01600Z JUL 07 PRT Panjshir Flood Response and Damage Assessment

Panjshir PRT continues its response to the recent flash flooding. IRoA and Panjshiri govt response continues to be impressive. Emergency Response Committee is now wrestling with coordinating/organizing HA distribution to most needed. As initial crisis mode passes, officials now are focusing on providing an organized response and looking at long term issues/requirements. Again, while not perfect and cumbersome, GoA response has exceeded expectations. PRT continues to monitor all critical meetings and response to prevent any critical breakdown and to advise where appropriate. HA influx from PRT, WFP, and IRC have enabled sufficient stocks to be readied for distribution. PRT is advising on a systematic approach to HA distribution which will catalogue needs and ensure support to the most needed. Natl Security Dept (Kabul) sent 12 water trucks and USAID/ARD provided 6 water trucks to provide potable water in most critical areas. CERP funding has been approved to support road/debris clearing. Addl funding request pending for significant stores of cement, gabions, shovels, etc. that are critical to repair damaged irrigation channels that are vital to subsistence agriculture. Intent is to provide critical resources for self-help repairUSAID is pursuing cash for work program to pay locals to clean/repair community infrastructure. Gov Bahlul returned from USEMB visit the previous day and spoke of passing his thanks to AA6 at the event for CJTF-82 support (Helo support for aerial assessment provided the day before). PRT lead wheelbarrow-drop to most critically hit area in Rokha and site of most counter-PRT tensions. Engagement coincided with recovery of two sets of human remains at the same location. This visit tested PRT-Rokhan relations at the same time it expressed genuine PRT concerns for their recovery. Wheelbarrows were provided to aid locals in their recovery efforts as they dig out from tons of debris and mud. The engagement went well with positive comments expressed by locals at ground-zero. No aggressive/negative comments, gestures, or actions occurred. PRT worked with Gov Bahlul to counter beliefs by many in Panjshir/Kabul that the USAID road/bridge construction caused the disasters in the hardest hit areas of Rokha and Shast. This was clearly a 100-yr flood and uphill debris field and damage indicate that no road/bridge construction would have survived the deluge of debris. Additionally, uncontrolled building in the flood plain above the road/bridge/culvert contributed to the debris field, to include a two story brick restaurant that was under construction right next to the bridge. The Governor laid down his stern expectations at the Emergency Response Meeting to ensure that Panjshiri officials counter the misplaced arguments counter to the bridge and USAID. He warned the Rokha DM and Police Chief to keep control in the area so that recovery can prosper (the area is secure, but the Governor wanted to make sure nothing negative happens). Traffic police finally reported to the most hard hit bridge areas to direct traffic flow (after PRT prodding). Provincial CoP (Gen Waliullah) finally showed in the province today, he has not been in the province throughout the crisis. ANP have been visible throughout the crisis. PRT Engineers traveled to Dara to assess further flooding damage to roads/irrigation/PRT construction projects. Damage continued to represent steady-state flooding that is common in the area.