ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: Midway through the winter, optimism has started to creep into the earthquake survivors and humanitarian community though the conditions are still difficult, said United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Vandemoortele on Friday.

“The situation remains difficult but it is not critical. The rains and snow often make it miserable but not unmanageable,” he told a press briefing, adding that there have been no major epidemics, population movements or incidence of severe malnutrition.

He said there were always fears of second wave of deaths and outbreak of diseases, but those were now fading away as the living conditions improved. However, he said the humanitarian community remained vigilant as ever.

There is a cautious optimism as we are midway through the winter, Mr Vandemoortele said. Glimmers of fresh hope and optimism are emerging among earthquake survivors and relief officials, regarding the transition from relief to recovery and reconstruction, he added.

“Until now, everything has been focused on relief, relief, relief, and on saving lives. But now, people, including the NGOs, the civilian authorities, the military, and the UN colleagues are all starting to raise questions about how to make transition from relief to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he remarked.

But, the humanitarian coordinator also warned against over- optimism and complacency in the relief operations.

He said the priority continues to be provision of blankets, CGI sheets, plastic sheets and warm clothing to keep people warm and dry.

He said the helicopters were flying food to remote areas and distribution of CGI sheets had increased. Five million sheets would have been delivered by the end of this month, the UN official said, and added that the quake zone looked like a sheet country.

About the health concerns, he said there were reports of incidence of ARIs, cough, scabies and diarrhoea. Female medical workers are unavailable, the coordinator said, adding that this means that problems of women remain hidden and unattended.

To a question, Mr Vandemoortele said the flow of donations was good, but the UN was still “living from paycheck to paycheck” to sustain its aid effort through the winter. Sixty-two per cent of the UN’s $550 million Flash Appeal has been funded as the donations reached $343 million.

Dr France Donnay of UNFPA said there were 80,000 pregnant women in the area and 7,000 births took place every month. Ninety per cent of the deliveries are taking place without the help of skilled attendants.

She said the health infrastructure needed to be improved and pre-fab structures would help improve the situation. Deputy UNHCR representative Michael Zwack also termed the situation in the quake areas stable.