TOTAL 15,700,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 31.1 (19)
GROWTH RATE - 0.3 (1980 - 89) (10)
% URBAN 19 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 18.4 (11)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Saturday - Wednesday, Thursday half day (business hours vary by season)

BUSINESS HOURS

0800 or 0830 - 1200 (9)
1300 - 1530, 1600 or 1630
Thurs. 0800 or 0830 - 1300

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

17 Mar. - 1st day Ramadan* (1991) (4)
21 Mar. - Afghan New Year
16 Apr. - Id-al-Fitr*
27 Apr. - Revolution Day
1 May - Labor Day
23 June - Id-al-Adha*
22 July - Ashoura*
18 Aug. - Independence Day
21 Sept. - Roze Maulud*

*indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Visa required prior to travel when travel originates in country with Afghan Embassy. (9)

VACCINATION

Yellow Fever (15)

LANGUAGES

Principal Dari, Pushtu
Foreign (12c)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

Metric, traditional (4a)

CURRENCY

Afghani. 50.60 = $US 1 (official rate) (4)

GNP/CAPITA US $280 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Muslim - majority Sunni (4a), (12c)
Hindu
Sikh
Jewish -

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Pushtus - 60.5 (17)
Tajiks - 30.7
Uzbeks - 5
Hazaras and nomads of Mongol origin

TIME (GMT)

AREA (sq.km.) 648,000

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Great variation

Southwest - summer

Maximum +48.8°C

Northeast - winter

Minimum - 26°C

(4)

BIRTH RATE* 49 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 23 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 169 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 42 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 20 (1980 - 89) (10)

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

wheat
flour
maize
flour
rice
barley
(7)

ACCOMPANIMENT

vegetables
fruits
meat
mutton fat, vegetable oil
Note - avoidance of pork
(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

sorghum
pulses
(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

20% mild - moderate (19)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

Information not available

POP./PHYSICIAN 1369
N° HEALTH CENTERS 49% local care
POP./NURSE 7741 (12c), (16)
N° HOSPITALS 128 (14), (16)
COLD CHAIN

Avicenna Pharmaceutical Institute (Ministry of Public Health) as well as private drug importers (18)

MAJOR DISEASES

Intestinal & alimentary infections & parasites
TB (pulmonary & other forms)
Typhoid, paratyphoid
Measles
Respiratory problems
Malaria
(12c), (16)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

DPT
Measles
Polio
BCG (tuberculosis)
Tetanus
Malaria
(13), (14)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Avicenna Pharmaceutical Institute

Cadre & Internal Relations

Institute of Higher Medical Education, Institute of Intermediate Medical Education, Cadre & Employment, International Relations

Planning and Administration

Administration, Planning & Finance, Public Health, Engineering, Legislation

Curative & Preventive Medicine

Curative Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Maternal & Child Health, Basic Health Services

WHO Advisors

Legal Advisors

Bilateral Advisors

Documentation & Relations

(12c)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Village - health workers, birth attendants, male nurse at subcentre (12c)
District - health centre, hospital
Provincial hospital
Regional hospital
Central hospital

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Floods

7

35,0

Earthquakes

6

30,0

Droughts

4

20,0

Coldwave

1

5,0

Landslide

1

5,0

Chemical accident

1

5,0

Total Disasters

20

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Information not available

DISASTER PLAN

Information not available

WARNING SYSTEMS

Information not available

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Information not available

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

Information not available

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

Refer to WHO/UNHCR Emergency Kit

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio receivers, 135,000 in '86. TV 12800 in '86. (4)
Telephone.
6 regular daily newspapers '88.
Few railway lines.
Airports - 2 international, 29 local

EMERGENCY NGOs

Information not available

UN AGENCIES

UNFPA
WHO
UNICEF
WFP
UNIC
FAO
UNDP
(9)

TOTAL 112,500,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 714 (59)
GROWTH RATE 2.4 (1988) (19)
% URBAN 16 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 16.7 (1989) (10)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Saturday - Thursday

BUSINESS HOURS

0730 - 1400 (9)

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Optional religious holidays for different religious groups

1 Jan. - New Year
21 Feb. - Nat - Mourning Day
26 Mar. - Independence Day
29 Mar.-1 Apr. Easter*
16 Apr. - Id-al-Fitr*
1 May - May Day
May - Buddha Purnima*
23 June - Id-al-Adha*
July - Jamat Wida* (1991) (4)
13 July - Muharram*
Sept. - Sab-i-Bharat*
Sept. - Durga Puja*
21 Sept. - Birth of the Prophet*
7 Nov. Nat Revolution Day
16 Dec. - National Day
25-26 Dec. - Christmas, Boxing Day

* indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Not required for UN Laissez - passer holders. Not required for certain countries (9)

All others require visas. - refer to source.

VACCINATION

Yellow Fever (without certificate, 6 days isolation required if airline passed through active yellow fever country) Refer to source (15)

LANGUAGES

Principal 95% Bengali (Bangla is official) and tribal dialects
Foreign English (use declining) (57), (59)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

metric, imperial (4)

CURRENCY

Taka = 100 paisa (32.85 Taka= US $) (1989) (4)

GNP/CAPITA $170 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Muslim state religion (majority Sunni) 86.6 (4), (56), (57)
Hindu 12.7
Buddhists
Christians, others

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

9 (1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

98 Bengali (57), (59)
Remainder Biharis & tribal groups

TIME (GMT) +6 (57)

AREA (sq.km.) 143,998 (57)

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Tropical monsoon July - Oct rain

Nov.-Feb.,

11°-34°C (19°C avg.)

Mar.-June

21-34°C (29° C avg.)

(4), (57)

BIRTH RATE* 41 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 15 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 116 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 51 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 28 (1980 - 88) (10)

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

cereals
(92% rice, 7% wheat, barley, maize, millet)

note - avoidance of pork

(7), (54), (56)

ACCOMPANIMENT

leafy vegetables
pigeon pea
fish, meat
milk
vegetable oil, ghee
(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

wheat flour
sorghum
maize flour
milk powder
peanuts
(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

31 (1980 - 89) (10)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

vitamin A (xerophthamia, keratomalacia, xeroxis conjunctivae), (54), (56), (58)
vitamin C, Ariboflavinosis, Cyanobalamine deficiency. Beriberi

POP./PHYSICIAN 7,168
N° HEALTH CENTERS
POP./NURSE 8,980 (19), (59)
N° HOSPITALS 439 (59)
COLD CHAIN in airport and in capital (57)

150 necessary medicines, 20% imported, drugs must be registered with the MOH. (18), (53), (59)

National committee of experts controls prodiction and sale.

188 pharmaceutical laboratories are licensed as well as gov't pharmaceutical unit. 8 large foreign drug companies present

MAJOR DISEASES

Diarrhea
Cold, cough, respiratory problems
Nutritional deficiencies
Helminthiasis
Malaria
Measles
(12b)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Tuberculosis (BCG)
Polio
DPT
Tetanus
Measles
Vitamin A supplements
(13), (14), (58)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Preventive Health Service

Curative Health Service

Nursing Service

Drug Administration

(18)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Rural - health & family planning workers (12b)
Union level - health & family welfare centre
Sub - district Health Complex
District - Hospitals
Cities - Specialized hospitals

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Storms, cyclones

70

50,4

Floods

24

17,3

Accidents, fires

24

17,3

Epidemics

11

7,9

Droughts

4

2,9

Earthquakes

2

1,4

Coldwave

2

1,4

Famine

1

0,7

Landslide

1

0,7

Civil strife

Displaced persons

Total Disasters

139

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Ministry for Relief and Rehabilitation (RRM) and Central Coordination Committee for (59)
Floods (chaired by the Vice Pres.).
National Disaster Council has been proposed.

DISASTER PLAN

No national plan (59)

WARNING SYSTEMS

RRM - Emer Operations Center - National Storm Warning System; Flood Forecast Center has single sideband network for alert.

Meteorological satellite - SPARSO

(57), (59)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Red Cross - radios, sirens, first aid kits, jeeps, speedboats, motorcycles, landing craft
Ministry of Food - grain
Pharmaceutical companies - medicines
RRM - 500 shelters
(57), (59)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

RRM - Emergency Operations Center
Cyclone Preparedness Program
RRM links to Red Cross & Int'l Center for Diarrhea Research
(57)

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

transport, housing, food, boats
See attached list of essential drugs
(59)

COMMUNICATIONS

Emergency control rooms telephone links. Press and Infor. Division sends information to TV, radio, press. (4), (55), (57), (59)

Radio widespread, 6 regional stations, Radio Bangladesh (11 medium wave, 4 shortwave) in 4 languages.

Transmitter for weather bulletins. TV - 13 hours/day, 551,000 TVs. Telegraph, teletype. Telephone - inadequate. Press - 62 dailies. Railways - single most important method of transport - 1,778 miles track - 400 trains/ day.

Inland water transport principal means of transport - 5 major river ports which carry 65% of freight.

Two seaports.

EMERGENCY NGOs

Bangladesh Red Cross - most important
Caritas
(57)

UN AGENCIES

UNDP
ILO
WHO
UNFPA
UNIC
WFP
FAO
UNICEF
UNIDO
WORLD BANK
IMF
(9), (59)

TOTAL 844,000,000 (1991) (54)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 242.3 (4)
GROWTH RATE 2.2 (1980 - 89) (10)
% URBAN 27 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 13.6 (1989) (10)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Monday - Friday

BUSINESS HOURS

0930 - 1800 (52)

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Holidays vary by locality - Delhi listed here

26 Jan. - Republic Day
2 Oct. - Gandhi's Birthday
25-26 Dec. - Christmas
Jan. - Pongal*
Jan.-Mar. - Maha Shrivratri & Holi*
Mar.-Apr. - Ram Navami &Mahabir* Jayanti
29 Mar. - Good Friday*
16 Apr. - Id-al-Fitr*
23 June - Id-uz-Zuha* (1991) (4)
May - Buddha Purnima*
June-July - Rath Yatra*
Aug.-Sept - Janmashtami & Oman*
15 Aug. - Independence Day
Oct.-Nov. - Dussehra, Diwali & Guru Nanak* Jayanti

* Indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Needed by those travelling by land. (52)

Not needed by those arriving by air or boat and who have not been in India in the past 6 months, providing their stay will be shorter than 30 days.

VACCINATION

Cholera if coming from infected country. (15)
Yellow fever if any connection to the disease.

LANGUAGES

Principal Hindi - official (30%), 16 regional langauages
Foreign English - associate language (4), (52)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

metric official (52)

CURRENCY

Rupee 16.78 = US $ 1 (12/89) (4)

GNP/CAPITA $ 340 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Hindu - 80 (2)
Muslim - 11
Christian - 2.6
Sikh, Buddhist, other - 3

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

1 (1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Caucasoid - 97 (Indo - Aryans make up 72%) (2)
Protomongoloid, Australoid, Negrito - 2

TIME (GMT) + 5.5 (52)

AREA (sq.km.) 3,287,588

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

7 climactic zones

Cool winter monsoon

Dec.-Mar.

Hot, no - rain, transition

Apr.-May

Rain, monsoon

June-Sept.

Humid

Oct.-Nov.

(2)

BIRTH RATE* 31 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 11 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 96 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 59 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 30 (1980 - 88) (10)

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

Great variety by region & caste
North - wheat, wheat flour
South - rice

Note -

a) no meat eaten by Brahmin & high caste Hindus
b) no pork eaten by Muslims
c) West Irian - roots & tubers are main staples

(2), (7)

ACCOMPANIMENT

North - pulses, pigeon pea, chick pea, split pea, lentil, milk, yoghurt, ghee, vegetable oil
South - pigeon pea, split pea, lentil, milk, yoghurt, vegetable oil, ghee
(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

North - rice, millet, peanut, milk powder
South - sorghum, wheat flour, peanuts, milk
(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

6 (1980 - 88) (10)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

PEM, vitamin A deficiency, vitamin B complex deficiency, iron & folic (12b)
acid deficiency, iodine deficiency

POP./PHYSICIAN 2,520
N° HEALTH CENTERS 5,372
POP./NURSE 1,700 (1984) (19)
N° HOSPITALS 7,847 (4), (16b)
COLD CHAIN

80% of required drugs are produced in India with 500 basic drugs available. India exports 18% of its (52) production.

Raw materials are imported for 20% of the newer drugs.

Distribution accomplished by GOI from Medical Store Depots.

MAJOR DISEASES

Respiratory infections & pneumonia
Measles
Diarrhea
Enteric fever
Parasitic diseases
(12b)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Tuberculosis
DPT
Polio
Measles
Leprosy
Malaria
(12b), (13), (17)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Population

Family Welfare and Maternal & Child Health

Medical Education

Indian system of Medicine & Homeopathy

Health Education & Communication

Training, Manpower, Planning & Development, Research

Control, Containment of Disease

Intersectoral Program - Integrated Child Development Services

Ministries of Health & Education, Family Welfare, Social Welfare

(12b)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Primary Health Care - Village Health Guides (VHG) and Rural Health (12b)

Division, Health Sub - Centres, Primary Health Centres

Community Health Care - Community Health Centres

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Storms & cyclones

96

31,4

Floods

68

22,2

Accidents

50

16,3

Epidemics

24

7,8

Earthquakes

12

3,9

Droughts

12

3,9

Landslides

9

2,9

Coldwaves

9

2,9

Heatwaves

7

2,3

Fires

8

2,6

Avalanches

1

0,3

Chemical accidents

10

3,3

Civil strife

Total Disasters

306

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Crisis Management Group under Cabinet Secretary. (52)
For individual states - Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry.

DISASTER PLAN

Yes, in states of Maharashira, Andrah Pradesh, Orissa. (52)

WARNING SYSTEMS

Detailed guidelines exist for: Droughts, Floods (Central Water Commission), Tropical cyclones, Earthquakes.

Warning system for coldwaves.

(52)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

EMR - medical stores, emergency communications (feedback, telex, wireless);
Ministry of Agriculture - air support; Vaccines ; Medical teams; Shelters ; Police wireless
(52)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

National Flood Control Programme
Emergency Medical Relief (EMR)
(52)

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

Shelters or building materials

Food, blankets, clothing, household utensils, medicines, chemicals for disinfection and water purification

(51)

COMMUNICATIONS

All India Radio - 95% coverage, in 23 languages, 33 dialects. TV - Doordashan India - 86% coverage. (4), (52)

Press - 1,802 dailies. Telecommunications - Coaxial, microwave, UHF.

Railways - 4th largest system in world - 61,812 kms in 9 zones.

Roads - 1,554,204 kms. 31,756 national highways. Increasing numbers of motor vehicles.

Inland waterways - 15,655 kms. Ports - 10 major.

Airports - 4 international.

EMERGENCY NGOs

Indian Red Cross
Ramakrishna Mission
ARTIC
CARITAS
OXFAM
(51), (52)

UN AGENCIES

WHO
ILO
IMCO
IMF
IPU
ITC
ITU
IWC
NAM
UN
UNESCO
UPU
WIPO
WMO
WSG
WTO

International Lead and Zinc Study

(9), (52)

TOTAL 53,400,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 30.3 (1986) (4a)
GROWTH RATE 3 (19)
% URBAN 56 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 5.5 (1989) (10)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Saturday - Wednesday, Thursday

BUSINESS HOURS

Sat. - Weds. 0730 - 1500 (9)
Thurs. 0730 - 1400
1/2 hr. break - prayers

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

11 Feb. National Day
12 Feb. Leilat-al-Meiraj
20 Mar. Oil Nationalization Day
21-24 Mar. Iranian New Year
1 Apr. Islamic Republic Day
2 Apr. Revolution Day
16 Apr. Id-al-Fitr*
9 June Birthday of 12th Imam
23 June Id-al-Adha*
14 July Martyrdom of Imam Ali (1991) (4b)
22 July Ashoura*
21 Sept. Mouloud - Birthday of Prophet*

* indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Information not available

VACCINATION

Yellow Fever if coming from infected area (15)

LANGUAGES

Principal Farsi (Persian) 50%, Turkic 27%, Kurdish
Foreign English (2), (4)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

metric, traditional (4)

CURRENCY

Rial US $ 1 = 72.12 rials (9/89) (4b)

GNP/CAPITA US$ 3,530 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Shi'a Muslim (official) (4)
Sunni Muslim

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

3 (1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Aryan, Iranian, Persian - 66 (3)
Gilanis, Mazandarinis, Kurds

TIME (GMT)

AREA (sq.km.) 1,648,000 (4)

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Great Extremes by location

- 27.8°C-55.6°C

North mountain range

temperate

South

hot & humid

Central plateau

dry, variable

(12c)

BIRTH RATE* 33 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 7 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 50 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 67 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 5 (1980 - 89) (10)

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

wheat flour (bread) rice

Note - seasonal changes, avoidance of pork, fish eaten only on coast
(7)

ACCOMPANIMENT

chickpeas, split peas, lentils meat
milk, cheese, milk products, yoghurt vegetable oil
(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

Staples - oats, barley, wheat, bulgar
Accompaniment - milk powder, sesame oil
(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

43 moderate and severe (1980 - 89) (10)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

rickets (12c)
riboflavin deficiencies
vitamin A deficiencies

POP./PHYSICIAN 2,690
N° HEALTH CENTERS 138
POP./NURSE 1,050 (19)
N° HOSPITALS 585 (12c), (16c)
COLD CHAIN

National - Razi Vaccine Production Institute (12c), (18)
50% of drugs produced locally.
Drugs grouped in 4 broad categories.

MAJOR DISEASES

Diarrheal diseases
Viral hepatitis
Respiratory diseases
Malaria
Infectious & parasitic diseases
(12c)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Tuberculosis
DPT
Polio
Measles
(12c), (13), (17)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Public Health

Communicable Disease Control - Malaria; Noncommunicable disease control;
Family health; Respiratory disease; Environmental sanitation; Public Health Education

Curative Services

Drug & Food Laboratory Service

Education & Research

Planning, Programmes & Parliamentary Affairs

Health In Provinces

Manpower, Recruitment & Distribution

Finance & Administration

(12c)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Rural - Health House (12c)
Urban and Rural - Health Centre
District - Health Centre & district hospital
Province - provincial hospital, Planning and Supervisory Health Centre

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Earthquakes

44

63,8

Floods

12

17,4

Accidents

4

5,8

Storms

3

4,3

Epidemics

2

2,9

Drought

1

1,4

Fire

1

1,4

Landslide

1

1,4

Tsunami

1

1,4

Chemical accident

Displaced persons

Total Disasters

69

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Information not available

DISASTER PLAN

Information not available

WARNING SYSTEMS

Information not available

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

House of Health
(51)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

Information not available

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

See WHO/UNHCR Emergency Kit

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio - 10 million sets, 3 national stations. TV - 2.1 million sets, 2 channels. (4)
Press - 11 principal dailies.
Railway - 4567 kms single track
Roads - 40,000 kms paved roads.
Inland waterways & lakes.

EMERGENCY NGOs

Red Crescent

(12c)

UN AGENCIES

UNDP
UNIC
WFP
UNICEF
WHO
UNHCR
(9)

TOTAL 18,700,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 122 (1988) (52)
GROWTH RATE 2.6 (1980 - 89) (10)
% URBAN 9 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 16 (1989) (10)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Sunday - Thursday

BUSINESS HOURS

Summer 1000 - 1700 (52)
Winter 1000 - 1600
Friday 1000 - 1500

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

11 Jan. - Unity Day
29 Jan. - Martyrs Day
18 Feb. - National Day
Feb./Mar. - Shivarati
8 Mar. - Nepalese Women's Day
10 Mar. - Holi Festival
Apr. - Nepali New Year*
Apr. - Lord Buddha's Birthday*
10 Apr. - Teachers Day
May/June - Indra Jatra* (1991) (4)
1 week Oct. - Dasain
24 Oct. - UN Day
7 Nov. - Queen's Birthday
2 days Nov. - Tihar
17 Dec - Constitution Day
28 Dec - King's Birthday

* indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Required (9), (53)

VACCINATION

Yellow fever if coming from infected area (15)

LANGUAGES

Principal Nepali official (80% can speak it), plus many others
Foreign (5)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

Metric (52)

CURRENCY

Rupee. US $ 1 = 28.60 (12/89) (4)

GNP/CAPITA US $ 180 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Hindu - official - 80 (51), (52)
Mahayana Buddhism - 8
Bon
Animism

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

13(1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Indo Aryan (52)
Mongoloid

TIME (GMT) + 5.4 (52)

AREA (sq.km.) 140,797 (5)

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Apr.-Aug. - hot

Tarai 40°C, rest 28°C

Nov.-Jan. - cold

Tarai 23°C, rest

0-12°C

Feb.-Mar. - warm

Sept.-Oct. - warm

(52)

BIRTH RATE* 39 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 14 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 125 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 52 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) not available

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

Food patterns vary between castes and religions, not regions.

Rice
maize flour

Note - beef not acceptable

(7), (53)

ACCOMPANIMENT

pulses
vegetables
milk, cheese - milk products, yoghurt
mustard oil, butter, ghee

(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

wheat flour, sorghum, milk powder, potatoes, millet, barley

(7), (51)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

7; village survey shows 65 malnourished, 4 acute (17), (53)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

endemic goitre - cretinism, deaf - mutism; (53)
iron deficiency anemia;
vitamin A deficiency - xeropthalmia, conjunctival xerosis, Bitot's spots

POP./PHYSICIAN 32,710
N° HEALTH CENTERS 13
POP./NURSE 4,680 (1984) (19)
N° HOSPITALS 96 (52)
COLD CHAIN in airport and in capital (51)

Fourteen local manufacturers producing essential drugs. (52)
Royal Drugs Limited produces 16%.

MAJOR DISEASES

Diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases
Acute respiratory infections
Skin diseases
Cholera
Tuberculosis
Typhoid
(12), (51), (52)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Tuberculosis
DPT
Polio
Measles
Leprosy
Malaria
(13), (17), (52)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Family Planning & Maternal and Child Health

EPI, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Goitre, Malaria Eradication & Control

Environmental Health

Nutrition

(12), (52)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Peripheral or Panchayat - village health workers or panchayat - based (52)
health workers, health posts, EPI/MCH Clinic, mobile clinincs

Community - Community Health Leaders

District - District Health Officers, family planning, EPI, MCH, malaria

National hospitals

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Floods

11

32,4

Landslides

6

17,6

Earthquakes

4

11,8

Droughts

4

11,8

Epidemics

3

8,8

Storms

4

11,8

Accident

1

2,9

Heatwave

1

2,9

Total Disasters

34

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Informal government acceptance of Central Disaster Relief Operations Committee (51)
(CDRC) resulting from Nepal Red Cross plan.

DISASTER PLAN

no, but Nepal Red Cross has National Disaster Relief Plan (51)

WARNING SYSTEMS

Flood, landslides - Hydrological & Meteorological Dept.
Seismic Centres
Floods, landslides, fires - Satellites
(51)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Nepal Red Cross - major relief, storage warehouses with food, supplies, drugs.
National laws permit relief operations.
(51)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

National Calamity Relief Act - legal framework.
Nepal Red Cross - preparedness courses, programmes.
CDRC has National, Zonal, District Disaster Relief, Village Committees. Some hospital plans.
(51), (52)

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

helicopters
(51)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone communications - 25 telephone exchanges, difficult within the country, but connections to India & Pakistan.
(4), (51), (52)

Radio - Radio Nepal - government owned, short and medium wave. 550,000 sets. Many listen to Indian radio stations. TV - 24,000 sets. Press - 58 dailies, 2 in English.

Roads - 5,925 kms - difficult terrain. Railroad - 53 km narrow gauge. Ropeways exist with 8 and 22.5 metric ton / hour capacity.

2 international airports, 35 air fields. Dependence on India for ocean freight

EMERGENCY NGOs

Nepal Red Cross
(51)

UN AGENCIES

WHO
UNDP
ILO
UNFPA
UNICEF
FAO
World Bank
UNIC
IMF
WFP
(52)

TOTAL 118,800,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 132.4 (1988) (11b)
GROWTH RATE 3.7 (11b)
% URBAN 32 (1998) (10)
%UNDER 5 19 (1998) (11b)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Saturday - Thursday

BUSINESS HOURS

winter 0830 - 1500 (9)
summer 0800 - 1430
½ hr. break - prayers -

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

17 Mar. - Ramadan*
23 Mar. - Pakistan Day
29 Mar.-1 Apr. Good Friday & Easter*
16 Apr. - Id-al-Fitr*
1 May - Labour Day
23 June - Id-al-Adha*
13 July - Muharram*
22 July - Ashoura*
14 Aug. - Independence Day (1991) (4)
6 Sept. - Defense of Pakistan Day
11 Sept. - Anniv. of Death of Quaid-i-Azam
21 Sept - Eid-i-Milud-un-Nabi*
9 Nov. - Allama Iqbal Day
25 Dec. - Christmas
26 Dec. - Boxing Day

* indicates moveable holiday

VISA

Required for certain nationalities - check with Pakistan Embassy. (9), (51), (53)
Not required for trips of 1 - 15 days or for tourist visits up to 30 days.

VACCINATION

Cholera if coming from infected country. (15)
Yellow fever if coming from infected country.

LANGUAGES

Principal Urdu - national, Punjabi, Pushta, Sindhi, Saraiki
Foreign English - extensive (4)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

metric, imperial, etc.

CURRENCY

Pakistani Rupee. US $ 1 = 21.42 (12/89) (4)

GNP/CAPITA US $350 (1988) (11b)

RELIGIONS (%)

Islam - state religion - 97 (4)

(Sunni, Shi'ite, Isma'ili)

Hindus and Christians

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

4 (1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Punjabs, Sindhis, Baluchi (4), (53)
Rajputs, Iats - Indo - Aryan
Pathans

TIME (GMT) +5 (53)

AREA (sq.km.) 796,095 (4)

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Arid, Extreme temp. fluctations.

Nov.-Feb.

cold, dry 12-18°C

Mar.-May

hot, dry

June-Oct.

hot, humid, monsoon

(53)

BIRTH RATE* 47 (1988) (11b), (19)
DEATH RATE* 12 (1988) (11b)
INFANT MORTALITY* 166 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 57 (1989) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 25 (1980 - 88) (11b),

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

wheat flour
rice
millet
sorghum

Cereals made into flat bread

Note - pork avoidance

(7), (53)

ACCOMPANIMENT

pigeon pea, mung beans, split peas, lentils
meat, fish
cheese - milk products
vegetable oil, ghee
(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

sorghum
milk powder
maize flour
pulses
(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

10 (1988) (11b), (17)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

iron deficiency - anemia; iodine deficiencies - goitre (54), (55)
PEM
vitamin A deficiency

POP./PHYSICIAN 2900
N° HEALTH CENTERS 417 rural
POP./NURSE 4900 (19)
N° HOSPITALS 710 (4)
COLD CHAIN at airport, in capital and at UN agencies (51)

Information not available

MAJOR DISEASES

Malaria
Tuberculosis
Diarrhea
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Poliomyelitis
Measles
(12c), (52)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Diarrhea
Tetanus
Iodine deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency
Polio, TB, DPT, Measles
(13), (17), (55)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Primary Health Care

Immunization, Diarrheal Disease Control, Malaria Control

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Integrated Rural Health Complex and Satellite units - Basic Health Unit and Rural Health Unit

District and Tehsil - General hospital

Urban - Specialized hospital

(12c), (52)

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Floods

14

27,5

Storms, Cyclones

9

17,6

Accidents

8

15,7

Earthquakes

8

15,7

Avalanches

2

3,9

Fires

2

3,9

Landslides

2

3,9

Heatwaves

2

3,9

Epidemics

1

2,0

Famine

1

2,0

Chemical accidents

2

3,9

Civil strife

Total Disasters

51

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Emergency Relief Call (53)
Coordinating Planning Commission

DISASTER PLAN

Federal Disaster Plan, Provincial, District, Army (53)

WARNING SYSTEMS

Floods - Meteorological Office & Lahore Provincial Flood Centre
Wireless, telephone systems, radio, drum rolls
(53)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Grain - provincial food departments, Pak. Agric. Storage & Services Corp. for rice.
Medical kits, clothes - Red Crescent.
Health care - MOH, Red Crescent, Army, Social Security
(53)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

At province and district levels.
Hazard Specific Emergency Plans for Districts.
Central Flood Committee
SAFRON for refugees
(51), (53)

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

Grain
Ambulances
Transport
Water
See WHO/UNHCR Emergency Kit
(51), (53)

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio - 9.8 million sets, broadcast in 21 languages. TV - 1.5 million sets. Army provides Civil (4), (53)

Administration with wireless communications system. Telephone - independent networks, military, police, railroad companies, gas & power companies all have separate networks. Telex in cities.

Railroads - 12,620 kms - connecting most major cities. Roads - 56740 km main roads, mostly narrow, gravel.

Ports - Karachi international.

Airports - 5 international, 69 with permanent runways - difficult in wet season.

EMERGENCY NGOs

Pakistani Red Crescent
IRC
CRS
DACAAR
GTZ
HAYAT
MSF
Austrian Relief
Salvation Army
(51), (53)

UN AGENCIES

UNDP
WHO
UNICEF
WFP
ILO
FAO
World Bank
UNFPA
UNIDO
UNIC
UNFDAC
UNESCO
UNHCR
(9)

TOTAL 17,000,000 (1989) (10)
DENSITY (sq.km.) 257 (4)
GROWTH RATE 1.5 (1980 - 88) (10)
% URBAN 21 (1989) (10)
% UNDER 5 11 (1989) (10)

OFFICIAL WORK WEEK

Monday - Friday

BUSINESS HOURS

0830 - 1200 (9)
1300 - 1615

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1 Jan. - New Year's Day
4 Feb. - Independence Commemoration
29 Mar. - 1 Apr - Easter*
16 Apr. - Id-al-Fitr*
1 May - May Day
22 May - National Heroes Day
23 June - Id-al-Adha*
30 June - Special Bank Holiday
21 Sept - Milad-un-Nabi* (1991) (4)
25 Dec - Christmas
26 Dec - Boxing Day
31 Dec - Special Bank Holiday
Plus - one day per month for Full Moon

* indicates moveable holiday

VISA

UN Laissez Passer holders on official travel do not need visas. (9)
If travelling on country passport, must check with Sri Lankan consulate for visa information.

VACCINATION

Yellow fever required if coming from infected country. (15)

LANGUAGES

Principal Sinhala (70%), Tamil, English - all 3 official
Foreign English (4), (5)

UNIT OF MEASUREMENT

metric, imperial (4)

CURRENCY

Rupee. 40 = $ US 1 (12/89) (4)

GNP/CAPITA $US 420 (1988) (10)

RELIGIONS (%)

Buddhist - (Theravada, Hinayana) 70 (4)
Hindu - 15
Christian - 7.6
Muslim - 7.3

DEVELOPMENT AID (% of GNP)

8 (1988) (10)

ETHNIC GROUPS (%)

Singhalese - 70 (3), (5)
Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils - 18
Sri Lankan Moors - 7.1

TIME (GMT) +5.5 (59)

AREA (sq.km.) 65,610 (5)

CLIMATE

Period

Temperature

Tropical monsoon

Average in plains -

Northeast monsoon -

25°C-29°C

Dec.-Mar.

Southwest monsoon -

Average in country -

June-Oct.

16°C-24°C

(4), (51)

BIRTH RATE* 21 (1989) (10)
DEATH RATE* 6 (1989) (10)
INFANT MORTALITY* 27 (1989) (10)
LIFE EXPECTANCY 71 (1980 - 88) (10)
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (%) 28 (1980 - 88) (10)

* Rate indicates incidence per 1000 population

STAPLE FOODS

rice
wheat flour
cassava

many vegetarians

(7), (59)

ACCOMPANIMENT

vegetables
milk
fish
coconut oil
pigeon pea

(7)

ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES

milk powder
split peas
lentils
dried fish

(7)

SEVERE MALNUTRITION (%)

9 (1980 - 89) (10)

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

anemia, iron folate deficiency (56)
Iodine deficiency disease (IDD),
goitre Vitamin A deficiency, PEM

POP./PHYSICIAN 5,520
N° HEALTH CENTERS 1068
POP./NURSE 1,290 (1984) (19)
N° HOSPITALS 493 (52)
COLD CHAIN in capital (59)

Importation and distribution by State Pharmaceutical Corporation. (18), (59)

Ayurvedic Drug Corporation imports, exports and manufactures traditional medicine.

Distribution through Medical Stores and Divisional Drug Stores.

MAJOR DISEASES

Diarrhea
Malaria
Respiratory diseases, pneumonia & tuberculosis
Infectious and parasitic diseases including Helminthiasis
Viral hepatitis
(12b), (56), (57), (59)

IMMUNIZATION/CONTROL PROGRAM

Tuberculosis
Malaria
Sexually transmitted diseases
Filariasis
Leprosy
DPT, Polio, Measles, Tetanus
(12b), (13), (17)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORGANIZATION

DIRECTORY OF HEALTH SERVICES

Public Health Service Programmes - Malaria, Tuberculosis, Filariasis, Leprosy, Socially - transmitted diseases, EPI, Diarrheal Disease and Zoonotic

Department of Health

Disease Control

Medical services

Allopathic medicine

Ayurvedic medicine

Laboratory services

Ministry of Indigenous Medicine

(52)

REFERRAL SYSTEM

Rural - Gramodaya Health Centre (12b)
Subdivision - Subdivisional Health Centre
Division - Divisional Health Centre

DISASTER TYPES

NUMBER

PERCENT

Floods

14

50,0

Droughts

7

25,0

Cyclones & Storms

4

14,3

Epidemics

3

10,7

Civil strife

Displaced persons

Total Disasters

28

(1)

FOCAL OFFICE

Parliamentary Coordinating Committee; 5 committees at the district and village levels (59)

DISASTER PLAN

No comprehensive plan (59)

WARNING SYSTEMS

Cyclones - National Meteorological Center has radio links.
Some radar warning.
(59)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Sri Lankan Red Cross - communications system, motor vehicles, tents, saws, food.
(59)

PREPAREDNESS STATUS

Flood relief instructions by Dept of Social Services.
Sri Lankan Red Cross acts in complementary way in disasters.
Trained volunteers and preparedness projects.
(59)

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIKELY TO BE REQUESTED

Transportation food, medical personnel, bandages
(12b), (59)

COMMUNICATIONS

Radio - 3.1 million sets. 12 AM stations, 5 FM. Sri Lankan Broadcasting, Trans World Radio. (4), (51)

TV - 520,000 sets. Very active media. Press - 15 dailies in 3 official languages.

Telecommunications - good international connections. Underwater cables, satellite ground station.

Railroads - government owned. 1,944 kms - mostly broad gauge. 9 railway lines.

Roads - 152,423 kms - 24,300 km paved roads. Ports - Columbo very important port. Canals - 430 kms for shallow craft.

Airports - 14 total, 12 with permanent runways.

EMERGENCY NGOs

Sri Lankan Red Cross
CRS

Salvation Army

(59)

UN AGENCIES

UNDP
WHO
UNICEF
UNFPA
WFP
UNIC
FAO
UNV
UNIDO
World Bank
WTO
IMF
ILO
(9)