PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
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Telephone: 808.433.7035 · PDMIN@coe-dmha.org · http://www.coe-dmha.org

 

Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

January 8, 2005

 

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

 

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Overview......................................page 2-5

Indonesia.....................................page 6-12

Sri Lanka......................................page 13-21

Thailand.......................................page 22-31

Overview

 

·          Search and rescue operations for last month’s (December 26) massive tsunamis are largely over. The tsunamis were triggered by an undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s northern Sumatra Island and killed more than 150,000 people along the coastal areas of some 11 countries in the Indian Ocean. The fate of nearly one million people along the western coast of Indonesia’s Aceh remains unknown. The overall focus of attention is now quickly shifting to relief and recovery efforts. Tsunami-related deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The loss of life has been particularly severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Following the Indonesian Health Ministry’s decision last week to no longer provide an account of the precise number of deaths because of difficulties in getting an accurate picture, the spokesman for the country’s Social Affairs Ministry’s relief coordination center said today (Saturday, January 8) that the death toll had climbed to 107,039, with thousands of people still unaccounted for in the northern province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra and along the 115 miles of the islands along Indonesia’s northwestern coast, which was close to the epicenter of the earthquake. WHO estimates 80 percent of Aceh’s west coast has been damaged. UN officials think the number of people dead and affected by the disaster in Indonesia could significantly climb once authorities are able to assess all hard to reach areas. The death toll in Sri Lanka and India has also climbed to in excess of 30,000 and 10,012 deaths respectively. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as the southern state of Tamil Nadu, have been the worst hit areas. The death toll in Thailand’s resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi has now climbed to 5,301, including some 2,500 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have also been reported in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The total cost of the disaster is estimated to be in excess of US$13.6 billion (Jan-8, AFP, NDM India)

 

·          World Health Organization (WHO) officials in South Asia estimate as many as five million people have been displaced and are at risk across the region. In Indonesia alone an estimated 1 million people are either displaced or homeless. Assessments reports from Aceh’s west coast have yet to come in.

 

·          WHO says an estimated 500,000 people believed to have been injured in the tsunami disaster. Officials are warning of a “health disaster” if the survivors were not given quick access to clean drinking water and their injuries were not treated to prevent infection. There have been some reports of diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia and skin infections in Indonesia. However, so far there have been no reports of disease outbreaks. (Jan-4, AFP, Reuters)

 

·          WHO is seeking US$60 million for the next six months to overcome the threats of water-borne and respiratory diseases. UN experts are warning of possible epidemics within days if health systems are not brought up to speed. According to the UN, water, sanitation, food, shelter and medical teams with supplies are priority sectors to stem any disease outbreaks. Contamination of drinking water sources and stagnant water increase the risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and dengue fever. Food and medicine in many areas are in short supply. Health experts at the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross warn of significant number of additional deaths due to possible outbreaks of disease. Due to warm temperatures, the risk of malaria, which is endemic to the region, remains high. (Dec-30, UN News Service, PBS)

 

·          WHO is encouraging setting up smaller-sized camps for displaced survivors. WHO Director-General Dr. Lee Jong-Wook is saying smaller camp sizes would lessen the risk of disease outbreaks, such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid, that can otherwise spread easily when people are packed in together.

 

·          According to Indian Health Ministry sources, cases of measles and chicken pox have been reported in several camps in Tamil Nadu and the Andaman islands. Health officials are on high alert to prevent major disease outbreaks. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) teams are installing water storage tanks and distributing oral rehydration salts (ORS) to prevent water-borne diseases, particularly diarrhea. UNICEF is the first international organization that has been allowed by the Indian government to begin operating in the Andaman Islands. UNICEF is vaccinating children against measles on the island of Car Nicobar. Other international aid groups, including MSF, are still waiting for the Indian government’s approval. (Jan-8, DPA)

 

·          UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday (January 6) launched a “flash appeal” for nearly US$1 billion (US$977 million) to fund emergency relief for countries affected by last month’s tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The appeal covers a six-month period for humanitarian emergency needs of an estimated 5 million people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles and Somalia. The appeal is the largest in response to a natural disaster in the United Nations’ 60 years of existence. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says it may take ten years and cost tens of billions of dollars to reconstruct devastated areas. Annan said he is concerned that some of the US$2 billion pledges may never materialize. He stressed billions of dollars pledged by foreign governments, corporations and private individuals were needed now and pledges needed to be converted into cash quickly. (Jan-6, AFP, AP, UNNC, CNN)

 

·          United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in Geneva has called for a ministerial level meeting next Tuesday’s (January 11) to discuss tsunami disaster. OCHA has sent out invitations to all permanent missions to the UN in Geneva.

 

·          Indian officials are saying they are considering accepting foreign reconstruction assistance to rebuild tsunami-devastated areas along the southern coast. Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said today that the massive scale of disaster had made India consider foreign aid in dealing with the long-term rebuilding and rehabilitation. He said India has been wrongfully accused of adopting an isolationist stand and of not accepting international aid. Damage from the tsunami disaster in India is estimated to climb to over US$2 billion, with US$1.6 billion on the mainland and another US$600 million on the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.

 

·          Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven or G7, says that member nations have agreed to support the suspension of debt payments by countries affected by the tsunami disaster. He said a proposal by G7 would be presented to the international group of creditors, known as Paris Club, when they meet next week (Wednesday, January 12) in the French capital.

 

·          Islamic Development Bank (IDB) said it would provide US$500 million in relief and reconstruction aid to countries affected by the tsunami disaster. IDB reportedly made the pledge at the Special ASEAN Leaders’ meeting that was held this Thursday (January 6) in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. IDB said it would make special arrangements for the region’s development partners to ensure quick disbursement of funds for affected countries. (Jan-9, NST)

 

·          A number of logistical problems remain despite some progress. Although main roads are now accessible in most affected districts in Sri Lanka, except Batticaloa, transport capacity is insufficient to move relief supplies inland. Distribution mechanisms remain weak. The Sri Lankan government, in conjunction with the United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC), is reportedly addressing these problems. In Indonesia, backlogs at Banda Aceh airport and nearby Medan airport due to shortage of loading and unloading equipment and resulting congestion in North Sumatra Province, are diminishing with the opening of airport facilities in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. A tracking system for the relief shipments is still in the works. Problems reportedly still persist with customs clearance as officials are not fully aware of the government’s simplified new procedure. Civil-military cooperation remains weak. The UNJLC is sending a liaison officer to USPACOM in Honolulu to improve coordination and communication with the US military. There have been no reports of pending logistical issues from Thailand.

 

·          The United States has designated Thailand’s Utapao Royal Thai Naval Air Force Base near Sattahip city in Chonburi province as its hub to coordinate relief efforts for countries affected by last week’s tsunamis. The US has already deployed its surveillance aircraft, helicopters and C-130 planes to Utapao along with 350 officials who will coordinate with Thailand’s 536 Task Force, under the command of Marine Lieutenant General Robert R. Blackman. A regional civil-military coordination cell has been set up at Utapao Air Base (also spelled U-Tapao). A Joint Task Force (JTF) consisting of two civil-military coordination officers and one civil-military liaison officer from the United Nations Joint Logistics Cell (UNJLC) has also been established. (Jan-8, UNJLC)

 

·          UNJLC plans to soon publish an overview of all air assets on its website at www.unjlc.org that have been made available to humanitarian community. (Jan-8, UNJLC)

 

·          The United Nations (UN) has accepted Singapore’s offer to set up a UN Regional Coordination Center there to coordinate relief efforts to affected areas. According to Singapore’s foreign ministry officials, Singapore would provide its Air and Naval bases, the use of its aircraft and helicopter carriers as well as dedicated administration, secretariat, command, control & communication, and media support center for the UN Regional Coordination Center. Singapore has also waived charges for handling of relief supplies at its ports. Singapore’s Paya Lebar Air Base and Changi Naval Base in the southeast are capable of taking largest transport aircraft and aircraft and helicopter carriers respectively. (Jan-03, Xinhua, JP, AP)

 

·          The US military is doubling its helicopter fleet from 46 to over 90 in an effort to speed up tsunami relief operations for tsunami-stricken nations in the Indian Ocean. Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander of the US forces in the Pacific, said yesterday that the additional helicopters would come from US military assets in South Korea and Guam. (Jan-5, Reuters)

 

·          The Australian Defense Forces are establishing their strategic air hub at the military facility in Butterworth, Malaysia. This will take some pressure off the airports of Medan and Banda Aceh. (Jan-7, UNJLC)

 

·          British Airways has offered UNICEF the use of a 747 freighter for ten rotations. The aircraft leaves from Billund (Denmark), but might be able to pick up goods in Brindisi and Dubai. Destinations are Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Subang (Malaysia), depending on demand. The first flight will take place on January 19. Other agencies are invited to inform UNICEF of their requirements for cargo movement. (Jan-7, UNJLC)

 

·          The Subang Humanitarian Air Hub (SHAH) has been operational since yesterday (January 6). UNJLC recommends all international relief flights land in Subang and then further dispatch the cargo by smaller aircraft to Banda Aceh and Medan. (Jan-7, UNJLC)

 

·          According to Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs is saying at least 1.6 million people affected by the disaster are in need of food aid. (Jan-2, AFP, AP, VOA)

 

·          United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking US$80 million in urgent humanitarian aid for an estimated 1.5 million children in the region.

 

·          International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a consolidated appeal for US$59 million for the crisis.

 

·          In an unprecedented call by a non-government organization (NGO), the Nobel-prize winning international medical relief group, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said today (January 4) that it had collected US$54 million in donations since last Sunday’s (December 26) tsunami disaster, adding that the organization had enough funds to assist millions of affected people in South Asia. MSF is urging donors to redirect funding to those crises that have slipped from public attention.

 

 

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview………………………………………………………...page 7

 

Domestic Response……………………………………………page 9

         Government                                             

         Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response……………………………………….page 10

         Foreign Governments

         United Nations

         International Humanitarian Organizations

Indonesia Overview

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: Most of the reports from Indonesia are coming from the vicinity of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province. The population in the vicinity of Banda Aceh is about 500,000. Mostly from this immediate area, Indonesia reports 105,000 dead, about 10,000 reported missing, and several thousands in hospitals. Over 500,000 are reported as displaced. The Indonesian government reports that 80% of the roads and power infrastructure were destroyed along with virtually all the sanitation capability. While in Banda Aceh, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the UN will set up a command center there. Relief is flowing into Banda Aceh by road from Medan in North Sumatra Province, by air into the Banda Aceh airport from Medan, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and to a lesser degree into a partially operational commercial seaport nearby. The UN is leading relief efforts. The major UN responding organizations are present along with coordination, transportation, and assessment teams. USAID/OFDA/DART is present. The relief community of UN agencies, government and military organizations, and NGOs is getting organized, supplies are flowing in, some semblance of normality is returning with hospitals, gas stations, and markets reopening, and the government is starting to function with a skeleton staff. The Indonesian Ministry of Health and the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) are coordinating the activities of all medical assets. They are on top of disease surveillance and immunizations. Singaporean and Australian militaries set up field hospitals—others may have as well. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), an NGO that was in Aceh Province before the disaster, has arranged major trucking support from Medan and unloading support. The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) is arranging food shipments and distribution. With UNICEF in charge of water and sanitation, the British NGO Oxfam, the Australian military, and many others are addressing clean water. The Indonesia Red Cross has sent 800 trained workers, and the Indonesia government has sent additional troops and police. The US military has two naval groups near Banda Aceh operating helicopters and providing supplies and volunteers. It is doubling the number of available helicopters. Much of the Banda Aceh region population is in poorly set up, ill-provisioned displacement camps. The Indonesian government announced that dozens of organized camps will be operational within the week. The UN plans to provide tents and supplies for 500,000.

 

West Coast of Aceh Province: The 155-mile west coast of Aceh Province, with a population of about one million, was closest to the epicenter. Its status is unknown. Roads were cut off from Banda Aceh in the north and from North Sumatra Province in the south. The Indonesian government supported by the Singaporean military and the Red Cross has established a center in Meulaboh in Aceh Barat, the northern part of the west coast. The Singapore military has two helicopter-carrying ships off Meulaboh and is also supporting the hospital there. Greenpeace’s ship Rainbow Warrior is bringing supplies for MSF (Doctors Without Broders). Estimates are that 40,000 of the 50,000 inhabitants died. While surveying the devastation, Mr Annan commented, “You wonder where are the people. What has happened to them?” A report from MSF (Doctors Without Borders) suggests an 80% death rate in the west coast area they are working, having hired a helicopter to get in. Other anecdotal reports suggest death rates along the west coast in excess of 50%. Before and after imagery is not encouraging. In addition to bringing supplies as far south as Meulaboh, the US military has been delivering supplies along the northern part of the west coast. Humanitarian assessments are just beginning after a several-day delay in connecting with US helicopters to provide transportation. Should the early death toll estimates be sustained, death and destruction along the west coast will dwarf what has been reported to date. Along the west coast, humanitarian efforts are one to two weeks behind those in the vicinity of Banda Aceh.

 

Logistics: A robust system involving air, sea, and land has been set up. The UN, with WFP and the UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) in the lead has a regional hub at Malaysia’s old international airport for its capital Kuala Lumpur. From there, or perhaps Jakarta, supplies can be flown to Medan or Banda Aceh, and perhaps eventually to Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh Province when that sort runway airport is improved. The Medan and Banda Aceh airports are under control of the Indonesian military, TNI. Singapore has put in a Banda Aceh airport control tower to replace the temporary one operating out of a tent. The UNJLC in Indonesia is coordinating humanitarian cargo and flights with donors, agencies, available airlift, and Indonesia. With Malaysia’s authorization, Australia is operating out of its old airfield Butterworth near Penang Island at the north of peninsula Malaysia. The US military is operating all its relief efforts out of Utapao Air Base in Thailand under a task force commander there. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is operating out of Singapore. The road from Medan to Banda Aceh is open, although there are some security concerns. IOM has arranged a fleet of over 100 trucks, and commercial bus transportation is available. UNJLC reports that the devastated road along the west coast, repaired by TNI, is now open for medium trucks and heavy vehicles from Banda Aceh in the north and via a circuitous route, from Medan in the south. There are seaports at Medan, in Aceh Province southeast of Banda Aceh, and a limited-capability commercial port near Banda Aceh itself. There are no operating ports along the west coast. Under consideration are barges anchored off shore or landing craft to increase throughput.

 

Politics: With Aceh Province under military control, with no disaster plan, and with much of the capital’s civilian bureaucracy wiped out, the UN is leading the rescue and relief efforts. Indonesia eased their ban on journalists and humanitarian help put in place to control the Free Aceh Movement insurgency, but restrictions have not disappeared. As mentioned above, the Indonesian military, TNI, maintains control of the airports and the region. Singapore has been authorized to operate out of Meulaboh along the west coast, but Australia and the US have not.

 

Sociology and civil-military relations: A long-standing insurgency is underway and Aceh is the only Indonesian province to implement sharia law. Both the TNI and the insurgent Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have announced cease-fires, but actual fighting continues. There is concern about the impact on relief efforts and foreigners expressed by both Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and James Kelly, the US Assistant Secretary of State for the region. As expected, there are reports that insurgents are spreading rumors that foreigners have come to take over the region, while the Indonesian government tries to assure people that it is in control and foreigners are under control and present only to help. Along with western relief activities, there are other organizations the West views as terrorist-associated that are providing help. VIPs are starting to arrive, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, World Bank President James Wolfensohn, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, a US congressional delegation, and others. Some humanitarians have complained that these visits hamper immediate relief efforts, they concede however, that these visits will likely result in more long-term aid.

 

Long term: Indonesia says it needs some US$2.15 billion dollars, double previous estimates, over the next five years to rebuild Aceh province.

 

Domestic Response

 

Local Government

 

·           The Indonesia government has a three-phase plan: Emergency measures through January 2005 followed by rehabilitation through February 2006 and reconstruction, also through February 2006. (Dec 30, Indonesian Mission to UN)

 

·           The National Coordinating Agency for Disaster Relief and Refugees (BAKORNAS) will handle GOI agencies in the relief effort, while MEKOKESRA will handle international assistance. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

 

·           Disaster Management Centre being set up in Jakarta by Indonesian government to coordinate relief actions of all national and international actors. (Jan-5, UNJLC)

·           There is an Indonesian disaster response command center in Medan near the airport. (Dec 30, US Consulate Medan)

 

·           The Indonesian military (TNI) has some 20,000 troops on Sumatra for the relief effort. (Jan-4, AP)

 

·           The Indonesian military (TNI) has repaired a bridge and immediate road access down the west coast of the province. (Jan 3, IFRC)

 

·           Indonesian police have deployed around 800 officers to Aceh province to fill the posts of some 450 killed in the disaster, the Antara news agency reports. On December 31, the Indonesian Defense Force said that some 517 soldiers had been killed in Aceh from the disaster.

·           Government of Indonesia has tasked the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) with the development of an initial reconstruction plan for Aceh in time for Consultative Group on Indonesia donor meetings scheduled for January 19 through 21. (Jan-06, USAID)

 

Local Organizations

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Response

 

Foreign Governments

 

·           Singapore on Friday (January 7) sent a mobile air traffic control (MATC) tower to Banda Aceh’s airport, following request by Indonesia. Singapore currently has 6 helicopters and 2 helicopter landing ships in Indonesia. (Jan-7, Xinhua) Singapore Armed Forces planning to build permanent jetty at Meulaboh to help facilitate aid delivery. (Jan-6, Channel News Asia) Singapore Armed Forces have set up a field hospital in Banda Aceh, which currently houses some 3,000 displaced. Medical personnel say they see some 120 patients a day. (Jan-7, ChannelNews Asia) Singapore is International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hub for Indonesia relief.

 

·           Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill said that the number of Australian Defence Force personnel in Indonesian region is over 460, and will increase by another 400 with arrival of the HMAS Kanimbla. Australia also will send public health team and plastic water bottles to Banda Aceh region in response to Indonesian government request. (Jan-7, GoA)

 

·           New Zealand has 1 C-130 Hercules cargo plane and crew, and some 30 medical staff in Indonesia. (Jan-7, GoA)

 

·           Advance team of Japan’s Self Defense Forces (SDF) began a survey of medical conditions in Banda Aceh. An additional 40 members as well as relief supplies headed towards region. Japan set to send more than 800 SDF members eventually. (Jan-6, Kyodo)

 

·           Pakistan sent two C-130s and batch of troops carrying 2 tons of medicines to Banda Aceh. Troops will set up a 50-bed hospital in the area. (Jan-6, DPA)

 

·           European Commission (EC) contributions:

·            Belgium has sent relief materials.

·            Czech Republic has sent medical supplies and body bags.

·            Germany and France have sent additional experts on site.

·            France has sent a field hospital.

·            Denmark is supplying a field hospital and relief team.

·            Estonia has sent a medical team (thanks to transportation by the Netherlands).

·            Norway has made two C-130 Hercules military transport planes available to the Norwegian Red Cross and UN in a logistics support operation.

·            Through the International Humanitarian Partnership, transportation, accommodation and telecommunication assistance has been made available.

·           The US Abraham Lincoln carrier group (includes four other ships and some 6,500 sailors and Marines) arrived off Sumatra over the weekend (Saturday, January 1). USS Bonhomme Richard and two other warships carrying a Marine expeditionary unit of some 2,200 Marines arrived in the area to join in relief operations. The Bonhomme Richard has at least 29 heavy- and medium-lift helicopters, along with three landing craft with the capability to launch people or equipment ashore virtually any kind of beach. Force also has 60-plus strong medical staff that can man four operating rooms, with a ward capacity for 60 patients. US airlift operations are continuing to be flown out of Utapao base in Thailand.

 

·           Malaysia opened its airspace and two airports to UN and Australia relief operations. The UN’s World Food Program/UN Joint Logistics Center is using Subang airport, located outside Kuala Lumpur, while Australia is using Butterworth in the northern part of peninsula Malaysia.

 

 

United Nations

 

 

 

 

·           UN Development Programme (UNDP) says it has begun to support national authorities in recovery planning. (Jan-5, UNDP)

 

·           World Health Organization (WHO) says that it is providing guidance to national authorities and other NGOs to ensure rapid recovery and rehabilitation of public health services. WHO is appealing for US$60 million to address public health needs. (Jan-5, WHO)

 

·           UNICEF says it has begun registering thousands of orphans in Aceh to protect them. UNICEF is also working with Indonesia’s government to set up child centers to help reunite children separated from their families.

 

·           UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) says it is working with overall UN coordination system to prepare emergency and reconstruction proposals. (Jan-5, UN-HABITAT)

 

·           WFP and UNHCR will begin two-day helicopter assessment of west coast of Sumatra. UNHCR will focus on providing shelter particularly to regions in the west. (Jan-4, UNHCR)

 

 

·           The UN Disaster Management Team in Banda Aceh is continuing to coordinate relief activities among humanitarian agencies as well as information sharing. (Jan 3, IFRC)

 

 

International Humanitarian Relief Organizations

 

 

·           The Australian Red Cross, among other relief, deployed 6 Emergency Response Unit’s (ERU’s) in Indonesia (2 Basic health care, 2 Water and sanitation, 1 Telecommunications and 1 Logistics). (Jan-6, Aus Red Cross)

 

·           Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) has been providing medical services since December 28. They are currently posted at Iskandar Muda Military Hospital in Banda Aceh. (Jan-6, AMDA)

 

·           CARE International says it is running 14 survivor camps in Aceh province. (Jan 3, Reuters)

 

·           IOM is assisting displaced leaving Aceh for Medan and Jakarta. IOM has over 100 trucks shuttling between Medan and Banda Aceh. IOM Medan is working out of the offices of the BAKORNAS Indonesian disaster management agency. IOM’s undamaged Banda Aceh office is supporting other agencies some of whose facilities were destroyed. (Jan-5, UNJLC) IOM technical team is based in Jakarta’s Halim military airport to facilitate the loading of relief goods coming in from donors. (Jan-5, UNOCHA)

 

·           Field Assessment and Coordination Teams (FACT) from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are active in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh. IFRC delegates from Britain, Australia, Spain and Iceland, Japan and Denmark are present in Medan, Meulaboh, and Banda Aceh. These delegates are working in conjunction with Indonesian Red Cross to train and mobilize local volunteers.

 

 

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview………………………………………………….page 14

 

Domestic Response…………………………………….page 15

         Government

         Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response…………………………………page 17

         Foreign Governments

         United Nations

         International Humanitarian Organizations

 

 

Sri Lanka Overview

 

Sri Lankan officials have reported that the confirmed death toll has reached 30,718 spread over 14 coastal and inland districts (out of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts). Approximately 4,940 people remain missing, while 16,760 people are listed as missing. More than 93,500 houses have been destroyed, and 169 schools damaged or destroyed.

 

On Saturday (January 8), UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan visited tsunami-affected areas of Sri Lanka while on a regional tour. His visit became a political issue after Annan was told by Sri Lankan government officials that his safety could not be guaranteed in areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been engaged in a 20-year civil war with Sri Lanka. The LTTE had extended an invitation to Annan to tour a northern province which it controls.

 

A ceasefire brokered in 2002 has largely held although peace negotiations have stalled. The LTTE controls areas in the north and east of the island nation that was hard hit by the tsunami. Tensions between the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka have been reported over the last few days, centering on the coordination and distribution of aid to Tamil areas.

 

On Saturday (January 8), LTTE rebels strongly rejected a government announcement that the military would be in charge of the distribution of relief at all welfare centers. The Sri Lankan Center for National Operations (CNO) reported on January 7 that the management of camps, established to temporarily house internally displaced persons, has been streamlined with the support of the military. The military is to help with camp management and maintaining a safe and secure environment within each camp.

 

Secretary-General Annan was joined by World Bank president James Wolfensohn. Wolfensohn told the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that he would recommend an increase in assistance to Sri Lanka.

 

The director-general of the World Health Organization Lee Jong-Wook, also on a visit to Sri Lanka, told reporters on Saturday (January 8) that the health of Sri Lankan tsunami survivors is under control, and although there has been an increase in diarrhea cases, “there is not any new epidemic.” WHO’s resident representative in Sri Lanka, Kan Tun, said that US$20 million would be spent in the first 3 months to rehabilitate hospitals and equipment in 8 districts hit by the tsunami.

 

About 200 of the 800 makeshift refugee centers established in the aftermath of the tsunami have been closed, following a more than 39% reduction in the number of IDPs (from 835,028 to 515,234). Immediate needs are being met by schools, places of worship, and other public buildings. Schools in non-affected areas and those that are not being used as welfare camps will reopen on Monday, January 10. The government plans to reopen schools in the affected areas on January 20. A total of 278 schools are currently being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. As such, there is an urgent need for “mid-term” temporary shelters.

On January 6, the United Nations and its partners launched a flash appeal to respond to the urgent and immediate needs of the communities severely affected by the tsunami. This flash appeal calls for a total of US$977 million, with a total of US$166,936,146 for Sri Lanka. The bulk of this amount will be for economic recovery and infrastructure (US$48,960,475), with large amounts going to the areas of health and water and sanitation (US$28.6 and $24.7 million respectively). The Sri Lankan Central Bank announced on Wednesday (January 5) that Sri Lanka had sustained an estimated US$1.3 billion in damage. The GoSL has decided to grant 15,000 RS (US$151.50) in compensation per each victim deceased in the tsunami disaster.

 

Domestic Response

 

Local Government

 

 

 

 

·           All assistance at the district level is being coordinated by Government Agents, supported by UN interagency teams deployed to affected areas.

 

·           The Sri Lanka Ministry of Health is coordinating all medical supplies and skilled personnel. (Oxfam, Jan-01-05)

 

·           The Disaster Relief Network (DRN) has set up operations at the airport in Colombo and signed an agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka to receive all incoming relief commodities. Agencies / organizations are sending relief commodities to Sri Lanka are requested to provide the following information on the virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) in addition to the clearance request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The following information is required by DRN: Cargo specification, Weight and Quantity, Origin, Consignee (or unsolicited), a contact point of the receiving agency in Sri Lanka and instructions on how to contact, and specification if commodities are for common use or for specific agency. DRN will keep the commodities in a storage facility in the airport for a maximum of seven days. If the receiving organization has not picked up these commodities, it will be handed over to the Government of Sri Lanka. This service is only available for pure relief commodities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·           The Ministry of Health identified safe drinking water, proper sanitation, shelter, clothing, transport vehicles, and drugs and medical supplies as top priorities for response.

 

Local Humanitarian Relief Organizations

 

·           The Roads Development Authority (RDA) is focusing on reconstruction of highways in the East, particularly, the highway from Potuwil to Trincomalee. (ReliefWeb, Jan-07-05)

 

·           The Sri Lankan Red Cross distributed non-food parcels containing plastic sheets, kitchen utensils, saris, sarongs, bed sheets, lanterns and hygiene items in the town of Dampa. There are currently 8 emergency response units in Sri Lanka. . (ReliefWeb, Jan-07-05)

 

 

International Response

 

 

Foreign Governments

 

     (TamilNet, Jan-08-05)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Nations

 

 

 

 

 

·           The United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) report they will assist Sri Lanka with internal transport, the lack of stock tracking, the availability of storage facilities, prioritization ad tasking of transport assets, collection, analysis and distribution of logistics relevant data and information, coordination of joint efforts, and operational Civil Military Coordination. A Logistics Operations Center (LOC) has been established on UNHCR premises. It is currently staffed by UNJLC, UNHCR, and IOM staff. LOC will act as a Movement Control Center to establish surface and air corridors where required, and assist in the movement of cargo and persons. A dedicated reporting/information line will be in place soon. (UNJLC, Jan-08-05)

 

·           UN-HABITAT is working with the overall UN coordination system to prepare emergency and reconstruction proposals for Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Somalia. They will help prioritize the human settlements elements in the interagency response to facilitate the transition from humanitarian relief to long-term recovery and reconstruction, and will contribute to the long-term planning and implementation of broader sustainable recovery of human settlements in the disaster-hit areas. (ReliefWeb, Jan-05-05)

 

 

International Humanitarian Relief Organizations

 

 

 

 

Organization activity maps with interactive maps of agencies and their activities in each district can be obtained at the following link:

http://www.humanitarian-srilanka.org/Pages/Tsunami/map/tsunami_map.htm

An illustrated detailed map of the affected districts can be obtained at the following link: http://www.humanitarian-srilanka.org/Pages/Tsunami/map/tsunami_detailmap.htm

(ReliefWeb, Jan-07-05)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thailand

 

 

Organization

 

Overview…………………………………………………page 23

 

Domestic Response……………………………………page 24

         Government

         Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response…………………………….…page 28

         Foreign Governments

         United Nations

         International Humanitarian Organizations

Thailand Overview

 

 

Official search and rescue (SAR) operations