PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

March 2, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

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

Indonesia.....................................page 6-14

Sri Lanka......................................page 15-21

Thailand.......................................page 22-26

Overview

 

·   Search and rescue operations for the December 26 tsunami 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 Sumatra Island, is some 295,000 people along the coastal areas of 11 countries in the Indian Ocean.

 

·   Tsunami-related deaths were recorded 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 climbed to more than 235,000, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for. The death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 30,000 and is expected to go higher. In India, at least 10,672 died in Tamil Nadu State and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The death toll on Thailand’s west coast climbed to 5,400, including some 1,765 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have been reported in the other countries.

 

·   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. On February 16, UN Assistant Secretary General Hafiz Pasha said rebuilding the affected areas would cost some US$10-12 billion dollars over the next three to five years. (Feb-16, AFP) In the four worst-affected countries, namely Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, the economic impact is expected to be manageable. 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. According to a joint assessment carried out by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the World Bank (WB), reconstruction cost for areas affected by the disaster is likely to exceed well over preliminary estimates of US$7 billion. Former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush senior visited some tsunami-affected countries in February and said at the end of their tour, that some US$11.5 billion was needed for reconstruction. Clinton yesterday (Tuesday, March 1) said that Asian coastlines will take up to 4 years to rebuild. Clinton was appointed on February 15 as a UN special envoy for tsunami relief.

 

·   Coordination: Combined Support Force (CSF 536) subordinate for Thailand, Combined Support Group-Thailand (CSG-T), was stood down on January 22. The Sri Lanka subordinate, CSG-Sri Lanka (CSG-SL), will be phased out by February 15. On February 10, CSG-Indonesia (CSG-I) has been disestablished. CSG-I continues to coordinate with CSF 536 for redeployment of forces. On February 12, the overall Combined Support Force-536 (CSF-536) headquarters (the U.S. tsunami task force) at the Royal Thai Naval Air Base in Utapao, Thailand, was disestablished. (Feb-10, CSF536)

 

·    Logistics: The overall flow of humanitarian relief is smooth. In Sri Lanka, transport capacity to move relief supplies is good and improving, as are distribution mechanisms. In Indonesia the distribution of aid continues uninterrupted with some delays on particular routes and bottlenecks at some air and sea ports. UNJLC has teams in Banda Aceh, Medan, Jakarta, and Colombo. 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. In Sri Lanka, road transportation (trucks) appears to be in short supply in Trincomalee. However, sufficient trucking capacity is available in Galle, due to its close proximity to the capital Colombo. A comprehensive logistics assessment by UNJLC in the three Sri Lankan districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna did not reveal a shortage of transport. (Feb-11. OCHA)

 

o      UNJLC has a detailed list of civilian/commercial transportation assets available on its website www.unjlc.org (Feb-3, UNJLC)

 

o      The UNJLC is using Malaysia’s Subang Airport as its regional Humanitarian Air Hub (SHAH). Cargo is airlifted to either Banda Aceh or Medan, or transported for dispatch by ship. UNJLC is expected to soon decide whether the hub should be kept longer.

 

·   Food: Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, estimates 2 million people are in need of food aid. WFP is currently assisting 1,100,000 people. For February, WFP estimates it will feed 850,000 in Sri Lanka—up from 750,000 in January and 500,000 to 800,000 in Indonesia—up from 340,000. In Indonesia, UNJLC plans to be able to move food and other items for 750,000. FAO says overall food availability in the region is adequate to cover needs. The agency is working to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture.

 

o      Sri Lankan Social Services Minister Sumedha Jayasena says that donated goods have far exceeded needs of survivors and so some relief items are being rerouted to the needy. (Feb-25, BBC)

 

o      World Food Program (WFP) spokesperson Inigo Alvarez said that a month-long assessment in Aceh found that some 790,000 survivors are still unable to feed themselves and will need food rations for many more months. (Feb-18, AP)

 

o      The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned that a build up of excessive fishing capacity must be avoided in tsunami-affected countries. The FAO fisheries department says that excessive capacity was a problem prior to the disaster. (Feb-21, FAO)

 

o   The FAO said on February 17 that the tsunami cost the fishing industries of the 7 hardest hit countries some US$520 million in damages. Some 11,073 fishing boats were destroyed or damaged, 36,325 engines were lost or damaged beyond repair, and 1.7 million units of fishing gear were destroyed. (Feb-17, AP, UNNC)

 

o      European Union nations earlier this week agreed to send small fishing boats, which are being taken out of commission to help relaunch fishing industry in tsunami-affected countries. (Mar-1, AP)

 

·   Health/Medical: World Health Organization (WHO) officials estimate up to five million people displaced and at risk, with some 750,000 estimated as displaced in Indonesia. WHO estimates 500,000 people were injured. There are scattered reports of diarrhea, malaria, dengue, measles, pneumonia, tetanus and skin infections, but no disease outbreaks.

 

o      According to a UN Environment Program (UNEP) report, drinking water sources may have been contaminated with salt water and sewage. Hazardous materials may have also seeped into the water supply. The study was carried out in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia and Yemen. (Feb-23, BBC)

 

·   Security: A second round of peace talks between the Indonesian government and the rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ended on a positive note in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, with both sides agreeing to hold a third round of talks in Helsinki on April 12-17. The first round of peace talks was held January 28-29.  However, sporadic clashes between GAM and TNI continue.

 

o      Human Rights Watch (HRW), says the killings of a senior leader of Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel group and five of his associates on February 7, underscores the fragile nature of a ceasefire between the government and the rebels. Earlier, HRW and Human Rights First also expressed concern over relocation camps in Indonesia’s tsunami-stricken Aceh and the Indonesian military’s potential role in the relocation process. (Feb-11, HRW)

 

·   Political-Military: Foreign military aid operations are winding down. Some 50 Swiss troops were withdrawn on February 27 from Aceh, Indonesia. Japan’s contingent of some 1,000 soldiers is expected to be pulled out on March 10, followed by Australia and its some 1,000 troops on March 26. New Zealand troops expected to pull out soon as well. Only Malaysia plans on remaining engaged in Indonesia beyond mid-March, UNJLC reports.

 

o      Malaysia began crackdown on illegal workers in the country on March 1. UNHCR expressed concern that some asylum seekers and refugees from Aceh may be caught up in the crackdown.

 

·   International Assistance: The UN reported that humanitarian assistance to tsunami-affected countries totaled some US$6.28 billion. The UN says some US$935 million of the some US$977 million promised to meet a UN flash appeal for 6 months has been paid or committed for payments, with private contributions totaling US$63 million. UN says it already has some US$550 million in the bank. (Mar-1, IHT, Feb-25, Reuters) The multinational development banks, namely the 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.

 

o      UNOCHA reports that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) appeals to donors to limit consignment to most essential food and medical items. GoSL is also urging aid agencies to procure items locally in Sri Lanka.

 

o      ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda says the bank will host a high-level meeting on March 18 at its headquarters in Manila, Philippines aimed at coordinating assistance to tsunami-affected countries. Kuroda said the ADB had US$600 million in readily available funding and another US$175 million in reprogrammed funding for tsunami efforts in Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. (Feb-8, ADB, JP) ADB formally approved the setting up of the Asian Tsunami Fund on February 18. (Feb-18, ADB)

 

o         The US and Japan will begin providing tsunami warning to countries around the Indian Ocean as early as sometime in March as a stopgap measure. Under the plan, both the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Japan’s Meteorological Agency will give out alerts after analysis of quakes in the region. (Feb-18, AP) Policy makers from the 11 most affected countries were in Tokyo, Japan from February 22-24 to learn about the technical aspects of Japan’s tsunami warning system.

oRepresentatives of six countries signed an agreement at the Thai Foreign Ministry on the establishment of a warning centre. The agreement, called the “Charter of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre agreement,” was signed by representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Estimated cost of installing the system is some US$50 million. (Mar-2, The Nation)

 

o      The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), along with support from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), has pledged some US$145 million for Indonesia’s Aceh province, to be largely spent on children orphaned by the tsunami. (Feb-20, AFP)

 

·    International Development & Relief Organizations: International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will hold a forum from March 3-5 in Hong Kong to discuss ways to spend the record US$1.2 billion raised by the Red Cross for the disaster. (Feb-24, AFP)

 

o      Oxfam, like MSF, IFRC, and UNICEF, received all the funding it needed for tsunami relief and ended its fund drive. (Jan-28, Oxfam)

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 7

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 9

Overview: The drawdown of foreign militaries continues. Majority of national contingents have ceased operating or are in the process of doing so. Only Malaysia plans on remaining engaged beyond mid-March, UNJLC reported. Some 50 Swiss troops were withdrawn on February 27. Colonel Yvon Lengil from the Swiss Army said that civilians from aid organizations would be sent to replace the soldiers. Japan’s contingent of some 1,000 soldiers is expected to be pulled out on March 10, followed by Australia and its some 1,000 troops on March 26 and New Zealand. Japanese troops closed down field hospital in Banda Aceh on February 28 as part of withdrawal.

 

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 1), the governor of Aceh province, Azwar Abubakar, formally opened the public consultation process on the master plan for the reconstruction of Aceh. According to UNOCHA, the process will solicit input from Acehnese civil society, academics and others who wish to participate. UNDP is providing international experts and consultants to advise GoI. Governor says that master plan could take another 6 months. Initially, plan was expected to be submitted to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono by the end of March. Aid workers and survivors have expressed frustration at the delay.

 

The National Coordination Board for Natural Disaster Management (BAKORNAS) reported on February 28 that some 400,376 people remain displaced across 20 districts/cities. In North Sumatra province, 19,260 people are displaced, with 14,731 people located in Medan City.

 

UNOCHA reports that shelter activities are increasingly focused on assisting people to resettle at the sites of their former homes.

 

The UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) says it has taken lead in continuing civil-military coordination in Banda Aceh on behalf of UNOCHA as the transition to civilian operations reduces CIMIC functions. UNJLC is strengthening its links to local government, police and TNI ahead of Jakarta’s declaration that TNI will hand over the lead in operations to civilians on March 26. (Mar-2, UNJLC)

 

The Jakarta Post reports that some 3,281 families, or more than 11,500 people, were moved into more than 300 temporary barracks in Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Sigli, North Aceh, Aceh Jaya and West Aceh in February. So far, only about 300 of 803 planned barracks have been made. The Government of Indonesia (GoI) said that it was ready to begin a mass relocation of up to 150,000 people displaced by the tsunami, but promised that it would not force anyone to move. GoI is building some 803 semi-permanent barracks to accommodate the displaced for up to two years. The GoI stressed the movement is voluntary, but added that those staying in government or other public buildings could not remain. The UN and the GoI have expressed that they hope the survivors would return to their old homes to rebuild, however the GoI has said it would not let people rebuild close to the shoreline again. Social Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab says that after construction of the barracks, work would start on a second phase during which some 800,000 houses, each measuring some 387 square feet (36 square meters) would be constructed. Some 30,000 of the houses will be built around Banda Aceh and 10,000 in Calang on the west coast. Indonesian officials expect about a third of the IDPs to move into temporary housing, while the rest will likely stay with relatives. An estimated 260,000 IDPs are already staying with extended families. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First have expressed concerns that some Acehnese might be forcibly relocated or prevented from returning home. The groups also expressed concerns over the involvement of the military (TNI) in the relocation. (Feb-8, Reuters) Survivors have also expressed concerns.

 

A second round of peace talks between the Indonesian government and the rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) ended on a positive note in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, with both sides agreeing to hold a third round of talks in Helsinki on April 12-17. The Helsinki-based Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), headed by the former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, is mediating the peace talks. The first round of talks was held on January 28-29, but no breakthroughs were reached

 

The National Disaster Relief Coordinating Board says that some 117 bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 124,946. The number of missing has fallen from 112,319 to 94,994. (March 2, AP) Aid workers say body collection is expected to get tougher as workers moved into harder to access areas. Some 90 percent of Banda Aceh and the surrounding areas reported to have been checked. (Feb-23, AP) The Associated Press reported that most of the missing are feared dead, but cannot be legally declared so for a year. Officials also say that the figure might mistakenly include people who have fled the area.

 

GOI put tsunami/earthquake losses at US$4.5 billion. The Consultative Group on Indonesia, made up of 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 US$3.4 billion donors pledged that will mostly go towards reducing the national deficit. During the international ministerial tsunami meeting in Geneva on January 11, several countries pledged US$900 million for a six-month period to Indonesia. Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocates US$800 million, in addition to tsunami relief. World Bank will provide US$300 million in initial support for Indonesia. (Jan-14, AlertNet) Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab this week said that it was important that the international community keep tabs on donor money pledged to tsunami victims in Aceh province to ensure that rampant corruption does not eat away at pledges. The GoI has so far announced a series of checks and balances to assuage fears of graft. Information Minister Sofyan Djalil says the GOI will set up a “credible” oversight scheme for international aid. American accounting firm of Ernst &Young to audit foreign aid. Welfare Minister Shihab says the government would make official monthly announcements of the amount of aid received and spent.

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: UNJLC reports that there are somewhere between 150-200 NGOs in Banda Aceh, of which only some 50 are registered with OCHA and reporting activities on a regular basis. UNJLC says access to some services will soon be restricted to only the organizations registered with UNOCHA. (Feb-23, UNJLC) City returning to some semblance of normalcy. Fifty percent of electrical power in Banda Aceh and 30 percent in Meulaboh have been restored. (Feb-1, UNOCHA) The National Coordination Board for Natural Disaster Management (BAKORNAS) reports the rehabilitation of the telephone system in Banda Aceh. 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.

 

West Coast of Aceh Province/Western Islands: Antara news agency reports that the Association of the Simuelue Community in West Sumatra says that hundreds of residents are living in poor conditions due to neglect by the government. The chair of the organization, Awaluddin Kahar, also complained that the media was at fault for under-reporting devastation on the island. (Mar-1, Jakarta Post) A January UN, GOI and US military report says the tsunami 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. An assessment of the western islands off the coast of Sumatra found considerable damage to housing and livelihoods. 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.

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview…………………………………………………..page 16

 

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 17

 

Overview: The death toll from the December 26 tsunami is in the 30,000s. The Center for National Operations (CNO) reports 30,974, while the Public Security Ministry reports 38,195. The discrepancy could result from the use of different methods of counting and sources of figures. The CNO uses figures provided by government agents, while the Public Security Ministry uses figures provided by the police. The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is using a final toll of around 40,000 for planning purposes in its recovery plan. About 5,600 are still missing from the14 tsunami-affected districts (out of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts).

 

GoSL announced February 21 plans to speed up issuance of death certificates for those missing and presumed dead. Justice Minister John Senevirathne says that the current period of one year before a missing person can be declared dead would be reduced to one month for people who were last seen or heard from on December 26, 2004. (Feb-23, AFP)

 

The total number of IDPs has been raised to about 553,287 after figures from additional districts were compiled and added. Of these, 141,985 are in “welfare centers” and 411,302 are with relatives or friends. There are currently about 315 camps open. WFP reports that the humanitarian situation has stabilized, with needs generally met in all sectors. GoSL has developed a plan of constructing around 30,000 temporary accommodations over the next 6 months. (Feb.16, UNJLC)

 

UNOCHA reports that the GoSL has appealed to donors to limit consignment to most essential food and medical items. GoSL is also urging aid agencies to procure items locally in Sri Lanka. UNOCHA reports that GoSL recommends current requirements are verified with Sri Lankan Missions abroad or from the Center for Non Governmental Sector of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, before making shipping arrangements. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)

 

Social Services Minister Sumedha Jayasena says that donated goods have far exceeded needs of survivors and so some relief items are being rerouted to homes for the elderly, institutions for the disabled and for children so that they will not go to waste. (Feb-25, BBC)

 

Britain’s Prince Charles visited eastern Sri Lanka earlier this week to see first-hand the devastation from the disaster.

 

On February 11, GoSL extended by a month a state of emergency in tsunami-hit areas to give wide powers to security forces to carry out relief operations.

 

Sri Lanka’s central bank said on February 16 that reconstruction work and foreign aid will more than offset the economic losses suffered during the disaster. The bank revised economic growth for 2005 upwards to around 5.5 percent, which is higher than the 4.0 percent forecast by the International Monetary Fund. The bank says that fisheries and tourism had already begun a recovery. (Feb-18, AFP) Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said February 21 that a proposed debt moratorium on reconstruction by the G7 nations would help in Sri Lanka’s balance of payments. He says that the saving of some US$500 million dollars would help the GoSL. He added that the British government had also expressed willingness to pay some of Sri Lanka’s foreign debts and that the GoSl has asked Japan to grant a debt moratorium for a period of three years. (Feb-23, Xinhua)

 

World Bank doubled its commitment to relief in Sri Lanka from US$75 million to US$150 million in emergency credits and grants. Asian Development Bank announced that it would reallocate US$7 million from Rural Financial Sector Development Program to an emergency micro-credit program.

 

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has said that 400,000 have lost their jobs or sources of income. Worst hit industries have been the fishing, hotel and tourist industries.

 

Information on many NGO activities can be obtained from the following link: http://www.humanitarian-srilanka.org/ (under Tsunami 2004 Information Center)

 

Sector Status
Affected Population	About 553,287 people remain displaced; with 141,985 in camps or public buildings as many return to damaged homes or move in with family. WFP foresees the number of beneficiaries for February to be 845,000, and increase from its January figure of 750,000. This figure is likely to fall to about 650,000 in March.
Coordination	On February 4th the Centre for National Operations (CNO) handed over responsibilities of continuing its main functions of collating and analyzing data, coordinating and facilitating relief measures connected to healthcare, education, foreign donor assistance and food relief. The Task Force for Relief (TAFOR), headed by Mr. Thilak Ranaviraja, the Commissioner General for Election Services (CGES), will directly assume these responsibilities. TAFOR will be based and managed from the Ministry of Defense. Another task force, Task Force for the Reconstruction of the Nation (TAFREN), has been given responsibility of spearheading reconstruction, assessing the damages, and coming up with a master plan to rebuild infrastructure. Food relief will be channeled through the Ministry for Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation (RRR) together with CGES. Responsibilities connected to IDPs, Transit Camps, and liaison with the District Secretaries will be the task of the CGES. (Feb-9, UNJLC)   UNJLC reports a working group of UNHCR, IOM, OCHA, UNJLC and TAFOR are addressing coordination and logistics. (Feb. 16, UNJLC)   WFP is sending more monitors in an effort to abolish any corruption in the government system. World Bank President James D. Wolfenson stressed it would be imperative that Sri Lanka puts in place quick measures to monitor the large amount of funds that are flowing into the country. President Kumaratunga assured that the GoSL has already put in place mechanisms for the General Treasury to follow accepted fiscal procedure in the use of these donations. (Feb-10)   UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team established an operations center at the Ministry of Public Security, Law, and Order and is working to coordinate emergency assessments and reports. UN-agencies (WFP, UNHCR, IOM and UNICEF) have to set up regional offices in Galle. Logistic Operations Centers (LOCs) has been set up in Batticaloa and Kilinochchi.   Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) is posting on its website the weekly meeting schedules of UN agencies, NGOs, and government agencies in Colombo and Batticaloa districts. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   For information on IDP camps, injured, mission, deaths, and, schools, hospitals, houses and roads and bridges damaged, as well as spreadsheets with the amounts and sorts of relief goods that have been distributed, check the CNO website at http://www.cnosrilanka.org/ The Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation’s website, www.mrrr.lk contains additional information.
Logistics	UN Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, ICRC, IFRC, WFP, working with GoSL to resolve delays in clearing relief materials through customs at Colombo Port. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   UNJLC report, “Comprehensive Road Network Assessment of the Tsunami Struck Areas in Sri Lanka” completed and available at www.unjlc.org. (Feb-23, UNJLC)   UNJLC reports UN agencies and NGOs experiencing significant delays in obtaining customs clearances for items at Colombo international airport. GoSL being conferred with on problem. (Feb. 16, UNJLC) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urged GoSL to immediately stop imposing customs duties and other charges on international relief goods. (Feb-18, AHRC)   UNHAS setting up office at Ratmalana airport for air operations. Set to become focal point of air operations. (Feb.16, UNJLC)   Damages by the tsunami have sped up GoSL work on port in Hambantota projected at a cost of US$50 million as Colombo Harbor had reached maximum capacity. (Feb-16, UNJLC)   There is a UN On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) and UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) presence in the capital Colombo. The UNJLC is assisting with internal transport, logistics, operational Civil Military Coordination. UNJLC component has expanded to include customs, air coordination, commodity tracking and general logistics staff. The UNJLC also runs the Logistics Operations Center (LOC) which has been tasked to coordinate logistics operations of UN agencies and assists humanitarian relief agencies and NGOs in acquiring transport for the movement of humanitarian relief cargo out of Colombo.   GoSL has large warehouses where all relief items are stored. Management of these warehouses is not up to UN standards, and local staff needs to be trained. Additional storage facilities are available in district capitals, but need some repairs. (Feb-7, UNJLC)   There are very few transport companies in the east. The companies will offer trucks for rent. A complete list of truck owners in Batticaloa/Ampara is being compiled by WFP. The district of Galle in the south has a significant number of transport companies with bigger fleets than in the east. Additionally, each district has a health department with 1-2 trucks for their private use. (Feb-7, UNJLC)   IOM has trucks available for lending to agencies and NGOs. UNJLC is coordinating requests for these. (Feb-9, UNJLC)   There is no shortage of transport in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, or Jaffna, but passes are required for traveling. In the north, the general infrastructure of roads, railways, and bridges is in serious need of rehabilitation. (Feb-9, UNJLC)   Train operations on the coastal railway line were extended to the town of Ambalangoda in the district of Galle. Two trains will operate roundtrip daily from Ambalangoda to Colombo Fort. Six trains will operate roundtrip daily between Aluthgama and Colombo Fort. Ten trains will operate roundtrip daily from Kalutara to Colombo Fort. Both Aluthgama and Kalutara are in Kalutara district. (Feb-8, Daily News)   According to the Public Security Law and Order Ministry, the bulk of incoming relief commodities are now shipped and channeled through Colombo Port. Procedures for handling incoming aid have been streamlined to preclude hurdles. (Feb-9, UNJLC)   The national airlines, Air Lanka and Expo Air, are operational and flying to all non-LTTE-controlled areas of Sri Lanka, including Jaffna. (Feb-9, UNJLC)
Food	WFP reports that more than 90 percent of beneficiaries have now been issued coupon cards by the GoSL that enable them to receive allotments of food and cash. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   WFP, World Vision and Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation to begin supplementary feeding program in primary schools in 9 districts. Program will run for initial 2 months and expected to reach some 34,404 children. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   WFP announced the food pipeline has essentially been secured until end of March, but it is expected that many families will begin to be able to support themselves again by the end of February. (Feb-4, OCHA) WFP has sub-offices in Galle, Ampara, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa, and established a sub-office in the northern LTTE-controlled city of Jaffna.
Water and Sanitation	According to UNEP report, every well in Sri Lanka may have been affected by the disaster. (February 23, UNEP)   6019 of some 12,000 contaminated wells have been cleaned so far. Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply reports that some 16,000 temporary toilets need to be constructed at IDP camps. (Feb-23, WHO)   UNICEF is the lead agency for water and sanitation.   WHO reports that water supplies to affected areas in the south are now reported stable, however, clean water and sanitation remain concerns, particularly in camps.
Public Health and Medical	Sri Lanka Red Cross, together with the ICRC and IFRC, has pledged to repair 32 government hospitals in all districts affected by the disaster. (Feb-28, Daily News)   WHO is the lead agency in facilitating health sector coordination issues through the Ministry of Health and Nutrition (MOH). (Feb-10, WHO) WHO reports no disease outbreaks but concerns remain due to displacement and movement of people. (Feb-4, OCHA) Providing water and sanitation for relocated families is becoming a major challenge in all districts. Malnutrition is emerging as a concern. WFP is distributing vitamin A capsules, iron/folate tablets and is planning on distributing commodities fortified with multi-micronutrients. Adequate sanitation facilities will determine the evolution of the public health situation. (Feb-2, WHO) Health officers are being trained to further improve the disease surveillance system. (Feb-1, WHO)   All hospitals are functioning. Three basic public health laboratories are established in Kalmunai, Batticoloa, and Ampara to diagnose epidemic-prone diseases and to test water quality. In Ampara and Batticaloa districts, 37 different agencies are offering psychosocial support. Workers continue to be trained to address psychosocial needs. (Feb-4, WHO)
Shelter	UNHCR Ampara has initiated a pilot project with its key shelter implementing partner, the Rural Development Foundation, to build some 42 shelters with locally purchased materials. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   GoSl has launched the Transitional Accomodation Project (TAP) program to construct some 20,000 to 30,000 temporary housing units. (Feb-23, Daily News)   The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that it has so far provided shelters for some 7,885 people and plans to assist 31,460 more in Sri Lanka. (Feb-18, IOM)   Immediate needs are being met by 315 camps, schools, places of worship, and other public buildings. A total of 155 schools are being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. IDPs continue to leave camps, reportedly because they are concerned that they could lose their land.
Infrastructure	Mano Tittawella, senior advisor to President Kumaratunga and head of the reconstruction task force, announced a three-year plan to rebuild the country. Around sixty percent of the US$1.8 billion plan will target LTTE-controlled areas with fisheries and small businesses as the main focus. The plan is separate from another US$1.4 billion aid scheme that will focus on infrastructure needs over the next decade. (Feb-11, AFP)   Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said it is estimated that nearly 100,000 new houses would have to be built due to the tsunami. (Feb-14, Daily News)   President Chandrika Kumaratunga has set March 1 as the commencing date for rebuilding damaged infrastructure. (Feb-14, Xinhua)   ICRC through the Danish Red Cross Society and American Red Cross have a long-term plan to support Sri Lanka in rehabilitation/reconstruction of the public health facilities. (Feb-10, WHO) UNICEF is also supporting the GoSL for the reconstruction and renovation of damaged health facilities.   The World Bank is allocating US$100 million to Sri Lanka. The funds will initially be made of reallocated funds from existing programs, emergency credits and grants. US$75 million will be available by the end of February.
Security	UNHCR and UNICEF are doing a rapid protection assessment in the East, North and South to determine the preferences of people regarding their relocation. Assessment will be completed by the end of the month. (Mar-1, UNOCHA)   Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded 3 LTTE women rebels in eastern Sri Lanka on Monday (February 28), hours after a visit by Prince Charles.   Sri Lanka marked the third anniversary of its longest ceasefire with the liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on February 23 amidst fresh efforts by Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim to restart peace talks between the two sides.   The Tamil National Force (TNF), formed by breakaway LTTE commander Colonel Karuna, has appealed to Sri Lankan MPs belonging to the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA), to resign or face death. On February 11, the TNF had claimed responsibility for the assassination of LTTE political official E. Kaushalyan.   WFP reports growing instabilities in the East, particularly among Muslims, due to frustration over inadequate and/or inequitable relief distribution. (Feb-10, OCHA)   OCHA reports increasing incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence and child abuse, in the temporary camps. (Feb-10, OCHA)

 

Thailand

 

 

 

Overview. ………………………………………………. page 23

 

Sectors……………………………………………………page 24

 

Overview: Thailand is well into recovery and reconstruction. Key issues are environmental, psychosocial and livelihood restoration, ensuring care for vulnerable groups and improving disaster preparedness.

 

Latest official death toll on February 26 was at 5,395 and missing was 2,974, including some 1,953 foreigners. Some 2,974 are reported to be missing. There are about 1,519 unidentified bodies. (Feb-26, TNA) NGOs and immigration police said toll might be under-reported as at least 2,000 Myanmar migrants may have been killed. Royal Thai Police (under Interior Ministry), and Australian Federal Police heads international task force for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) in Phuket. All foreign bodies have been moved to the DVI center. 460 international forensic experts from more than 20 countries assisting in body identification. Police said on February 16 that all of the bodies of foreigners killed in the disaster will be identified in the next 4 months. More than 300 have been identified so far and released to their families. Bangkok Post says DVI encountering various problems at Wat Yanyao and Wat Bang Muang temples in Phangnga’s Takua Pa district, where hundreds of bodies are being kept.

 

Immigration police say migrant workers that lost permits in the disaster will be allowed to stay until June this year. Reports say that more than 1,000 foreign volunteers assisting in tsunami-related work are required to hold work permits, or face legal action, however the Labor Minister’s office has said that was not the case. Other conflicting reports say that the ministry might take action, citing security concerns.

 

The UN today (Wednesday, March 2) unveiled a US$9 million long-term rehabilitation program for affected people. Focus will be on the hardest hit villages in Phangnga, Phuket, and Krabi.

 

Thailand does not require financial assistance, but welcomes technical aid. Tourism sector expected to sustain largest impact because it contributes 5-6% to the total GDP. Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi contribute about half of Thailand’s tourism revenues. Local news reports tourists have begun to arrive again in Phuket, and that tourists are flocking to other parts of Thailand. Other provinces, such as Satun, have suffered a double-blow to its tourism from the disaster and from fears of insurgency-related violence further south, even though its beaches were largely spared damage.

 

The Thai Cabinet on March 1 approved a US$137 million budget for tourism revival projects after slashing the initial amount by some US$107 million. Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula says that the government had so far paid some US$6.25 million in compensation to people affected by the disaster. (Mar-2, The Nation)

 

Representatives of six countries signed an agreement at the Foreign Ministry on the establishment of a warning centre. The agreement is called the Charter of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre agreement and was signed by representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Estimated cost of installing the system is some US$50 million. (Mar-2, The Nation)

 

The headquarters of the Combined Support Force-536 (US tsunami task force) at the Royal Thai Naval Air Base in Utapao, Thailand, closed down on February 12 (Feb-10, US DOS). Rehabilitation and reconstruction aid in next phase will be done through JUSMAG (Joint United States Military Advisory Group) and US Embassy. (Jan-31, Bangkok Post)