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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

January 12, 2005

 

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

 

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

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

Indonesia.....................................page 7-18

Sri Lanka......................................page 19-25

Thailand.......................................page 26-34

Overview

 

·      The overall focus of attention is now quickly shifting to relief and recovery efforts. Search and rescue operations for last month’s (December 26) massive tsunamis are largely over. The tsunamis were triggered by an undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s northern Sumatra Island and killed more than 150,000 people along the coastal areas of some 11 countries in the Indian Ocean. The fate of nearly one million people along the western coast of Indonesia’s Aceh is slowly being assessed with anecdotal reports of death rates in excess of 50%. UNOCHA’s Kevin Kennedy says the highest UN priority is getting aid to those it has not yet reached. (Jan-9 UN News) Tsunami-related deaths have been reported in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The loss of life has been particularly severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Following the Indonesian Health Ministry’s decision last week to no longer provide an account of the precise number of deaths because of difficulties in getting an accurate picture, the spokesman for the country’s Social Affairs Ministry’s relief coordination center said that the death toll had climbed to 107,039, with tens of thousands people still unaccounted for in the northern province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra and along the 115 miles of the islands along Indonesia’s northwestern coast, which was close to the epicenter of the earthquake. WHO estimates 80 percent of Aceh’s west coast has been damaged. UN officials think the number of people dead and affected by the disaster in Indonesia could significantly climb once authorities are able to assess all hard to reach areas. The death toll in Sri Lanka and India has also climbed to in excess of 30,000 and 10,012 deaths respectively. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as the southern state of Tamil Nadu, have been the worst hit areas. The death toll in Thailand’s resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi has now climbed to 5,305, including some 2,500 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have also been reported in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The small island nation of Maldives, which is scattered over 200 islands, has suffered extensive damage to infrastructure and is seeking US$239 million in emergency relief aid and an additional US$1.3 billion for long-term reconstruction. The total cost of the disaster is estimated to be in excess of US$13.6 billion.

 

·      Coordination: The United States and a number of other militaries and agencies are operating out of and coordinating at Thailand’s Utapao Royal Thai Air Force Base about 100 miles south of Bangkok. The US Combined Support Force, Combined Coordination Center (CCC), which is comprised of liaison officers from Australia, UK, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, and a Civil-Military Coordination Cell are operating. USAID DART representatives are present, as is the UNOCHA coordinator in Thailand. 1,200 US troops are on the ground. Additionally, the US and perhaps others are using the base for transshipment of relief supplies. Work continues on refining the process humanitarian organizations use to request military transport.

 

·      Logistics: A number of logistics problems remain despite progress. Thailand is in good shape. Although main roads are now accessible in most affected districts in Sri Lanka, except Batticaloa, transport capacity is insufficient to move relief supplies inland. Distribution mechanisms remain weak. The Sri Lankan government, in conjunction with the United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC), is addressing these problems. In Indonesia, backlogs at Banda Aceh airport and nearby Medan airport are diminishing with increased humanitarian coordination and the opening of airport facilities in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. Tracking and prioritization systems for humanitarian cargo and military airlift are being developed. Indonesian military (TNI) control of Banda Aceh and Medan airports and control of humanitarian and military access is providing a challenge for relief efforts. UNJLC has teams in Banda Aceh, Jakarta, and Colombo and liaison officers to work with the US military. Roads are just now opening up to Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh, but the road south from Banda Aceh will be closed for perhaps a month as TNI effects repairs. UNJLC plans to soon publish an overview of all air assets on its website at www.unjlc.org that have been made available to humanitarian community. (Jan-8, UNJLC).

 

o      The UN is using Malaysia’s Subang Airport near the capital Kuala Lumpur as its regional transportation hub. Subang’s current air assets include two C130s and a Casa235. An IL76 and an AN12 are scheduled to be deployed. There are 1,000 square meters of warehouse space available. An additional 625-square meter shelter is being erected on the tarmac. Subang has all required loading and ground handling equipment to serve Tristars and C17s. There are no problems flying Military and Civil Defense Assets (MCDA) to Subang. UNJLC recommends all international relief flights land in Subang and then further dispatch the cargo by smaller aircraft to Banda Aceh and Medan. (Jan-10, UNJLC)

 

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

 

·      Food: The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates some 2 million people in 12 countries affected by the tsunami disaster are in need of food assistance. FAO says despite local losses, overall food availability in the region should be adequate to cover needs. Recommends local purchases of food, where possible, to meet food aid requirements. The agency is seeking US$26 million to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture in affected countries. (Jan-11, FAO). UN’s World Food Program (WFP) has already delivered some 9,744 metric tons of food in affected countries. WFP is currently assisting some 1,069,000 people with their food needs in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand and Somalia. WFP says it has so far received US$81.9 million or 32% in response to its US$256 million emergency appeal. (Jan-12, WFP)

 

·      Health/Medical: World Health Organization (WHO) officials in South Asia estimate as many as five million people have been displaced and are at risk across the region. In Indonesia alone an estimated 1 million people are either displaced or homeless. Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs says at least 1.6 million people affected by the disaster are in need of food aid. Assessments reports from Aceh’s west coast have yet to come in. WHO says an estimated 500,000 people are believed to have been injured in the tsunami. Officials are warning of a “health disaster” if the survivors are not treated to prevent infection and are not given quick access to clean drinking water. There have been some reports of diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia and skin infections in Indonesia. Ingestion of dirty water from the tsunami has increased the risk of pneumonia. Contamination of drinking water sources and stagnant water have increased the risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, malaria and dengue fever. With the lack of services in some areas, wounds have quickly become infected. Measles will spread more easily as people’s systems are worn down. Food and medicine in many areas are in short supply. Due to warm temperatures, the risk of malaria, which is endemic to the region, remains high. (Dec-30, UN News Service, PBS) However, so far there have been no reports of disease outbreaks. WHO is encouraging setting up smaller-sized camps for displaced survivors. WHO Director-General Dr. Lee Jong-Wook says smaller camp sizes will lessen the risk of disease outbreaks that can otherwise spread easily when people are packed together.

 

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

 

o      WHO is saying that new security restrictions imposed by the Indonesian government, stemming from an ongoing armed conflict between the government and separatist GAM rebels in Aceh, would hinder access to many wounded and injured people needing urgent medical care in hard-to-reach places.

 

o      UNICEF is seeking US$80 million in urgent humanitarian aid for an estimated 1.5 million children in the region.

 

·      Security: Yesterday (January 11), citing security concerns, the Indonesian government introduced new regulations requiring humanitarian relief organizations to seek the Indonesian military’s approval and escort before moving beyond major cities. Budi Atmadi, Indonesia’s director of disaster relief in Aceh, says the new regulations are aimed at improving coordination and eliminating duplication of efforts. The UN is saying that it did not believe the new regulations would hinder its work. The Australian government is supporting the Indonesian government’s demand. However, some non-governmental organizations, such as Mercy Corps, have said the new regulations may have an effect on their operations. Meanwhile, Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla is saying he expects foreign troops in Aceh to finish their relief missions within 90 days--a move that is perceived by some analysts as the government’s attempt to reassert its military control over the tsunami-ravaged and conflict-torn province. Indonesian officials deny the allegation.

 

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

 

o      Ministers and delegates from more than 80 countries met at the UN headquarters in the Swiss capital of Geneva today to discuss the Asian tsunami disaster. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), which called the meeting, said that some 70 percent (US$717 million) of the funds, in response to its nearly US$1 billion “flash appeal” on January 6, have already been raised and are available for immediate spending. Jan Egeland, UN UnderSecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, has called the international response “unprecedented” and generous, and expressed hope that the remaining contributions will materialize over the next few days. Upon UN insistence, donors also promised that funds would be “new” money and unlike in the past, aid funds would not be switched from other budgeted disasters. (Jan-11, Reuters, AFP, AP)

 

o      The G7 group of seven industrialized nations will freeze debt repayments for countries hit by the tsunami and will work with the Paris Club and other creditors to implement the decision. The EU President, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg advocates full debt relief for tsunami nations. (Jan-9, AFP)

 

o      Kuwait has increased its aid pledge for countries affected by the tsunami from US$30 million to US$100 million. The package includes US$30 million in cash, and US$70 million will be used to finance infrastructure projects through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in the affected countries. (Jan-9, KNA)

 

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

 

o      Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said yesterday (Sunday, January 10) that his office was working with international financial experts, including the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, to devise a public tracking system on the Internet that would allow donors to track the progress and utilization of their contributions as they make their way to those in need. (Jan-10, IHT)

 

·      International Development & Relief Organizations: International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a consolidated appeal for US$59 million for the crisis. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is using Singapore as a regional hub.

 

o      The international development and relief organization, Oxfam, is calling upon international donors to guarantee that nearly US$4 billion pledged last week to help nations affected by last month’s Asian tsunami crisis is new money. In a report released today, Oxfam said it was concerned that some major donors may be “borrowing” from aid pledged for other crises, including Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. (Jan-10, Oxfam)

 

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

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview/Sectors……………………………………………….page 8

 

Domestic Response……………………………………………page 13

            Government                                                             

            Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response……………………………………….page 14

            Foreign Governments

            United Nations

            International Humanitarian Organizations

 

Overview: Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla today said that foreign troops should leave Aceh province as soon as they finish their mission and should stay no longer than three months. “Three months are enough. In fact, the sooner the better,” Kalla was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying. The militaries of the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and some other nations have all rushed troops to Aceh following the disaster. Kalla says that in the near future, Aceh would need foreign medical workers and engineers instead of military assistance. The comments come as the military imposes new restrictions on foreign aid workers in the province. Indonesian Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab said that it was a possibility that aid workers could be expelled if they did not inform the military (TNI) of travel plans outside Banda Aceh or Meulaboh on the west coast. The Government of Indonesia (GOI) yesterday said that new restrictions were needed because of the threat from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels. However, the GAM has said it would not attack aid workers. There has been mixed reactions from the UN and aid workers, with some officials saying that the restrictions would not hinder operations, while others have expressed fears that relief would be interrupted. Senior officials have also said foreign journalists would be confined to major towns in Aceh. Indonesian officials say that some 107,039 people were dead, while there was some 10,088 others missing. However, Budi Atmaji, chief of disaster operations in Aceh, puts the number missing at up to 131,476 people. Atmaji also puts the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at 391,887, whereas the Ministry of Social Affairs says that up to 655,132 displaced people were in camps across the provinceFor more than a week, US helicopters have been continuing to ferry food, water and medical supplies to isolated areas along Aceh’s west coast. The situation is still unclear for many areas along the coast, as thorough assessments have not been made or are just beginning to come in. Indonesia says it needs some US$2.15 billion dollars, double previous estimates, over the next five years to rebuild Aceh province.

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: UN setting up Civil-Military Operations Centre in Banda Aceh airport, which will include representatives of the TNI, US, Australia and Singapore Air Force. The population in the vicinity of Banda Aceh is about 500,000. In the northeastern districts of Indonesia, WFP reports that NGOs have registered a total Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) population of 140,000 in addition to the some 120,000 previously identified in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. Additionally, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) says that some 100,000 displaced persons have relocated to Medan from Aceh province. The Indonesian government reports that 80% of the roads and power infrastructure were destroyed along with virtually all the sanitation capability. Relief is flowing into Banda Aceh by road from Medan in North Sumatra Province, by air into the Banda Aceh airport from Medan, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and to a lesser degree into a partially operational commercial seaport nearby. Some semblance of normality is returning with hospitals, gas stations, and markets reopening.

 

West Coast of Aceh Province: US Marines flew a French medical team by helicopter to the city of Calang today and also delivered supplies to Indonesian troops in Meulaboh. Navy helicopter crews have flown hundreds of relief missions over the past two weeks. “At first we were sent to known airfields. Now we are doing targets of opportunity, looking for small groups of people who are isolated and need help,” the Associated Press quoted pilot Capt. David Shealy as saying. The United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) says that multi-sectoral assessment missions on the west coast will be carried out with rotary aircraft provided by the US military starting today (January 11). The largest death toll reported thus far is in Meulaboh, where some 28,251 people died, the Social Affairs Ministry reports. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that the first major convoy of some 50 trucks reached Meulaboh on Tuesday (January 11). The town had previously only been reached by air or sea as most major roads to the town had been washed away. Singapore’s Defence Ministry says that basic food, water and medical needs in the town have been met. The UN is setting up common office in the town, involving UNHCR, UNOCHA, WFP, UNICEF, the UNJLC and UNSECOORD. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it will operate along the west coast and focus on providing shelter along with essential items, logistics and transport. The chief of UN operations in Indonesia, Joel Boutroue, says that most communities in Aceh province have been reached by the relief effort, however, some remote coastal areas have yet to be helped. The 155-mile west coast of Aceh Province, with a population of about one million, was closest to the epicenter. The WFP reports that an initial inter-agency assessment down the western coast found that the most severe area of impact is between Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. South of Meulaboh the damage is reportedly less severe but populations are still in need of assistance.

 

Sector Status

Affected Population

Perhaps up to 1.5 million total affected in Indonesia. Number of IDP numbers released by the government range from 391,887 up to 655,132 displaced people.

Coordination

GOI chief of disaster relief in Aceh, Budi Atmadi, says the new restrictions on aid workers were aimed at improving coordination for relief, which has been hampered by lack of organization. (Jan-12, AFP) According to the World Food Program(WFP), Atmadi attempted to clarify the new policy: “Foreigners are free to operate in Banda Aceh and its surroundings (Banda Besar) as well as Meulaboh. However, cooperation and coordination with the government is required for travel outside of those areas.” (Jan-12, WFP)

 

The UN has identified 3 priorities for Indonesia: 1) Assist IDPs in camps; 2) Support local officials in establishing relocation centers in accordance with international standards, and 3) Assist vulnerable people. (Jan-11, USAID)

 

Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi says that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a ministerial meeting in Jakarta that he wanted Indonesia to be in almost total charge of the relief effort in the country within 3 months of the disaster.

 

The Indonesian Government on Monday (January 10) established a joint Disaster Management Centre (DMC) with the United Nations, which will prioritize the management and coordination of relief efforts.

 

Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab has been tasked by Indonesian President Yudhoyono to coordinate GOI response to the disaster.

Logistics

TNI chief General Endriartono Sutarto says that the TNI would accompany and monitor aid groups outside of Banda Aceh. He says that aid groups would need permission first from the TNI to operate outside of Banda Aceh and that the measures were needed to protect aid workers from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Additionally, each military aircraft or ship operating in the country is to have an Indonesian “liaison officer” aboard, and they will be given clearance to operate in the province for a maximum of 14 days. Sutarto says TNI will manage flight and ship clearance for all foreign military and civilian operations in Aceh. (Jan-11, AFP, DPA) GOI says it is possible for aid workers to be expelled if they did not follow the new requirements. Most UN officials say the restrictions should not hinder relief work, while some aid officials say work may be impeded.

 

USS Abraham Lincoln diverted to international waters to allow fighter pilots to maintain level of flight skills. Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr John M. Daniels says that the diversion would not interrupt the stream of helicopter aid flights along the west coast of Sumatra. (Jan-12, AP)

 

Indonesian government says that an airstrip at Sabang on Weh island, located 18 miles (30 kilometers) north of Banda Aceh, would begin 24-hour operations to relieve congestion at Banda Aceh’s airport. (Jan-11, AFP)

 

The UNJLC says that a proposal for adding additional cargo handling capacity for aid groups at Banda Aceh airport has been approved by the TNI. The team will work with the Australian, British and Malaysian offload teams currently at the airport. (Jan-11, UNJLC)

 

Indonesian Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab says that there are still many problems in distribution, principally a shortage of fuel and transport. Problems with congestion at Banda Aceh and Medan airports continue, UNOCHA reports. In an effort to relieve the logjam at the airports, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), begins a steady stream of road convoys from Jakarta to Aceh. The UN, with WFP and the UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) in the lead has a regional hub at Malaysia’s Subang Air Base in Kuala Lumpur. The UNJLC reports that the Meulaboh airfield is damaged. The land route from Medan to Meulaboh has been reported open by UNJLC, however, there is no confirmation that it is passable. The land route from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh is reported to be inaccessible by aid groups who attempted passage. The UNJLC in Indonesia is coordinating humanitarian cargo and flights with donors, agencies, available airlift, and Indonesia. The road from Medan to Banda Aceh is open, although there are some security concerns. There are seaports at Medan, in Aceh Province southeast of Banda Aceh, and a limited-capability commercial port near Banda Aceh itself. UNJLC says the port in Medan suffers delays and that more assessments are needed. There are no operating ports along the west coast.

Food

The World Food Program (WFP) feeding more than 300,000 people in Aceh, including 160,000 along the northeast coast. Agency expects the number receiving food to increase to 500,000 in the next two weeks. (Jan-12, WFP)

 

The UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) says that US military will conduct several flights with C17s to transport high-energy biscuits from Dhaka to Banda Aceh. Remaining 166 tons of biscuits will be shipped to Singapore for later transport to Aceh. (Jan-11, UNJLC)

 

Water and Sanitation

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that many organizations are addressing water and sanitation issues at various settlements. Limited UNICEF water and sanitation supplies have arrived. UNICEF supporting construction of latrines and washing facilities at camps and in schools. (Jan-12, UNOCHA)

The UN has asked British-based NGO Oxfam to help coordinate the water/sanitation sector response to the disaster. (Jan-11, Guardian)

Oxfam says it is currently working to provide water in north Aceh. Work to rehabilitate water supplies and latrines in Meulaboh has started. UNICEF, Oxfam, the Australian military, and many others are addressing the water situation.

Public Health/Medical

World Health Organization (WHO) reiterates that so far, no outbreaks reported. The GOI Ministry of Health (MOH) is working with Denmark on strengthening disease control in the form of entomology, epidemiology and water/sanitation expertise. (Jan-12, WHO)

 

WHO and MOH and 29 other partners have developed a basic EWARN (Early warning) electronic disease outbreak surveillance system. Public health surveillance lab capacity available in Banda Aceh in approximately two days. (Jan-12, WHO)

 

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) says that the Indonesian government has requested that countries send medical teams with expertise, mobile clinics, and/or ambulances rather than more field hospitals. Government has identified the following needs: Disinfectant, antiseptics, and food for infants and young children. (Jan-11, USAID)

 

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) confirmed two cases of measles yesterday. Because of highly contagious nature of disease, UN considers one case to be an outbreak. However, UN confident “outbreaks” have been contained because of quick response. UNICEF had been in midst of campaign to immunize some 600,000 against the disease. Immunization drive expected to take some 3 weeks to complete.

 

Cases of pneumonia, diarrhea, respiratory and skin diseases, people suffering from mental trauma reported. Vitamin A campaign ongoing for children. Doctors say most significant problems are pneumonia, septic wounds, fractures and tetanus.

Shelter

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has made shelter materials available for some 100,000 people. (Jan-11, USAID)

 

The Minister of People’s Welfare Alwi Shihab says that the government would construct some 24 relief camps for the displaced within a week. Shihab says that up to 34 relocation points would be set up to relocate the displaced. He says that it will take up to 3 weeks to create wooden barracks for temporary housing. Oxfam says that there were over 100,000 people in some 200 makeshift camps across the province with populations ranging from 30 to more than 3,000. The UN plans to provide tents and supplies for 500,000.

Infrastructure

To be provided

Security

Government announces new restrictions on aid workers working outside of Banda Aceh, saying there was a growing threat from separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels. Aid workers have been restricted to Banda Aceh and the town of Meulaboh on the west coast. Travel outside of those areas would need permission and would be accompanied by TNI escort. However, GAM has stated that they have no intention to attack any aid workers and were sticking to a unilateral ceasefire. Humanitarian workers generally have expressed that they feel no direct threat from the rebels. Both the TNI and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have announced unilateral ceasefires shortly after the disaster, but some clashes have been reported. Unidentified TNI officer in Meulaboh says TNI does not want aid workers venturing outside the town from 7pm until 5 am. Says aid workers have not been adhering to the “voluntary curfew.” Jan-12, AFP)

 

TNI chief General Endriartono Sutarto says that the military has offered the GAM amnesty if they hand over their weapons and help relief efforts. Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda says that the government was holding initial ceasefire talks with the rebels and that there has so far been only a “gentlemen’s agreement” between the two sides to halt fighting. A GAM statement Wednesday (January 12) says that the GAM has also offered talks to find ways of making the ceasefire work. (Jan-11, AFP)

 

Officials from the US and Australia says they have assessed potential threats and were satisfied TNI was providing enough security. (Jan-11, DPA).

 

The UN has set the security status in Banda Aceh at three and four outside the city, five being the most dangerous on the UN’s scale. Level four means staff not allowed to venture out alone or at night, level five leads to the withdrawal of UN staff. Armed guards have been posted at the UN compound in Banda Aceh, however, UN officials say they are just part of normal security operations for aid operations.

 

Domestic Response

 

Local Government

 

·       Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab says that some 500 personnel have been sent from Jakarta to help in the recovery of bodies. (Jan-12, DPA)

 

·       Government of Indonesia (GOI) says that it plans to immediately set up makeshift schools in some 95 locations near camps for the displaced. (Jan-12, Xinhua)

 

·       Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi says that Indonesia would dispatch three army battalions, one mobile police battalion and 1,000 military cadets, some 3,000 total, to help with the effort to recover and bury bodies. TNI spokesperson in Aceh, Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki, says that more than 5,000 troops have already been sent to Aceh, in addition to the 38,000 already there in the military operation against the GAM. (Jan-11, AP, AFP)

 

·       The Indonesian Government today established a joint Disaster Management Centre (DMC) with the United Nations, which will prioritize the management and coordination of relief efforts. Assessments will be collected at the DMC to provide useable information for prioritization of needs in order to better assist the affected. UN will assist the government with resources of UNOCHA and UNJLC. Six UN staff will be based at the DMC. (Jan-10, UNOCHA)

 

·       A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team under WHO will support the Indonesian Ministry of Health in conducting health facilities assessment. (Jan-9, WHO)

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Local Organizations

 

 

 

International Response

 

Foreign Governments

 

·       After days of negotiations, US agrees to scale back some operations at GOI request. US agreed for troops not to carry weapons on Indonesian soil and for majority of troops to return to ships after each day’s operations. USS Abraham Lincoln diverted to international waters to allow fighter pilots to maintain level of training. Spokesperson Lt. Cmdr John M. Daniels says that the diversion did not interrupt the stream of helicopter aid flights along the west coast of Sumatra. (Jan-12, AP)

 

·       German supply/hospital ship Berlin, which also has a field hospital, will arrive offshore Banda Aceh on January 13. (Jan-11, UNJLC)

 

·       Brunei sends team of doctors, nurse, health personnel and volunteers to Banda Aceh. (Jan-11, Government of Brunei)

 

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

 

·       Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia says some 970 troops will be sent, including two C-130 planes, five helicopters and three naval ships to Aceh. (Jan-10, AP) Advance team of Japan’s Self Defense Forces (SDF) began a survey of medical conditions in Banda Aceh. An additional 40 members as well as relief supplies headed towards region. Japanese Defense Chief, Yoshinori Ohno promised Sunday (January 9) that Japan would keep troops in Indonesia for at least 3 months, as requested by Jakarta. (Jan-6, Kyodo; Jan-9, AFP) A C-130 provided by the Japanese Self-Defense Force is transporting relief from UNHCR from Utapao (Thailand) to Medan, daily. (Jan-11, UNJLC)

 

·       Pakistan has sent 87 army engineers and paramedics. Two transport planes have already left, carrying relief and personnel to Indonesia. Other personnel are in Indonesia setting up a field hospital and doing relief work. (Jan-10, AP) Pakistan sent 2 tons of medicines to Banda Aceh. Troops will set up a 50-bed hospital in the area. (Jan-6, DPA)

 

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

 

·       New Zealand over the weekend deployed three more groups of some 30 members of the Defence Force Light Medical Team to Banda Aceh. (Jan-10, Government of New Zealand).

 

·       Malaysia offers to further extend amnesty for illegal migrant workers in Malaysia, should the Indonesian government request. Indonesian workers make up the bulk of more than a million illegal workers in Malaysia and Malaysia had said it would deport all illegal workers from the country. Amnesty was due to expire on Dec. 31, but Malaysia last week extended it for one month. (Jan-9, AFP). Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says that Malaysia will help rebuild Sumatra island for up to the next 10 years, including the construction of schools and other infrastructure for the some 35,000 orphans in Aceh. (Jan-9, AP) Malaysia opened its airspace and two airports to UN and Australia relief operations. The UN’s World Food Program/UN Joint Logistics Center is using Subang airport, located outside Kuala Lumpur, while Australia is using Butterworth in the northern part of peninsula Malaysia.

 

·       A total of 35 Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) staff are in AusAID’s Indonesian response team. A team arrived in Banda Aceh yesterday (January 8) to assess priorities of needs. AusAid will do an assessment of the offshore island of Simuelue from today through January 13. The team will deliver some 12 tons of emergency supplies. (Jan-9, AusAID) Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill said that the number of Australian Defence Force personnel in Indonesian region is over 460, and will increase by another 400 with arrival of the HMAS Kanimbla. Australia also will send public health team and plastic water bottles to Banda Aceh region in response to Indonesian government request. (Jan-7, GoA) With Malaysia’s authorization, Australia is operating out of its old airfield Butterworth near Penang Island at the north of peninsula Malaysia.

 

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

 

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

 

·       European Commission (EC) contributions:

·       Belgium has sent relief materials.

·       Czech Republic has sent medical supplies and body bags.

·       Germany and France have sent additional experts on site.

·       France has sent a field hospital.

·       Denmark is supplying a field hospital and relief team.

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

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

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

·       Portugal will send medical supplies, a field hospital and a medical team in order to set up an epidemiological monitoring system. (Jan-5, European Commission)

·       France is sending helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc and the frigate George Leygues to provide medical aid in Aceh. (Jan 2, AFP)

 

United Nations

 

 

·       UNICEF is sending mobile schools to Sumatra and are expected to arrive in a few days. UNICEF says some 420 schools had been destroyed and 1,000 teachers killed in Aceh. (Jan-10, AP) UNICEF says it has begun registering thousands of orphans in Aceh to protect them. UNICEF is also working with Indonesia’s government to set up child centers to help reunite children separated from their families. UNICEF says it is looking ahead to establish 600 schools to serve some 120,000 children in quake-hit areas of Sumatra. (Jan 2, AP)

 

 

 

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

 

·       World Health Organization (WHO) says that it is providing guidance to national authorities and other NGOs to ensure rapid recovery and rehabilitation of public health services. WHO is appealing for US$60 million to address public health needs. (Jan-5, WHO) WHO reports 50 international aid groups in Aceh to provide medical care. (January 2). WHO is organizing these disparate organizations and providing coordination. (Jan 2, AFP)

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

International Humanitarian Relief Organizations

 

·       Save the Children identifying children separated from parents from disaster across some 17 camps so far. (Jan-11, Save the Children).

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

·       The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that it has sent its first shipment of some 160 tons of relief goods for some 40,000 people to Banda Aceh, which should arrive in about 6 days. ICRC says it currently has enough goods for some 300,000 people and the group is exploring other routes to bypass congested distribution points. (Jan-9, Channelnews Asia) Field Assessment and Coordination Teams (FACT) from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are active in Meulaboh and Banda Aceh. IFRC delegates from Britain, Australia, Spain and Iceland, Japan and Denmark are present in Medan, Meulaboh, and Banda Aceh. These delegates are working in conjunction with Indonesian Red Cross to train and mobilize local volunteers.

 

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview/Sectors………………………………………..page 20

 

Domestic Response…………………………………….page 22

            Government

            Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response…………………………………page 22

            Foreign Governments

            United Nations

            International Humanitarian Organizations

 

 

Overview: Emergency coordinators believe aid is reaching all survivors. Marking the transition in emphasis from rescue and relief to recovery, President Chandrika Kumaratunga says reconstruction is a priority. The confirmed death toll in Sri Lanka reached 30,882, spread over 14 coastal and inland districts (out of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts). Approximately 6,088 people remain missing, while 15,166 people were injured. More than 93,500 houses were destroyed, and 169 schools damaged or destroyed. 504,440 people are displaced, including 283,557 who are living in temporary camps and shelters. The 20-year conflict between the government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the north and east may be hampering delivery to those areas. A European monitoring team, headed by Trond Furuhovde, is attempting to reduce tensions between the government and the insurgent LTTE. Sri Lanka is welcoming assistance from the UN, foreign governments, and humanitarian organizations.

 

Sector Status

 

Affected

Population

Over 500,000 remain internally displaced with numbers decreasing; some sources report nearly 500,000 in camps or public buildings. Other sources have 200,000+ staying with family or friends. 750,000 will receive food, for up to six months. Over 500 camps remain. The GoSL is identifying land for relocation so that schools and other public buildings can be evacuated for their intended use.

 

 

Coordination

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) established the Center for National Operations (CNO) under the direct authority of the Prime Minister. The CNO serves as the focal point for the coordination of relief work, including coordination of line ministries, and all provincial and governmental bodies. The center also provides links to sectoral ministries and serves as the interface between the government, NGOs, and the UN. The UN is working closely with the government, coordinating sector by sector. Information is compiled and disseminated through a government website (http://www.cnosrilanka.org). The GoSL has also set up a Task Force for Logistics and Law and Order, which will set up a tracking system for all relief goods. The Disaster Relief Network (DRN) has set up operations at the airport in Colombo and signed an agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka to receive all incoming relief commodities. The Sri Lanka Ministry of Health is coordinating all medical supplies and skilled personnel. All assistance at the district level is being coordinated by GoSL agents supported by UN interagency teams deployed to affected areas.

 

Logistics

There is a UN On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) and a UN Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) presence in the capital Colombo. UNJLC runs the Logistics Operations Center. Organizations sending relief commodities must check in. Operations at the Port of Colombo are functioning smoothly. Backlogs at the airport have largely been cleared, and handling of humanitarian cargo is proceeding smoothly. Humanitarian supplies are trucked south to Galle on a road largely cleared of impediments and using temporary bridges. Beyond Galle, and in the east, roads degrade. There is limited capacity for secondary transport on land, with difficulties mobilizing delivery trucks for distribution to districts and beneficiaries. The Roads Development Authority (RDA) is focusing on the reconstruction of the highway in the East. Particularly, the highway from Potuwil to Trincomalee has been severely damaged by the tidal waves.

 

Food

The World Food Program (WFP) announced that it met its goal of distributing a 15-day food ration to 750,000 beneficiaries, dispatching 5,000 MT of its food, plus another 1,200 MT of GoSL-purchased food using 600 trucks. WFP is now working on delivery for the next 15-day period using 50 trucks. WFP expects to be delivering food for six months. WFP has sub-offices in the south in Galle and in the east in Ampara, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa; WFP is establishing a sub-office in the northern LTTE-controlled city of Jaffna to facilitate distribution. Ration cards will be distributed nationwide to facilitate even distribution of supplies. WFP and World Vision are developing a child nutrition program. The Center for National Operations (CNO) sees reviving the fishing industry with its 20,000 damaged or destroyed boats (70% of total) as a key to food self-sufficiency and employment.

 

Water and

Sanitation

The Ministry of Health announced that there are sufficient supplies of chlorine and water purification tablets in all districts. WHO, UNICEF, and Oxfam working water and sanitation plan. Sanitation facilities are deemed inadequate in Kalmunai, south of Batticaloa, and water tanks are not being chlorinated in Batticaloa district.

 

Public Health

and Medical

World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asia Director Samlee Plianbangchang says no disease outbreaks in first critical month. WHO Director General Lee Jong-Wook says the health of Sri Lankan tsunami survivors is under control. WHO is working plan for disease surveillance at the district level.

 

Shelter

Immediate needs are being met by over 500 camps, plus schools, places of worship, and other public buildings. Schools in non-affected areas and those that are not being used as welfare camps reopened on Monday, January 10. The government plans to reopen schools in the affected areas on January 20. A total of 278 schools are currently being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. As such, there is an urgent need for “mid-term” temporary shelters. Quantities of plastic sheeting and tents have been brought in for the camps. President Kumaratunga said GoSL will replace lost homes at no cost to the owners within three months.
Infrastructure

World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency negotiating US$3 billion aid package with GoSL for rebuilding. Sri Lanka to be one of three countries to get G7 debt delay. Roads are being repaired to facilitate deliveries. Reconstruction plans are in progress, but nothing has yet been rebuilt. GoSL will extend its current and oft ignored ban on building within 50 meters of the sea to 200 meters.

 

Security

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were disappointed that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan acceded to GoSL requests and did not go to LTTE-controlled areas. It is reported that Mr. Annan met