peter and Francis later this morning about deployments. In the meantime, big thanks to Bettina who appeared on CNN, Al Jazeera and AGAIN CNN last night with great interviews top of the hour 3 hours running. That packet of HEBs she flourishes must be well past its expiration date by now. And of course, thanks again to Silke, who has cut her holiday short.

Regards

Jane


Jane Howard
Division of Communications
UN World Food Programme
Rome
Italy?