PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000
Telephone: 808.433.7035 · PDMIN@coe-dmha.org · http://www.coe-dmha.org

 

Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

January 31, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Overview......................................page 2-6

Indonesia.....................................page 7-19

Sri Lanka......................................page 20-27

Thailand.......................................page 28-36

Overview

 

·      Search and rescue operations for last month’s (December 26) massive tsunamis are largely over. The overall focus of attention is relief, recovery, and rehabilitation. The death toll from tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s northern Sumatra Island, is now over 280,000 people along the coastal areas of 11 countries in the Indian Ocean.

·      Tsunami-related deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The loss of life is particularly severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The toll for the dead and missing in Indonesia’s northern province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra climbed to more than 228,000, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for. WHO estimates 80 percent of Aceh’s west coast was damaged. The death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 38,000 and is expected to go higher. In India, at least 10,672 died. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the southern state of Tamil Nadu were the worst-hit areas. The death toll on Thailand’s west coast, including the resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi, climbed to over 5,300, including some 1,765 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have been reported in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya.

 

·      Preliminary costs are: Indonesia – US$4.5 billion, Sri Lanka - US$3.5 billion, India - US$2 billion, Thailand - US$235 million and Maldives - US$1.3 billion. The world’s largest reinsurer, Munich Re, estimates the total cost of the disaster will exceed US$13.6 billion. Only a third of the estimated losses were covered by insurance, mainly in the form of life insurance. The overall insurance pay out across the region is not expected to exceed US$5 billion. Despite the widespread destruction and loss of life in the four worst-affected countries, namely Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, the economic impact on these economies is expected to be manageable. According to an Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) report, the tsunami disaster is expected to reduce the projected GDP growth rate for this year (2005) for Indonesia by 0.3%; Sri Lanka by 1.4%; and Thailand by 1.2%. The GDP growth for India is expected to be unaffected. The 2005 projected GDP growth rate now stands at 5.4% for Indonesia; 4.2% for Sri Lanka; and 4.3% for Thailand.

 

·      Coordination: The United States and a number of other militaries and agencies are operating out of and coordinating at Thailand’s Utapao Royal Thai Air Force Base, about 100 miles (161 km) south of Bangkok. The US Combined Support Force 536 (CSF 536), Combined Coordination Center (CCC), which is comprised of liaison officers from Australia, UK, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, and a Civil-Military Coordination Cell, are operating. USAID DART representatives are present, as is the UNOCHA coordinator in Thailand. 1,600 US troops are on the ground. Additionally, the US and others are using the base for transshipment of relief supplies.

o      Lieutenant General Robert Blackman, commander of Combined Support Force (CSF 536), said “conditions for transition” have been met in both Thailand and Sri Lanka. Combined Support Group-Thailand (CSG-T) was stood down on January 22. Blackman also plans to phase out CSG-Sri Lanka (CSG-SL) by February. CSF 536 may stand down by mid-February. (Jan-28, Anonymous)

 

·       Logistics: The overall flow of humanitarian relief aid in Indonesia remains smooth. Despite some delays on particular routes (by land, Medan – Banda Aceh and bottlenecks at the ports of Lhoksemeuwe, Belawan), the distribution of aid has continued uninterrupted. In Sri Lanka, transport capacity to move relief supplies is improving, as are distribution mechanisms. Trincomalee has more trucks and organized transport than Batticaloa. However, there are no indications of transportation shortage in Batticaloa. The need for helicopters is diminishing as more areas become accessible by road. In Indonesia, backlogs at Banda Aceh airport and nearby Medan airport are diminishing with increased humanitarian coordination and the opening of airport facilities on Weh Island and in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. Tracking and prioritization systems for humanitarian cargo and military airlift are being refined. Indonesian military (TNI) control of Banda Aceh and Medan airports and control of humanitarian and military access have been challenges. UNJLC has teams in Banda Aceh, Medan, Jakarta, and Colombo as well as liaison officers to work with the US military. Roads are open to Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh, but the road south from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh remains impassable, although TNI has begun repairs on various sections. (Jan-31, UNJLC)

 

o      The UNJLC is using Malaysia’s Subang Airport, near the capital Kuala Lumpur, as its regional Humanitarian Air Hub (SHAH). Cargo is airlifted to either Banda Aceh or Medan, or transported for dispatch by ship. UNJLC recommends all international relief flights land in Subang, and then further dispatch the cargo by smaller aircraft to Banda Aceh and Medan. UNJLC will decide in mid-February whether the hub should be kept longer. Meanwhile, UNJLC is encouraging other agencies and humanitarian organizations to make use of two IL76 and three Hercules aircraft on the Subang-Medan and Subang-Banda Aceh routes. (Jan-21, UNJLC)

 

o      UNJLC and OCHA are urging better information flow for relief cargo dispatched into Indonesia. Too many unannounced planes are arriving in Subang (Malaysia), Medan and Banda Aceh, creating congestion. All aircraft carrying non-food items are being asked to request slot times in advance at airaceh@unjlc.org. (Jan-28, UNJLC)

 

o      US military ceased C-130 flights from Jakarta to Banda Aceh on January 25. (Jan-26, UNJLC) IOM is running truck convoys and welcomes others to join.

 

o      UN is transitioning its air logistics needs from almost total reliance on military aircraft to almost total self-reliance on chartered aircraft, under direct tasking of the UNHAS. Military aircraft are gradually being phased out, subject to operational requirements under UNHAS civilian operations. UNJLC is also working with GoI for greater IO/UN vehicular access to remote areas affected by the tsunami disaster. (Jan-31, UNJLC)

 

o      IOM has a significant increase in civilian helicopter aid missions—with Indonesia experiencing a growth from 35 a day three weeks ago to 350 currently. The departure of foreign military forces is not expected to have a negative impact on the delivery of relief aid as functions are handed over to non-military organizations. (Jan-28, Reuters)

 

·      Food: Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, says at least 1.6 million people affected by the disaster are in need of food aid. For February, WFP estimates it will feed 850,000 in Sri Lanka—up from 750,000 in January and 500,000 in Indonesia—up from 330,000. In Indonesia, UNJLC plans to be able to move food and other items for 750,000. UN’s World Food Program (WFP) has already delivered some 9,744 metric tons of food in affected countries. WFP is currently assisting 1,100,000 people with food in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand and Somalia. WFP says it has received US$81.9 million or one-third of its US$256 million emergency appeal. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates 2 million people in 12 countries affected by the tsunami disaster are in need of food assistance. FAO says despite local losses, overall food availability in the region is adequate to cover needs. FAO recommends local purchases of food, where possible, to meet food aid requirements. The agency is working to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture in affected countries.

 

o      WFP estimates some 2 million people are in need of food assistance in the aftermath of last month’s tsunami. It is currently carrying out Emergency Needs Assessments (ENA) in Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The agency is seeking US$256 million. (Jan-21, WFP, UNJLC)

 

o      WFP is currently feeding 400,000 people in Indonesia’s Aceh province, adding that 200,000 people are not receiving adequate food. WFP is shipping food via a chartered vessel to the island of Simuelue, Meulaboh town, and other locations along Aceh’s western coast. (Jan-24, OCHA)

 

o      Japan’s Agriculture Minister says US$20 million of US$60 million for WFP will provide 20,000 tons of rice for the worst- affected countries. (Jan-28, DPA)

 

·      Health/Medical: World Health Organization (WHO) officials estimate up to five million people displaced and at risk across the region. In Indonesia alone, an estimated 750,000 people are displaced. WHO estimates 500,000 people were injured. There are scattered reports of diarrhea, malaria, dengue, measles, pneumonia and skin infections, but no disease outbreaks. WHO seeks US$76 million for the next six months to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which are endemic across South Asian countries, except the Maldives. (Jan-27, UNNC)

 

o      WHO reports no disease outbreaks in the region. Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, says sanitation and healthcare remained precarious for many people living in crowded tents. He warns there is no room for complacency adding, “we did save a lot of lives but we have not restored their livelihoods, restored ordinary life,” or their mental health. WHO conducted helicopter-assisted rapid health assessments along the west coast of Indonesia’s Aceh Province. Large-scale measles vaccination campaigns aimed at 1.16 million children in Indonesia’s Meulaboh and in North Aceh, following sporadic reports of measles. Local health officials vaccinated children against measles in four hardest-hit Thai provinces. WHO recommends malaria treatment and control measures be put in place, as well as a strategic plan to support existing health facilities.

 

o      WHO emphasizes disease surveillance mechanisms. WHO established an effective disease surveillance system in the vicinity of Banda Aceh; In Thailand, disease surveillance is focused on risks of dengue fever outbreaks following reports of five cases of dengue in mid-January. In Aceh, an assessment of health, water and sanitation in 50 camps began on 24 January. A similar assessment in Jaffna, Sri Lanka confirmed the need for better water quality and hygiene in camps. In Indonesia, close to 55,000 children were vaccinated against measles, and Thailand is addressing the mental health needs of people in tsunami-affected areas. (Jan-24, WHO)

 

·      Security: Two-day talks between the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ended in Finland without ceasefire, truce, or clear resolution. The Indonesian military (TNI) kills additional 4 GAM members in Aceh during talks. The GOI sent a 10-member delegation including Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin, Information Minister Sofyan Djalil, Security Minister Widodo Ado Sucipto and Major General Syarifuddin Tippe, a former military chief in Aceh. GAM is represented by its government-in-exile that includes Prime Minister Malik Mahmud, Foreign Minister Zaini Abdullah and Hasan di Tiro, whom GAM considers Aceh’s head of state.

 

o      UN activities outside the UN compound in Banda Aceh are under curfew from midnight to 6 AM. WFP security assessments in Meulaboh and Calang and on roads from Banda Aceh-Medan and Singkil-Meulaboh find the situation acceptable. A medivac procedure for UN and NGO staff is implemented; a charter medivac plane is in Banda Aceh for evacuation to Singapore. (Jan-26, UNJLC)

 

o      In Indonesia, current requirements for military escorts for humanitarian aid missions beyond Medan remain in place. The Posko (Coordination Center of the GoI) in Medan continues to discourage foreign aid workers from traveling on some routes. (Jan-31, UNJLC)

 

·      Political-Military: Joel Boutroue, head of United Nations relief efforts in Aceh, calls for Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to hand over post-tsunami humanitarian relief operations to civilian authorities at the earliest opportunity, now that the emergency phase is past. Boutroue endorses peace talks between the government and separatist GAM rebels to stabilize the situation. (Jan-24, DPA)

 

o      UN head of tsunami coordination, Margareta Walhstrom, says the need for foreign militaries is diminish rapidly as the UN and other aid organizations organize their own transportation. Admiral Thomas Fargo, the commander of the US Pacific Command, says the US military is transferring functions to the appropriate host nations and international organizations. The UN Joint Logistics Center is implementing a transportation transition plan emphasizing shipping and trucking. The plan is approved by the Indonesian government and coordinated with foreign militaries. Some humanitarians and victims express concern that militaries will depart too soon.

 

o      Initial phase of military operations/deployments has peaked in Sri Lanka. Current military operations are winding down and most foreign militaries are scheduled to cease activities and depart Sri Lanka by early to mid-February. US military is ending its tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka and Maldives, and moving its support into civilian-driven reconstruction programs with all US military presence gone by mid-February.

 

o      Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, says he is aware of sensitivities in several countries that religious charities may be too quick in combining relief and missionary efforts, adding that it is the UN’s position the two functions be delineated, especially during the emergency phase. (Jan-26, Reuters, UN)

 

o      The two-day international meeting in Phuket on a regional early warning system for tsunamis and other natural disasters for the Indian Ocean region decided to create several smaller facilities for tsunami warning across southern Asia after they failed to reach an agreement on setting up one regional center. In attendance were representatives from 44 countries and 14 international organizations. The UN hopes to have a system in place within 18 months. Meanwhile, UN is proposing an interim early warning system for the region that could be operational almost immediately, until a longer-term full-fledged mechanism is put in place. The interim proposal would involve the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) (Jan-31, UNNC)

 

·      International Assistance: UN OCHA estimates over US$5.3 billion pledged as grant aid for tsunami-affected nations. The multinational development banks, namely World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), are also providing US$412 million, US$675 million and US$500 million respectively. ADB and WB are carrying out damage assessments that will form the basis for longer-term needs. (Jan-26, DoS)

 

o      The European Commission (EC) has earmarked further US$104 million (EUR 80 million) to aid the victims of last month’s tsunami in the Indian Ocean region, bringing total EC contributions to US$134 million (EUR 103 million). The funds would benefit over 2.5 million vulnerable people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and Thailand over an 18-month period. (Jan-31, ECHO)

 

o      Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stresses the need to build up logistics and communications and cooperation with the private sector before the next major catastrophe. In many countries private donations matched or exceeded government grants.

 

o      Mark Malloch Brown, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), says long-term recovery efforts are under-funded. UNDP has only US$48 million of its US$175 million requirement--other agencies have less than half the money they need. Brown urged donors to quickly convert pledges into contributions. (Jan-29, AP)

 

o      UN representative in the Maldives, Moez Doraid, tells press US$27 million received, but none of it is for shelter—15,000 displaced. Doraid calls for boats to revitalize fishing industry and cooking facilities so families can leave relief sites.

 

·      International Development & Relief Organizations: International development and relief organization Oxfam, like MSF and IFRC, has received all the funding it needs for tsunami relief and is ceasing accepting funds. (Jan-28, Oxfam)

 

o      International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says it has raised US$1.16 billion (CHF 1.4 billion) in just 30 days to help victims of Asian tsunami. IFRC says it now has enough funds to plan its response and recovery programs for the next ten years. The federation and its 181 national societies will wind down fundraising for tsunami victims. (Jan-26, IFRC)

 

o      The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received US$300 million and its funding requirements for tsunami relief are close to being met. (Jan-26, UNICEF)

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 8

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 10

 

Domestic Response……………………………………………page 14

            Government                                                             

            Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response……………………………………….page 15

            Foreign Governments

            United Nations

            International Humanitarian Organizations

Overview: World Food Program (WFP) in Aceh chief, Claude Jibidar, says that almost 800,000 people will need food aid in Aceh province. The WFP is currently feeding some 340,000 people, however, the number is expected to climb as isolated villages are reached and the economic effects of the disaster are felt. Despite the rise in the number of needy people, Jibidar says that the WFP is confident it can manage the logistical work needed as foreign militaries scale back their operations. “We are prepared, we are ready, we have already started using civilian assets. We are in a position to take over and carry on the operations,” Jibidar said. He added that he was sure food supplies in Aceh were enough to stave off malnutrition. (Jan-31, AP)

 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that Indonesia has escaped major disease outbreaks thus far, however, people are still at risk because current ad hoc IDP camps lack enough toilets and clean water. Health officials say that so far, the most prevalent diseases found among survivors in IDP camps were less deadly illnesses such as diarrhea, respiratory problems and skin infections. Meanwhile, the deputy head of Indonesia’s Red Crescent Society, Gunawan, warned that more medicines were needed as seasonal diseases, such as malaria and dengue, broke out. Gunawan says that a surplus of foreign doctors was “counter-productive”, as “cultural as well as language barriers” meant they were unable to make a worthwhile contribution, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. However, WHO spokesperson Bob Dietz said that he did “not necessarily agree” with the Red Crescent official’s assessment.

 

An Indonesian government official in Banda Aceh said that some 38,500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in tent camps will move to new relocation centers in the first stage of resettling the over 400,000 estimated IDPs. The first group will move to wooden barracks in 37 different locations across Aceh. A second group of some 40,000 will move into prefabricated homes and 320,000 will be relocated into military platoon tents. Officials say they would begin taking a census on February 1 to determine who will be allowed to move to the barracks first. Those who get to move to the barracks have either lost everything or live in the worst camps. Officials say the relocations, which will start on February 15, will be voluntary, however, some rights groups have expressed concerns of the involvement of the TNI and the lack of information being given to IDPs. Reuters reports that the GOI says that some 417,000 IDPs are living in some 64 “official locations.” However, many, especially along the west coast, are still living in squalid settlements. Earlier this week, Indonesian officials said about a third of the IDPs were expected to move into temporary housing, while the rest would likely stay with relatives.

 

Indonesia’s National Disaster Relief Coordinating Board reported today (January 31) that the death toll rose by some 5,085 to 108,110 because additional bodies were found and buried. The number of missing is around 127,774, most of them presumed dead.

 

The government rejected a Free Aceh Movement (GAM) offer to put a long-standing demand for independence on hold if the Government of Indonesia (GOI) accepted a “face-saving” formula that would allow Aceh to hold an independence referendum in 5-10 years. The new offer came two days after the first talks in almost two years was held in Helsinki, Finland. A senior delegation from the Government of Indonesia (GOI) and exiled leaders of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) met for two-day talks in Helsinki on Friday (January 28). Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari’s office, the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), mediated the talks. The talks ended on Saturday (January 29) one day earlier than expected with no significant breakthroughs. However, both sides had agreed to meet again to discuss “a comprehensive peace settlement,” said Information Minister Sofyan Djalil. He said that the two sides would meet again, “in a short period of time, less than one month maybe.” There was no immediate explanation why the talks were cut short. The delegation is the most senior that the GOI has sent for such talks. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reportedly offered the GAM “special autonomy status.” However, the GAM has in the past rejected limited autonomy for Aceh. In a separate statement, the GAM leadership in Stockholm expressed “its full and unstinting commitment to achieve peace in Aceh and to negotiate a formal cease-fire.” The GAM also called on the international community to maintain a presence in Aceh until a “comprehensive and sustainable peace is achieved.” Chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said the GOI remained committed to the peace process, but would continue with military operations until a permanent solution is agreed upon.

 

The Consultative Group on Indonesia, made up of some 30 international lenders, pledged US$1.7 billion in tsunami aid for 2005, consisting of US$1.2 billion in grants and US$500 million in soft loans. The aid is in addition to some US$3.4 billion donors pledged that will mostly go towards reducing the national deficit. GOI earlier put tsunami/earthquake losses at US$4.5 billion. During the international ministerial tsunami meeting in Geneva on January 11, several countries pledged US$900 million for a six-month period to Indonesia. Economics Minister Aburizal Bakrie has said that Indonesia may reject an offer from the Paris Club of creditor nations of a freeze in debt repayments because the recently pledged US$1.7 billion may give the country the opportunity to turn down the offer. Indonesia had wanted its creditors to freeze some US$3.3 billion in debt repayments through 2006, or about a third of its US$8.8 billion in payments over the period.

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: The UNJLC reports that Australian, Malaysian and Pakistani engineers have created a common pool of engineering expertise and assets for tasking. (Jan-31, UNJLC) Aceh’s health care system was relatively good before the disaster, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. The province had an extensive network of local health clinics, however, Dr. Jack Chow, assistant director general of the WHO, said in a recent visit to Banda Aceh that “it could take months if not years (to rebuild), given the range of devastation.” (Jan-30, AP) After surveys in Banda Aceh and the East Coast, UNICEF says that agencies are using as a planning figure 2.5 percent of IDPs for children that have lost parents. UNOCHA reports that aid agencies say that they are confident that the vast majority will be accommodated by extended family and would not require institutional care. (Jan-30, UNOCHA) More than 130 schools reopened last week throughout Aceh province. UNICEF and other aid agencies stressed the need for children to return quickly to a normal routine after a disaster. Following the release of a UNICEF draft report which found that 1 in 8 children or some 12.7 percent are malnourished, UNICEF says that it is coordinating with other UN agencies to distribute emergency supplements. Aid groups reportedly have been shifting from emergency rations to more varied items that include more protein and vitamins. (Jan-30, AP) WFP says most people around Banda Aceh provisioned with one-month of rations. Some semblance of normalcy is returning to the city. Around 380 government officials were imported from Jakarta to get local government affairs restarted. Hundreds of police and thousands of TNI have been brought in. Government is aiming to remove all bodies and complete its clean up of the provincial capital by the end of next month.

 

West Coast of Aceh Province/Western Islands: A report by a 34-member multi-agency team, which includes the UN, GOI and US military, says that the “west coast of Aceh continues to receive aid and assistance in a chaotic manner.” The report says the provision of health services lacked coordination and information was fragmented. Sanitation was also reported to be poor. (Jan-27, AFP) Findings from the report that was earlier released reveals that team members found that the tsunami had destroyed virtually every village, town and roads and bridges along a 170-kilometer (105-mile) stretch of coast that was not more than 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level. The Age reports that the devastation reached an average of 3 to 6 kilometers inland. The report says that a complete lack of sanitation along the coast was the main risk facing some 125,000 displaced people. The west coast had lost some 50 to 70 percent of its health services. (Jan-24, The Age). Another problem was that increasing numbers of IDPs were gathering in the major towns of Meulaboh and Calang, which increased the chances of a disease outbreak. An assessment of the western islands off the coast of Sumatra found considerable damage to housing and livelihoods, AusAID/CARE reports. Simeulue Island, off the west coast and closest to the epicenter, has about 22,000 IDPs. The west coast of Aceh had a population of about one million in its six regencies, with about 500,000 in the heavily damaged northern three and 500,000 in the southern three.

 

 

Domestic Response

 

Local Government

 

·       Welfare Minister Shihab has said that the GOI will set up a number of supervisory bodies to monitor various reconstruction projects in Aceh. A blueprint for reconstruction is currently being drafted by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). (Jan-23, Jakarta Post)

 

·       As of January 22, 54 out of 241 subdistrict administrations and 647 out of 5,958 village administrations were not functioning. (Jan-23, Jakarta Post)

 

·       In Jakarta, the GOI established the joint Disaster Management Centre (DMC) with the United Nations, which will prioritize the management and coordination of relief efforts.

 

·       The GOI has a three-phase plan: Emergency measures through January 2005 followed by rehabilitation through February 2006 and reconstruction, also through February 2006.

 

·       Indonesian President Yudhoyono ordered the reorganization of the National Coordinating Agency for Disaster Relief and Refugees (Bakornas PBP) led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla (Jan-17, Xinhua). MEKOKESRA will handle international assistance. (Dec-30, US Consulate Medan)

 

• Information Minister Sofyan Djalil says the GOI will set up a “credible” oversight scheme for international aid. (Jan-17, Reuters) American accounting firm of Ernst &Young to audit foreign aid. (Jan-14, IHT) Welfare Minister Shihab says the government would make official monthly announcements of the amount of aid received and spent. (Jan-23, Jakarta Post)

 

·       TNI is sending thousands more troops into Aceh to help with the relief effort, bringing the total to some 50,000. 38,000 troops were already in Aceh for military operations against the GAM. TNI said 517 soldiers were killed in the tsunami.

 

·       Indonesian police deployed around 800 officers to Aceh Province to fill the posts of 450 killed in the disaster.

 

Local Organizations

 

• Indonesia Corruption Watch has sent a team of 10 observers to Aceh. Group says GOI’s count of some 400,000 IDPs in camps is exaggerated, as many IDPs staying with extended families. (Jan-26, IHT)

 

• The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) sent over 800 trained volunteers to Aceh. PMI has disaster response team in Meulaboh. PMI is sending two five-ton trucks with relief items to Meulaboh. (Jan-29, Reuters)

• Indonesian Midwives Association says 30 percent of its 1,650 members in Aceh died in the disaster. (Jan-21, AP)

 

International Response

 

Foreign Governments

 

·       Afghanistan’s medical team began work in Banda Aceh on Monday (January 24).

 

·       Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) assessed the offshore island of Simuelue. 900 Australian Defence Force personnel are in Indonesia. Australia is operating out of its old Butterworth airfield near Penang Island in Malaysia.

 

·       Brunei sends team of doctors, nurse, health personnel and volunteers to Banda Aceh.

 

·       China will offer assembled mobile buildings to Indonesia for temporary schools and houses and a team of reconstruction experts. (Jan-20, Xinhua)

 

·       Egypt is sending medical team and humanitarian aid to Aceh. (Jan-10, Jakarta Post)

 

• European Commission (EC) contributions from Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Portugal.

 

• France’s Defense Ministry says the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc will end its relief operations in mid-February and will be replaced by the La Marne, a command and supply ship. (Jan-27, AFP) France also sent the frigate George Leygues to provide medical aid. (Jan 2, AFP) French construction company Lafarge SA, the world’s largest cement supplier, says it plans to invest “tens of millions of dollars” to rebuild a cement factory in Aceh damaged by the disaster. (Jan-31, AP)

 

·       German supply/hospital ship Berlin, which also has a field hospital, is offshore Banda Aceh.

 

·       Iran gave US$1.5 million dollars and will send some 5,000 tons of dates to Aceh. (Jan-26, AFP)

 

·       A Japanese destroyer, amphibious ship, and a supply vessel with some 970 Self Defense Force (SDF) members are anchored off the coast for the relief effort. (Jan-26, AP) Japan says its SDF activities are now officially in full swing in Aceh. (Jan-29, AFP) Ad Hoc Japanese Embassy started operations in Banda Aceh. (Jan-27, GOJ)

 

• Malaysia says thousands of illegal workers have begun leaving the country on the last day of an amnesty offer. Most of the workers were reported to be Indonesians. The Malaysian government had previously indicated that illegal workers from Aceh may be able to remain in Malaysia for a while. (Jan-31, BBC) Malaysia has started to withdraw its personnel and equipment. (Jan-25, Jakarta Post) Malaysia is setting up a relief center and a 50-bed hospital. Malaysia also plans to set up a relief center that can shelter at least 10,000 displaced. The UN is using Subang airport, located outside Kuala Lumpur, while Australia is using Butterworth in the northern part of peninsula Malaysia.

 

·       New Zealand funding helicopter for delivery of WFP supplies. (Jan-28, GNZ) New Zealand has 3 Defense Force medical teams in Banda Aceh, 1 C-130 Hercules cargo plane and crew.

 

·       Pakistan sent 87 army engineers and paramedics. Personnel are setting up a field hospital.

 

·       Philippines sending medical team to Indonesia. (Jan-13, AFP)

 

·       Portugal has sent a total of some 24 medical workers to Banda Aceh. (Jan-27, Xinhua)

 

·       Russian medical unit arrived on Jan. 11 and set up a mobile hospital in Banda Aceh. (Jan-14, AP)

 

·       Replacing the Singaporean military are staff from the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, Touch Community Services, the National Volunteer Philanthropy Centre and YMCA.

 

·       The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than US$1.1 million for the implementation of cash-for-work programs. (Jan-24, US Embassy Jakarta) US helicopters have so far flown more than 1,500 missions and have ferried some 5 million pounds of relief supplies. (Jan-27, AFP) (Jan-26, AP) Navy hospital ship, the USNS Mercy, has left Singapore for Aceh. (Jan-30, AFP) A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team under WHO will support