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

April 20, 2005

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

Table of Contents:

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

Indonesia.....................................page 7-15

Sri Lanka.....................................page 16-23

Thailand.......................................page 24-28

Overview

· The overall focus of attention is on relief, recovery, and rehabilitation for the December 26 earthquake and tsunami disaster. 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 has recently been revised to some 228,000 people along the coastal areas of 11 countries in the Indian Ocean, largely due to the Indonesian government revising its estimate for the number of people missing from 93,458 to 37,063, an approximate 60 percent cut. Reuters reports that the change in the missing reflects the identification of people who were listed as missing but were actually among those displaced after the disaster destroyed their homes.

· 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. Some 166,000 dead and missing are from Indonesia. 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 around 5,400, including some 1,953 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.

· Coordination: The UN announced on March 14 an agreement with accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers for 8,000 hours of pro bono work to monitor disbursement of its some US$977 million tsunami relief fund. A website is planned to be set up to allow people to track how the money is spent. (Mar-14, UN)

· Logistics:

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

· Food: Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, estimates 2 million people are in need of food aid. FAO says overall food availability in the region is adequate to cover needs. The agency is working to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture.

o On March 25 the WFP said that the starvation and malnutrition crisis feared after the disaster has largely been averted. WFP says that more than 1.75 million people are receiving food aid from the agency. WFP says it has shipped more than 50,000 tons of food. (Mar-25, AFP)

o The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warned that a build up of excessive fishing capacity must be avoided in tsunami-affected countries. (Feb-21, FAO) The FAO said that the tsunami cost the fishing industries of the 7 hardest hit countries some US$520 million in damages. (Feb-17, AP, UNNC)

· Health/Medical: World Health Organization (WHO) officials estimated that 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.

· Security: Reports of continued violence in Sri Lanka’s east.

o The Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) representatives wrapped up a third round of peace talks on Saturday (April 16) in Helsinki, Finland one day earlier than scheduled.  The talks were described as “positive and constructive.” Both sides agreed to hold a fourth round of peace talks from May 26 to 31. Despite the talks, sporadic clashes between TNI and GAM in Aceh also reported.

· Shelter: On March 8 Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar said that the GoI will stop building shelters in Aceh and instead focus on making sure existing ones have proper sanitation and clean water. He says that the decision was reached after many survivors indicated that they would rather stay with relatives than in temporary housing.

· Political-Military:

o The Malaysian government said on April 5 that it would soon withdraw all its some 150 remaining troops from Aceh after GoI asked Kuala Lumpur “to take measures to bring them home.”

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. Over 4,000 illegal migrants, most of them Indonesians, have been detained in March. (Mar-30, Jakarta Post) Refugees International (RI) says that Aceh refugees in Malaysia are facing a triple threat: Families and lands were devastated by the tsunami; communities in Aceh continue to be in the crossfire as the conflict between the GAM and GoI continues; and they are subject to arrest and deportation in Malaysia as illegal immigrants. (Apr-12, RI)

· 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.

· Last Wednesday (April 13) UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan officially introduced former US President Bill Clinton as the UN special envoy to head UN operations for recovery and reconstruction. “We have to have a sense of priorities. We’ve got to restore livelihoods as quickly as possible and make sure temporary housing is there, and deal with the fundamental public health issues, like sanitation and clean water, over the long run. I think we have to make a special effort to help the displaced persons, obviously,” Clinton said. Annan says among Clinton’s tasks are to ensure that donors not only pledge but also disburse the money needed for rebuilding and that it also reaches those who need it the most, as well as mobilize support for regional early warning and disaster mitigation mechanisms. (Apr 13, 14, Indonesia-Relief, UNNS)

· Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said on Wednesday (April 6) that the initial response to the tsunami disaster was successful, but the problem now was to maintain the momentum of aid. “There is in some communities a growing frustration. They have heard of the large sums of money pledged but they have not yet got their house rebuilt nor their livelihood and it will take more time,” Egeland said. Egeland says the UN was raising its initial appeal of US$970 million to US$1.08 billion. The UN says some 80 percent of the appeal had been raised or pledged. He says that the total international promise of aid totals nearly US$6 billion, although much of it could take years to materialize. (Apr-6, Reuters)

· In a report on its activities in the first 90 days since the tsunami, UNICEF reported that up to 90 percent of children in the most affected communities have been able to return to school, most within the first month following the disaster. Additionally, UNICEF says that very few children had died from preventable diseases in the aftermath of the tsunami. The agency says it plans to spend some US$90 million on rebuilding schools devastated by the recent disasters in Indonesia. UNICEF also says it wishes to train more than 1,200 new teachers in Indonesia. (Apr-6, AFP)

· The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says that 2 million more Asians have joined the ranks of the poor even though the overall impact on the economies of the affected countries looks small. The bank warns that it could take the affected years to recover from poverty and also urged governments to ensure that funds are not lost through corruption. “Despite the huge scale of loss of human life, homelessness and displaced populations, the macroeconomic impact of the disaster appears limited. Nonetheless, the economic impact will be felt severely at the local and community levels, dragging a significant number of already poor people into deeper poverty,” the ADB said in a statement. (Apr-6, AFP) ADB reported a US$4.22 billion shortfall in the US$7.76 billion estimate for required funds to help rebuild the four countries worst-affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster: India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.  To date, donor nations and agencies have committed US$3.54 billion.  At an ADB-organized conference in Manila on March 18, the ADB presented its data in a “Tsunami Recovery Tracking Matrix.”  An ADB spokesman acknowledged that while the matrix was not definitive, it was hoped to be used as a fundamental planning tool, to get a broad view of what is needed, where it is needed, and how much it will cost.  ADB on Monday (April 11) said that it approved a US$300 million grant for Indonesia, reportedly its largest grant ever, to rebuild areas hardest hit by the disaster. The money will be used for restoring essential public services, reviving economic activity and rebuilding infrastructure. (Apr-11, Reuters).

o The FAO reported at a workshop in Bangkok on March 31-April 1, that soil salinity in affected areas was less severe than previously thought. The FAO says that of the 47,000 hectares (ha) (116,100 acres) of agricultural land damaged by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, India and Thailand, some 38,000 ha (93,900 acres) can be cultivated this year, while the remaining 9,000 ha (22,240 acres), mainly in Aceh have been overtaken by the sea or can no longer be used. (Apr-6, FAO)

o Paris Club grouping of 19 wealthy nations last week offered to freeze payments of tsunami-affected nations until the end of the year and allow the deferred payments to be repaid over five years with a one-year grace period. (Mar-11, Reuters) Sri Lanka reportedly immediately accepted the offer and said it would lobby to extend the offer to 2006 or 2007. Indonesia on March 14 said that it would accept the debt moratorium offer. (Mar-14, Xinhua, Tempo Interactive)

o UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, has called on countries affected by the tsunami to “really” commit themselves to setting up an early warning center within the next 14 months. (Apr-19, UNNS, PTI) The International Oceanographic Commission said April 16 that donors have pledged US$5.5 million dollars in extra funds to set up an Indian Ocean early warning tsunami system. Officials estimate some US$20million-US$30 million would be needed for the system, officials announced at a three day meeting in Mauritius. Around 250 delegates from 25 Indian Ocean states, 8 IOC countries and 10 International organizations attended. (Apr-16, AFP) On Monday (April 18) UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Director Salvano Briceno said that plans for the tsunami warning system is advancing well. (Apr-18, Irin) At a meeting in Paris, countries affected by the tsunami disaster and UN experts agreed on a timetable for an early warning system. The US and Japan will begin providing tsunami warning to countries around the Indian Ocean 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. A second step will see tidal movement gauges upgraded, while gauges will be fitted near Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In the last phase, estimated to be completed by the end of 2006, a regional warning center will be built, with links to a network of gauges and sensors across the region. (Mar-9, BBC)

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)

· Leaders of more than a dozen international sports organizations have pledged to join UN-led recovery efforts. According to the UN, the International Volleyball Federation has announced US$3 million to recovery, and the international Rugby Board has sent US$3.35 million to the WFP. (Apr-14, UNNS)

· International Development & Relief Organizations:

o Oxfam International says that the tsunami disaster has left a gender imbalance in affected areas because in some places, the disaster claimed four times as many women as men. Oxfam says women were worst-hit because they were waiting on beaches for fishermen to return or were at home looking after their children. Oxfam did the study in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. Oxfam’s policy director, Becky Buell, says “this disproportionate impact will lead to problems for years to come unless everyone working on the aid effort addresses the issue now.” (Mar-26, BBC, AFP)

Indonesia

Organization

Overview …………………………………………………………page 8

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 11

Overview: Agence-France Presse (AFP) reported Monday (April 18) that according to official data, Indonesia’s confirmed death toll rose by 1,800 to 128,715, compared with figures released more than a week ago. The number of missing remains at 37,063 according to the national disaster coordinating agency. (Apr-18, AFP) The Indonesian government (GoI) earlier in April revised its estimate for the number of people missing from 93,458 to 37,063, an approximate 60 percent cut, because of better data collection. Reuters reports that the change in the missing reflects the identification of people who were listed as missing but were actually among those displaced after the disaster destroyed their homes.

The Jakarta Post reports that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has formally inaugurated the special government agency tasked with coordinating reconstruction in disaster-hit Aceh province and Nias island.  The agency, the Executive Agency for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias, will take over from the provincial government for reconstruction.   The agency will manage some US$5 billion in reconstruction funds over the next 5 years as well as award tenders to the private sector for reconstruction work, the Jakarta Post reports.  State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the agency was expected to start work this week.  “The regulation stipulates that the agency will have wide powers to manage the reconstruction efforts in Aceh and Nias, including dealing directly with the private sector, and donor countries and agencies,” he said.  “The provincial administrations will handle other functions that are not related to the reconstruction process. However, to avoid any overlapping, a number of provincial officials will hold ex officio positions in the agency,” Yusril added.  According to the Jakarta Post, the government would appoint the Supreme Audit Agency, the State Development Comptroller and private accounting firms to audit financial reports from the agency to ensure accountability of the money spent. The Aceh governor will serve as the vice chair, while the chair is expected to be a professional or senior bureaucrat with a “clean” reputation, according to the Jakarta Post.  The body will be directly accountable to the president and financially accountable to the Ministry of Finance.  Yudhoyono is expected to issue a presidential decree on the appointment of members over the next few days, according to Yusril. According to the International Herald Tribune, a former minister of mines and energy, is expected to be appointed as head of the agency.

The challenge is to translate the master plan into new homes and jobs as soon as possible, Bo Apslund, United Nations resident representative in Indonesia said. “It’s clear that people want the blueprint not just to be signed but to also start making an impact in what’s happening on the ground,” he said.

A strong 6.4-magnitude (USGS) earthquake shook Nias Island late Saturday (April 16) reportedly causing panic among residents, but no casualties were reported.  Nias, which took the brunt of the fatalities and damage of the March 28 8.7-magnitude quake, which killed over 600 people, lost electricity and people reportedly rushed to higher grounds in fear of a possible tsunami.  An official at the Meteorological and Geophysics Agency in Medan, Albertus Simanullang, said the epicenter of the quake was about 44 kilometers (27.34 miles) northeast of the main town of Gunung Sitoli.  He says that Saturday’s quake was the largest since the March 28 quake.  The temblor reportedly caused some cracks in some buildings, but no buildings were reported to have collapsed.  Police reportedly used megaphones in an attempt to restore calm.  An earlier quake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the seabed some 159 miles (26 kilometers) west of Sumatra Island in the afternoon.  Additionally, two smaller earthquakes measuring 4.5 and 5.6 on the Richter scale shook the western coast of Sumatra on Monday (April 18) but no damages or casualties were reported, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Office reported.  Indonesia has been hit by a series of earthquakes since the December 26 earthquake.  Additionally, close to a dozen volcanoes have come to life, which Indonesian scientists say is related to the December quake.  At Mount Talang, some 43,100 people reportedly have been evacuated as of Saturday (April 16), as the volcano continued to spew out ash. The 2,690-meter (9,825-foot) Talang is located some 528 miles (938 km) northwest of Jakarta.  Mas Ace Purbawanita of the Vulcanology Office said that residents had begun evacuating last Tuesday (April 12).  However, vulcanologists lowered the status of Talang to "watch" from "alert" status on Sunday (April 17) as activity at the volcano decreased.  The Jakarta Post reports that the Solok administration has told residents they can return home, the coordinator of the Solok Disaster Prevention Center, Elfi Syahlan said.  Indonesian scientists are closely watching 10 other volcanoes that have recently sprung to life.  The Jakarta Post on Friday (April 15) reported that of these, vulcanologists were paying close attention to at least five: Mt. Talang, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu, Mt Anak Krakatau in west Sumatra, Mt. Semeru in East Java and Mt. Merapi in Yogyakarta, on Java.  However, scientists had ruled out any imminent major eruption. The Indonesian government reported April 8 that the country would need some US$326.4 million (Rp 3.1 trillion) to rebuild areas damaged by the March 28 8.7-magnitude earthquake.  The money is needed to rebuild damaged roads, bridges, and buildings that are mainly on the island of Nias, The epicenter of the March 28 earthquake was around 100 miles (160 km) southeast of the epicenter of the massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake on December 26. The epicenter was located at a depth of some 18.6 miles (30 km) and was some 880 miles (1410 km) northwest of the capital Jakarta, according to the USGS. The quake was reportedly centered on the same fault line where the December 26 earthquake generated the devastating tsunami. Residents of Sumatra’s west coast are particularly nervous in light of the three and a half months of aftershocks and rumors spread rapidly.

The Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) representatives wrapped up a third round of peace talks on Saturday (April 16) in Helsinki, Finland one day earlier than scheduled.  The talks were described as “positive and constructive.” Both sides agreed to hold a fourth round of peace talks from May 26 to 31.  The talks have been mediated by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, who heads the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI).  Ahtisaari says that “the principle of outside monitoring has been approved,” but emphasized that “no one has been approached so far,” to take on the task.  Also at the talks, the sides agreed to try and define a framework for the local administrative structure of Aceh, a possible amnesty for the rebels and the possibility of reform involving local elections, Agence France-Presse reported.  “The only outstanding question is security arrangements and we believe this could be done in the next round,” GAM spokesperson Bakhtiar Abdullah said.  Despite the progress, clashes continue on the ground between GAM rebels and the TNI. The Indonesian military (TNI) announced on Thursday (April 14) that it was sending another 3,000 troops into the province, but after the talks concluded, the head of the Indonesian delegation, Communication and Information Minister Sofyan Djalil, said that the troops were just relieving troops in Aceh.  More than 12,000 people have been killed in Aceh since the GAM began fighting for independence in 1976. Meanwhile, despite the progress of the peace talks, the Indonesian military (TNI) said last week (April 14) it would increase its presence in Aceh.  Some 3,000 troops, or three extra battalions, will join an estimated 40,000 troops already in Aceh, and help to “restore security” in the province.  A military spokesperson says that extra troops would also be deployed to other areas.  In reaction to the announcement, the GAM said that the move could harm the progress of the talks.  “It gives the impression that the government is not serious about a negotiated settlement,” Bakhtiar Abdullah said. 

The Malaysian government said Tuesday (April 5) that it would soon withdraw all its remaining troops from Aceh after GoI asked Kuala Lumpur “to take measures to bring them home.” There are currently around 150 Malaysian troops left, down from some 400 earlier. “We have already reduced the number of our soldiers and in a short time all will return,” Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said. (Apr-6, AP)

According to a Government of Indonesia (GOI) press release issued on Tuesday, March 22, foreign aid workers working for humanitarian organizations and aid agencies in Aceh province would be able to renew their visas for a further one-month period after March 26.  GOI is requesting organizations wishing to continue their activities in Aceh to submit information about their planned activities and sources of funding by April 27, to help the government ascertain how they can best meet the reconstruction needs of the province.  Based upon the information provided by the organizations, the GOI would identify organizations with proven capability, capacity and experience in reconstruction activities and invite them to continue their involvement in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.  GOI says the measures were not intended to limit the activities of legitimate humanitarian organizations, but were aimed at establishing transparency in their activities and to ensure that their activities were in line with the needs of local communities.  The Jakarta Post has reported that at least 140 NGOs from 83 foreign countries are operating out of Aceh.  UNJLC has reported some 150-200 organizations.

On March 8, Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar said that the GoI will stop building shelters in Aceh and instead focus on making sure existing ones have proper sanitation and clean water. He says that the decision was reached after many survivors indicated that they would rather stay with relatives than in temporary housing. Survivors had also expressed concerns that the centers were too far from places where people would seek employment. The government had planned to house some 100,000 people in at least 24 temporary centers across the province. It was unclear how many had been built so far. However, in February, the Jakarta Post reported 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. GoI had planned on building some 803 semi-permanent barracks to accommodate the displaced for up to two years. Social Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab had said 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. Plans had some 30,000 of the houses to be built around Banda Aceh and 10,000 in Calang on the west coast. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First had 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)

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) 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 will audit the aid. Welfare Minister Shihab says the government would make official monthly announcements of the amount of aid received and spent. State Minister for Development Planning, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, said March 14 that the GoI will accept the offer of a debt moratorium from the Paris Club. The total debt on which repayment will be delayed is US$2.6 billion. (Mar-14, Tempo Interactive) Indonesia has some US$48 billion in foreign debt to donor countries under the Paris Club. (Mar-14, Xinhua)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday (April 20) said that it plans to lend some US$519 million to Indonesia in 2005. The ADB said it already approved US$64.7 million in loans and US$16.5 million in grants this year to help some 1,500 communities in rural Indonesia that were affected by the disaster. Five more projects amounting to US$454 million are proposed for the rest of the year. Earlier this month, the ADB approved a US$300 million emergency assistance grant, reportedly its largest ever. (Apr-20, ADB) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday (April 6) reported that damage to the agriculture and fisheries sector in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces had increased the number of poor by more than a million, raising the national head count ratio for the poor by half a percentage point to 18.7 percent. (Apr-6, AFP)

Banda Aceh vicinity: City returning to some semblance of normalcy. 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. (Feb-23, UNJLC)

West Coast of Aceh Province/Western Islands: The Indonesian military (TNI) reopened the road from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh on March 25. Soldiers have built some 64 temporary bridges and more than 80 kilometers of roads from scratch. Road surface remains rough and local government will be responsible for pouring asphalt. It takes approximately 8 hours to make the trip. (Mar-25, Reuters) 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. UNICEF assessment found that at least 80 percent of education facilities on Simuelue have been destroyed. (Mar-10, Jakarta Post) A recent UNICEF assessment following the March 28 quake revealed that virtually all remaining education facilities were destroyed. 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.

Sector Status
Affected Population	Aceh province had an estimated population of 4.1 million before the disaster; 575,000 people were in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh and surrounding Aceh Besar Regency. Multi-agency assessment finds some 125,000 IDPs along the west coast. (Jan-28, Reuters) 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. Reuters reports more than 514,000 total have been displaced. (Mar-24, Reuters) Refugees International (RI) says that Aceh refugees in Malaysia are facing a triple threat: Families and lands were devastated by the tsunami; communities in Aceh continue to be in the crossfire as the conflict between the GAM and GoI continues; and they are subject to arrest and deportation in Malaysia as illegal immigrants. (Apr-12, RI)
Coordination	Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil says that the GoI plans to use text messages (SMS, or Short Message Services) to alert people of impending disasters predicted by an early warning system. He says such a system would allow over 80 percent of all cell phone users to be quickly informed. The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) will run the warning system and will also liaise with the media to ensure that the warnings are sent out as early as possible. (Apr-20, AFP) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered his government on April 1 to educate the public about the signs of imminent tsunamis and earthquakes. Home Minister Muhammad Ma’ruf says that Yudhoyono wanted all provincial and local governments to have plans in place to issue early warnings and to aid the evacuation of vulnerable people. Local governments would also set up coordination centers involving the GoI and security forces, Ma’ruf said. (Apr-6, AFP) Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab coordinating GOI response. GOI established Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Jakarta with UN. A Joint Liaison Unit, comprised of the GOI, UN and major NGOs to improve coordination between the GOI and international aid agencies, is operating in Banda Aceh. Foreigners, including aid workers, journalists and military, must coordinate their travel plans outside of Banda Aceh and Meulaboh through the TNI. Organizations may be escorted by TNI.
Logistics	Latest UNJLC land route maps of the West Coast are available on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org) GOI initiated humanitarian aid customs clearances procedures. See http://unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemID/28240. (Feb-1, UNJLC) Weather should not add to the burden of increased trucking. With February historically the driest month, the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) in Hawaii estimates that rainfall in February, March, and April will be below average.
Food	WFP revised its beneficiaries to 720,000 for April. This includes victims of the recent March 28 quake that affected Nias and Simeulue. In May, the number will be 805,000 and then it will go down to 780,000 from July through December. (Apr-13, UNJLC) A French-Indonesian project dubbed “1,000 boats for Indonesia,” aims to help fishermen in Meulaboh to restore their livelihood. (Apr-21, Indonesia-Relief.org) WFP says 350,000 schoolchildren, 55,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers, and 130,000 children under the age of five are now main recipients of food aid. (Mar-30, AFP) UNJLC reports total number of WFP beneficiaries at 590,570 people and says WFP has distributed some 21,665 MT of food aid thus far. (Mar-23, UNJLC) World Food Program (WFP) says assessment found that some 790,000 survivors are still unable to feed themselves and will need food rations for many more months. The Aceh provincial disaster mitigation and refugees handling agency says that the rice stock in Aceh province is enough for 4 months. (Feb-8, Antara) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says 42,000 in Aceh made a living from fishing. 70% of the fishing fleet destroyed. Fish provide over 50% of the animal protein in Indonesia. At least US$30 million needed to rebuild Aceh’s fishing fleet. More than 6,500 fishermen were killed and some 5,200 boats lost, FAO says. (Feb-18, AP)
Water and Sanitation	Oxfam says it has been asked to manage installation of water supplies at 10 settlements in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Lhokseumawe. (Feb-9, Oxfam) CARE intends to continue providing safe water to at least 500,000 people a month for several months. (Feb-7, CARE) Committee formed between UNICEF, GoI and Oxfam to manage water and sanitation projects. (Jan-28, Oxfam)
Public Health/Medical	IOM says that the first of 51 pre-fabricated satellite health clinics located at temporary shelter sites across Aceh is scheduled to be completed this week. (Apr-19, IOM) GoI said Monday (April 4) that some 70 percent of Acehnese are showing signs of mental stress from the tsunami, ranging from anxiety to depression. Absence of functioning mental health system has hampered efforts to treat some 400,000 patients in Aceh. Findings were presented at a two-day seminar aimed at formulating a psycho-social program for survivors. WHO reports only 5 local psychiatrists in Aceh. Aceh’s one mental hospital was heavily damaged and 25 of its 252 staffers died. (Apr-6, AP) UNICEF says it has provided medical supplies and equipment for more than 95,000 people. Agency has also distributed kits for midwives to help pregnant women, and provide school and recreation materials to some 373,000 children. UNICEF says it has spent some 46 percent of its tsunami relief budget on Indonesia. (Apr-5, AFP) Minister of Health, Siti Fadilah Supari, said some US$131.14 million is needed to rebuild health service facilities throughout Aceh. (Feb-16, Antara) West coast lost some 50-70 percent of its health services. (Jan-24, The Age) Tsunami destroyed 30 health clinics out of 240, seriously damaged 77, and caused minor damage to 40 others. (Jan-18, UNJLC)
Shelter	IOM says its first transitional housing site at Tingkeum, Aceh Besar is nearing completion. IOM will provide some 107 houses. (Apr-19, IOM) World Vision International (WVI) says it will build 15,000 permanent houses benefiting some 60,000 IDPs. (Apr-7, WVI) International Organization for Migration (IOM) on April 1, pledged to build 11,000 houses for survivors as soon as possible. (Apr-1, Antara) On March 8, Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar said that the GoI will stop building shelters in Aceh and instead focus on making sure existing ones have proper sanitation and clean water.
Infrastructure	UNICEF says it will spend some US$90 million on rebuilding schools and hopes to train more than 1,200 new teachers. Estimates of the number of destroyed schools range from 700-1,000. GoI says some 1,750 primary school teachers are dead or missing and more than 180,000 children have no place to go to. UNICEF has signed a MoU with the government to repair 200 schools and rebuild 300 more in a US$90 million project. Reconstruction will take some 2 years. (Apr-6, AP) NATO has donated 565 meters of bridge equipment valued at some US$6 million. (Mar-29, DPA) Officials say they have recovered some 45,000-50,000 land ownership deeds thought to have been lost in the disaster. (Mar-23, Reuters) GoI announced its blueprint for the reconstruction of Aceh province on March 16, with some US$5 billion being allocated for rebuilding over the next five years. (Mar-16, DPA) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the GoI, will coordinate a six week-long province-wide assessment of all housing and settlements in Aceh affected by the disaster. (Mar-16, IOM) Indonesian and German scientists will begin installing a US$60 million tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean by October. The Trade Ministry says it will rebuild some 293 markets, which would include 18 central market areas and 19 storage facilities across Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. Costs are estimated at some US$25.5 million. GOI estimates more than 1 million homes destroyed, along with some 277 miles (450 km) of roads and scores of bridges. (Jan-30, AP) The Aceh education office says that at least 1,057 school buildings were damaged or destroyed, causing losses of some US$21.85 million. (Feb-4, Antara) The UN says that emergency plans are being drafted to help revive the agriculture sector. Estimates of damages to farmland are at some 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) on the east coast and some 27,000 hectares (66,720 acres) on the west coast. Additionally, a total of some 50,000 hectares (123,600 acres) of wetland and dryland were affected. FAO estimates aquaculture losses at US$210 million and estimates 100,000 acres (150 sq. mi.) of agricultural land devastated. (Feb-02, Star) United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) says environmental damage in Aceh and North Sumatra are 25,000 hectares (ha) (61,800 acres) of mangroves (US$118.2 million), 32,000 ha (74,130 acres) of coral reefs (US$332.4 million) and 120 ha of seagrass beds (US$2.3 million). Coastal forests and a 200-mile (300 km) stretch of coastal lands were damaged or lost. (Jan-21, UNCC, AP)
Security	The Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) representatives wrapped up a third round of peace talks on Saturday (April 16) in Helsinki, Finland one day earlier than scheduled.  The talks were described as “positive and constructive.” Both sides agreed to hold a fourth round of peace talks from May 26 to 31. Total of TNI troops is around 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. Aid workers are restricted to Banda Aceh and the town of Meulaboh. Travel outside of those areas will need permission and will be accompanied by TNI escort.

Sri Lanka

Overview…………………………………………………..page 17

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 19

Overview: Sri Lanka reportedly now has combined the figures for its dead and missing into one figure for dead and presumed dead and missing. The combined total stands at 38,916. (Apr-8, Reuters) The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is using a final toll of around 40,000 for planning purposes in its recovery plan. 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 UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that some 518,698 people remain displaced with most living with relatives and friends, some in “collective accommodation centers” or in camps. UNICEF says that according to the GoSL, 800,000 people were initially displaced. UNICEF says it has carried out a rapid assessment to collect information on what the IDPs think of their situation and options available to them. The agency says that along with the UNHCR, they have undertaken a survey of some 226 families in Ampara, Jaffna, and Galle as well as 76 host families. (Apr-19, UNICEF) UNJLC had reported in mid-February that 141,985 IDPs are in “welfare centers” and 411,302 are with relatives or friends. (Feb.16, UNJLC)

Police said on March 30 that at least 5 people were killed when thousands fled coastal areas during the tsunami warning from the 8.7-magnitude earthquake off Indonesia’s Sumatra Island on March 28. Sri Lankan lawmakers on Tuesday (March 29) called for a single agency to issue warnings after people complained of a lack of information concerning the tsunami alert after the disaster. (Mar-30, AFP)

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga says that the latest tsunami scare justifies her government’s decision to ban rebuilding 100 meters from the ocean. Critics of the ban have accused the government of wanting to keep poor fishermen off the beach in order to attract expensive resorts. Fishermen have staged several protests against the new rule. (Mar-30, PTI)

The GoSL says that it has received donor pledges amounting to some US$2 billion as tsunami assistance following the disaster, however, only US$750 million has been made available for disbursement. (Apr-11, GoSL) On April 7, the GoSL had said that a national reconstruction plan could finally get under way because donors had firmly committed some US$1.5 billion worth of tsunami aid. Donors pledged US$2 billion, but around US$500 million is yet to be signed and firmly committed. A few weeks ago, the GoSL had complained that rebuilding had been delayed because aid was only trickling in. (Apr-7, Reuters) The GoSL plan involves building some 62 townships, 75 miles (120 km) of electric railway, improving 55 miles (89 km) of highway and granting assistance to affected families to rebuild housing. Chair of the GoSL Taskforce for Rebuilding the Nation, Mano Tittawella, estimates that it will take 6-9 months to build houses, 1-3 years to build roads and a modern water supply system, and another 1-3 years to build new railway lines. (Mar-23, Reuters)

An international donors meeting attended by former US president Bill Clinton who is also the UN Special Envoy on tsunami reconstruction, will be held in the capital Colombo in May to evaluate the progress of donor-assisted projects, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said. The meeting will reportedly be the first of quarterly meetings held by donors. (Apr-8, DailyNews)

UNOCHA reports that an FAO salinity expert says that some 10,400 acres of farm land have been destroyed by the tsunami, which includes some 8,000 acres of paddy land. Additionally, a total of 27,000 home gardens were destroyed. The Sri Lankan Minister of Agriculture says that direct damage to the farmers of the tsunami was some US$3.5 million. An FAO Agriculture Advisor says that around 148,000 chickens, 7,600 cattle, 4,900 buffalo, 14,200 goats and 118 pigs were killed in the tsunami. He adds that some 273 tons of paddy seed with just over 1,000 tons of fertilizer and funds for vegetable production and other field crops are needed in the four districts of Amapara, Hambantota, Matara, and Galle for the Yala season. FAO is focusing on restoring the poultry sector as soon as possible. Forty percent of the damaged land should be ready for cultivation this Yala season and 70 percent for the Maha season.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture (FAO) organization reports that poor farmers face losing a whole season’s worth of crops unless they are helped immediately. The first growing season since the disaster struck is due when monsoon rains begin later in April. FAO estimates around 40 percent of affected lands are ready for cultivation. The agency says there is an immediate need to rebuild fences, repair pumps and agro-wells, and supply farmers with tools, seeds and fertilizer. (Apr-1, FAO)

Despite optimism expressed by visiting Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim that a deal between the GoSl and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on jointly handling aid for tsunami survivors could be just weeks away, a main Marxist party in President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s Freedom Alliance coalition government said they opposed a so-called “joint mechanism” between the two sides. The Marxist JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, which reportedly holds the balance of power in the 225-member parliament, had earlier stated to Kumaratunga that they would pull out of her coalition if she went ahead with seeking a deal with the rebels. Solheim has been working on getting both sides to agree on the tsunami aid deal, in a bid to revive a stalled peace process in the country. However, LTTE senior rebel negotiator S. Puleedevan said on Monday (April 18) that a deal was still some ways off. Additionally Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that a diplomat close to the peace process said that talks between LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan this week ended without a breakthrough. In a traditional New Year’s message last week, Kumaratunga said that a “joint mechanism” will be the foundation for a final peace deal with the LTTE. The joint mechanism reportedly will make it possible for donor countries, such as the US and Japan, to provide aid indirectly to LTTE-controlled areas without violating laws barring direct aid to the LTTE, which both countries have blacklisted as terrorist organizations. A shaky ceasefire has been in place between the GoSL and LTTE since February 2003, however, continued violence in the east has threatened the peace process. US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca also visited the east separately from Solheim to visit US-funded projects for the repair of schools. (Apr-19, 20, AFP, Reuters)

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)

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 (ADB) announced that it would reallocate US$7 million from Rural Financial Sector Development Program to an emergency micro-credit program. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board earlier this week approved some US$157.5 million for Sri Lanka. (Mar-9, IMF)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on April 14 that it has approved a US$197 million assistance package for two projects that will rebuild areas in Sri Lanka. The package includes a US$150 million grant and a US$7 million loan for the Tsunami-affected Areas Rebuilding Project (TAARP) to restore basic social infrastructure, community and public services, and livelihood, the ADB said in a statement. A US$14 million grant and a US$26 million loan will be for the North East Community Restoration and Development Project II (NECORD II) to continue the government’s rehabilitation program in conflict-affected areas in the north and east of the country. (Apr-14, AFP)

The ADB reported that the disaster led to significant job losses in Sri Lanka’s fishing communities and small-scale traders, increasing the number of poor by 287,000 people and the national poverty level by 1.4 percentage points to 26.6 percent. ADB also said economic growth is expected to slow this year with GDP falling from 5.5 percent in 2004 to a forecast rate of 5.2 percent this year. The bank says the biggest risk for the economy was the lack of progress in the peace process with the LTTE. Additionally, the ADB reports that the tsunami cost an estimated 400,000 jobs for 200,000 families. (Apr-6, AFP, Mar-18, ADB)

Following confirmation from the Paris Club of 19 creditor nations that it would freeze payments from tsunami-affected nations this year, Sri Lanka said that it would lobby for a freeze of its payments until the end of 2006 or 2007.  Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister, Sarath Amunugama, said that reconstruction in Sri Lanka would take from three to five years.  The Paris Club has agreed to allow the deferred payments to be repaid over five years, with a one-year grace period.  Sri Lanka reportedly owes the Paris Club some US$4.6 billion in debt stock and interest.

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	Over 516,000 people remain displaced; over 100,000 still in camps or shelters, over 400,000 now living with relatives or friends. (Mar-24, Reuters) 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. Nearly 72,000 children and 2,700 teachers affected. More than 1,000 children were orphaned and at least 3,600 lost one parent. (Mar-9, DPA)
Coordination	On February 4^th 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) 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) 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. (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	According to the UNJLC, on April 26, relief consignments of UN agencies at the Colombo port and airport will no longer be exempt from taxes and duties when new clearance procedures are to be introduced. NGOs can only acquire tax and duty concessions by handling the consignments through the Department of Social Services for distribution or having the department supervise the distribution. UNOCHA reports that most UN agencies and NGOs are trying to clear as much cargo as possible before the deadline. (Apr-19, OCHA) UNOCHA also says that significant delays still exist at the Colombo port, although the situation has eased somewhat. (Apr-19, OCHA) Train operations on the coastal railway line were reportedly fully restored on April 11, after the Pinwatte bridge, which was damaged by the tsunami, was repaired. Reportedly over 70,000 people travel on the coastal railway line. (Apr-11, DailyNews) GoSL has reportedly issued a series of measures to accelerate customs clearances of relief goods (Mar-9, UNJLC) UNJLC report, “Comprehensive Road Network Assessment of the Tsunami Struck Areas in Sri Lanka” completed and available at www.unjlc.org. (Feb-23, UNJLC) There is a UN On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) and UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) presence in Colombo. 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.
Food	FAO’s Senior Advisor for Fisheries, with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, says that the total number of traditional craft (canoes) destroyed by the tsunamis is 9,975. Some 741 boats have been provided to recipients thus far, and a total of 11,217 are to be constructed. The east coast was the hardest hit, with total losses of some 4,340 canoes. (Apr-19, OCHA) WFP says it is providing food aid to some 709,000 people. WFP says that from April, WFP will begin giving 120,000 children a nutritious snack at school. (Mar-30, AFP) Thousands of fishermen unable to return to sea because of lack of boats and nets. (Mar-24, Reuters) WFP says it will start a school feeding program in April for some 120,000 children, in addition to the 165,000 children who were already enrolled. (Mar-9, Dailynews) WFP will begin distribution of corn-soya blended food to 200,000 vulnerable people and to 112,000 mothers and infants. (Mar-9, Dailynews) 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 announced the food pipeline has essentially been secured until end of March (Feb-4, OCHA)
Water and Sanitation	Japan donated 9 gully suckers (sewage cleaning trucks) and 30 water tanks to GoSL in late March. (Mar-31, DailyNews) 6019 of some 12,000 contaminated wells have been cleaned so far. (Feb-23, WHO)
Public Health and Medical	According to Save the Children, some 29 cases of Dengue fever have been reported in March in Matara. (Apr-19, UNOCHA) UNICEF says it distributed almost 80,000 mosquito nets, issued leaflets promoting breastfeeding and issued emergency health kits. (Apr-5, AFP) Doctors in Sri Lanka say there are small outbreaks of illnesses such as chicken pox, diarrhea and fever in refugee camps in the Kinniya area near the northeastern town of Trincomalee. There are some 4,000 refugees in the area. (Mar-30, BBC) Sri Lanka Ministry of Health has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to rebuild and rehabilitate 34 health facilities. (Mar-18, IFRC) UNICEF says some 5 to 10 percent of child survivors remain traumatized. (Mar-7, DPA) WHO is the lead agency in facilitating health sector coordination issues through the Ministry of Health and Nutrition (MOH) 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. (Feb-4, WHO)
Shelter	In Trincomalee, Save the Children has begun construction of 46 out of 118 temporary shelters and is supporting the cleaning of 400 wells in the district. (Apr-19, UNOCHA) IDP camps in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara were badly affected by rain over the past week. Some IDPs in Trincomalee forced to relocate. (Apr-13, UNJLC) GoSL says it has taken measures to immediately grant US$2,500 to families whose houses have been completely destroyed while owners of partially damaged houses would receive US$1,000. (Apr-5, GoSL) Aid agencies say reconstruction in the south and east going slowly. Many people in the south reportedly building their own shelters and defying a 100-meter coastal buffer zone imposed by the government. Officials in the rebel-held North say tens of thousands of people will most likely have to wait around a year before enough homes are finished. (Mar-25, Reuters) The Urban Development Authority (UDA), in collaboration with donors and NGOs and the corporate sector, will construct some 40,000 permanent houses within six to nine months. (Mar-23, Dailynews) Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) says it has constructed some 12,000 transitional houses out of the total 40,000. (Apr-11, GoSL) Temporary shelters under the Transitional Accommodation Projects (TAP) being built by the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) is working to complete the construction of 30,000 temporary houses. Each unit will reportedly be built to last some 12 to 18 months. 10,000 to be built before April 10 and the rest by end of May. (Mar-23, Dailynews) The focus will be on the south of Sri Lanka which will face the early monsoon rains first. (Apr-13, Oxfam) UNHCR Ampara has initiated a pilot project with its key shelter implementing partner, the Rural Development Foundation, to build some 42 shelters. (Mar-1, UNOCHA) 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	WFP said that it is working with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other agencies to help clear debris in fishing communities and to replace boats and nets. (Mar-30, AFP) North East provincial Governor Tyronne Fernando says that reconstruction and rehabilitation in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in government-controlled areas is going apace, with the key exception in the region being Mullaitivu district, which is under LTTE control. (Mar-23, Dailynews) WFP says that in May or April it will assist some 277,000 people in rebuilding roads and infrastructure. WFP will also work with IOM, and FAO to help debris-clearing and to rebuild homes. (Mar-9, Dailynews) Some 260 schools were destroyed and 170 others damaged or being used for IDP camps. (Mar-7, DPA) 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) 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.
Security	The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) reported Friday (April 8) that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had violated the ceasefire by attacking a Sri Lankan Navy boat on Tuesday (April 5) near the eastern port of Trincomalee.  Clashes between rival groups of the LTTE reported to be ongoing in the east. 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. 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) Sri Lanka marked the third anniversary of its longest ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on February 23.

Thailand

Overview. ………………………………………………. page 25

Sectors……………………………………………………page 26

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 death toll on April 8 was at 5,395 and missing was 2,929. (Apr-8, Reuters) At least 1,953 of the victims were foreigners. As of March 23, the identities of some 1,010 people had been confirmed. There are about 2,450 unidentified bodies (Apr-17, TNA). A senior Thai official said last Thursday (April 7) that it may take up to five years to identify the some 2,547 unidentified victims in Thailand, at least half of which are thought to be foreign tourists. An international forensic team had identified 1,176 bodies since it began work on Jan. 13. (Apr-7, Reuters)

Land grab by wealthy politicians and developers for lucrative beachfront properties of tsunami victims continuing in Khao Lak. (Apr-8, CSM) People living on disputed land in Phangnga province reportedly not getting aid. Village leaders have refused to endorse them for state help, saying that because the people were living on disputed land, allegedly owned by mining companies, they did not want to get into trouble. (Apr-17, Bangkok Post)

Thai police are investigating whether government employees on Phuket stole some US$50,000 worth of tsunami relief funds. The aid reportedly was stolen from the Phuket provincial hall which served as an emergency relief center after the disaster. (Apr-19, AFP, The Nation)

The International Disaster Victims Identification Team (DVI) at Wat Yanyao in Takua Pa district in Phang Nga province has closed down on March 25. (Mar-25, Bangkok Post) Royal Thai Police (under Interior Ministry), and Australian Federal Police are heading the DVI in Phuket. 460 international forensic experts from more than 20 countries are assisting in body identification. Three centers for identifying victims are left: Bang Maruan morgue, Mai Khao morgue and the Phuket Disaster Victim Identification Center. (Mar-14, Xinhua) Meanwhile, academics say little attention in government aid is being paid to life and social recovery while efforts are focused on physical, environmental and tourism aspects. (Apr-6, Bangkok Post) Residents of Takua Pa district in Phangnga have complained to the DVI in Phuket to hasten the removal of unidentified victims. Police Colonel Pornprasert Kanachanarin said that the identification process would likely take another year. TNA reports that it is thought that around 50 percent of the remaining bodies could be Thai, but so far only 360 Thai relatives have come forward with information to prove their identity. (Apr-17, TNA)

Supang Chantavanit, the immigration study director from the Institute of Asian Studies said that some 1,000 workers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia were killed in the disaster which left 60,000 others without jobs. She says that the survivors could not live without government aid. The survivors also reportedly have little access to government assistance because they were not prioritized by the government and many have also lost important documents in the disaster. (Apr-20, Bangkok Post)

Disaster expected to cost tourist industry some US$780 million (30 billion baht) in 2005. (Mar-24, Reuters) Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi contribute about half of Thailand’s tourism revenues. Security has been increased in the southern region since the April 3 bombings at Hat Yai International Airport, a French retail store and a hotel in Songkhla province killed at least 2 people. The attacks were the first major ones outside the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and have raised concerns that insurgents may be extending their reach beyond the region and to new targets.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday (April 18) said that the earthquake-warning system will be completely installed by the end of next year. (Apr-18, TNA) Meanwhile, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has finished a master plan for the evacuation of people from tsunami-prone areas in the six provinces along the Andaman coast. The department will meet with Phuket officials to discuss the plan today (Wednesday, April 20), and an evacuation drill will be held for the first time in Phuket before the end of the month. (Apr-18, Bangkok Post). Thailand also plans to establish a marine information center along the Andaman Sea to monitor water and tidal changes, navy chief Amiral Surin Reung-arom said. (Apr-20, TNA)

Denmark’s crown prince Frederik and his Crown Princess Mary, as well as Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Economics and Business Minister Bendt Bendtsen, visited Thailand. Among other things, the delegation, along with some 210 relatives of victims, attended a private memorial service in Khao Lak. Thirty-six Danes were confirmed dead and 10 are reported still missing. (Apr-18, The Star) Bangkok thanked the Danish government for its assistance during the disaster. Thailand had received technical assistance and the Danish government had sent equipment and specialists to Thailand. (Apr-19, TNA)

Sector Status
Affected Population	The UN 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. Mental Health Department found 1,101 children made orphans, an increase from the 800 reported last month. Most from Takua Pa district in Phangnga. (Mar-1, Bangkok Post) Of the 120,000+ Myanmar migrant workers in the area, only 20% registered. Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) estimates about 2,000 deported, 2,300 died, while 4,000 missing. (Feb-28, Irrawaddy) Thailand has repatriated more than 600 illegal Myanmar migrant workers affected by the tsunami disaster. (Mar-22, TNA) More than 14 tons of aid left Bangkok by truck to help tsunami-affected Myanmarese migrants in Ranong, Phangna, and Phuket provinces. The US$1.4 million USAID funded project is operating with the Thai Health Ministry. (Apr-6, Bangkok Post) Bangkok Post reports that hundreds of Moken sea gypsies still face problems. Some are reporting aid has been cut off because they refused to be relocated. (Apr-3, Bangkok Post) Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob in charge of rehabilitating Moken sea gypsy communities. The Austrian government has donated some US$633,000-760,000 to fund a skill training center and child care center on Phuket. (Apr-7, TNA)
Coordination	Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit said Tuesday (Apr-19) some 20 billion baht (US$508 million) was approved by 13 sub-committees to help the tsunami victims. (Apr-19, TNA) Priority areas for UN support, in coordination with the Thai government for the next 6 months, include shelter, livelihood recovery, and fisheries and agriculture rehabilitation. Government has announced a five-point rehabilitation and recovery plan: o Rebuild homes, infrastructure and revive tourism - Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop. o Repair and rebuild the region – Tourism Authority of Thailand o Rehabilitate the environment – Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang o Re-create jobs and livelihoods – Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Jarusombat o Build a warning system – Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), a partner of Action by Churches Together (ACT), says they are planning on providing vocational training and assistance to small businesses. (Apr-14, ACT)
Logistics
Food	Some fishing vessels reportedly returned to the seas following a strike to protest rising fuel prices after the government reduced the price of diesel fuel. Thousands of fishermen had gone on strike, warning that without government subsidies, they would not be able to survive. (Apr-16, TNA) Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) a partner of Action by Churches Together (ACT) assisting families with repair of boats and equipment. (Apr-11, ACT)
Water/Sanitation	TNA reports that the drought situation has been alleviated due to the rain during the Songkran water festival, which occurred last week, during the traditional Thai New Year, Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit said on Tuesday (Apr-19). The number of villages affected by the crisis has dropped by 18,000 to 25,000 while water levels in reservoirs have increased. (Apr-19, TNA)
Public Health/Medical	UNICEF training 500 government social workers and teachers in “psychological recovery activities” for children. UNICEF has also supplied water and sanitation for 2,000 families in temporary shelters. (Apr-6, AFP) A rapid rise in dengue fever cases nationwide has caused the Public Health Ministry to warn that the situation could worsen. Number of patients in January and February jumped by some 75% over the same period last year. (Mar-21, Bangkok Post) Suan Saranrom hospital in Surat Thani, the mental rehabilitation hub for traumatized victims, has treated some 10,000-12,000 patients. (Mar-16, Bangkok Post)
Shelter	The Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) part of the alliance of Action by Churches Together (ACT) planning to support construction of a number of houses for the Moken people. (Apr-14, ACT) US Peace Corps team has begun rehabilitation mission in Ban Nam Khem in Takua Pa district in Phang Nga. (Apr-6, Bangkok Post) GoT plans some 3,600 new homes and will repair another 3,000 in the 6 affected provinces. (Mar-24, Reuters)
Infrastructure	Government regulations for rebuilding are slow on Phi Phi Island, so local businesses are reconstructing without them. (Apr-7, TNA) Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment are preparing to survey the Andaman coastline with a plan to plant trees to act as a barrier against future tsunamis. (Apr-9, TNA) The country’s first tsunami warning system will be installed at Patong Beach in Phuket. Signal towers will be constructed by the end of April and be linked to the National Disaster Warning Center. (Mar-22, TNA) Government says disaster caused more than 13 billion baht (US$338 million) damage to Thailand’s economy and people. (Feb-23, TNA)
Security	The US, Britain and Australia have issued travel warnings to its citizens, advising against non-essential travel to the south because of April 3 bombings in Songkhla province. Insurgency violence continues in three southernmost provinces (Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani).