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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

June 22, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Overview......................................page 2-4

Indonesia.....................................page 5-11

Sri Lanka.....................................page 12-17

Thailand.......................................page 18-23

Overview

 

·      The overall focus of attention is on long-term 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 232,010 (Jun-22, Reuters) 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. The change in the number missing reflects the identification of people who were listed as missing but were actually among those displaced after the disaster destroyed their homes. Over 1.7 million are reported to be homeless.

 

·      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 dead and missing toll in Sri Lanka climbed to nearly 39,000. 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.

 

·      The world’s largest reinsurer, Munich Re, initially estimated the total cost of the disaster will exceed US$13.6 billion. In February, 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) 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. 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.

 

·      A UN-sponsored tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean region is scheduled to be launched during a meeting of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) on June 21-30 in the French capital Paris. A permanent warning system currently under development is expected to be fully operational by July 2006. (Jun-14, PTI)

 

·      Coordination: The UN announced an agreement with Price Waterhouse Coopers for 8,000 hours of pro bono work to monitor disbursement of the US$977 million tsunami relief fund. (Mar-14, UN)

 

• The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, announced a website to track funds pledged, while also urging that more attention should be given to the world’s neglected humanitarian emergencies. The website will be accessible through www.reliefweb.int and will have information on pledges received and disbursed. (May-24, UNNS)

 

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

 

·      Food: FAO says overall food availability in the region is adequate to cover needs. WFP says it is providing food to more than 1.9 million people. (Apr-26, Indonesia Relief) FAO reports that as of February 9, funds approved for FAO total US$31.1 million. Germany, Norway and the UK have made commitments to FAO’s newly established Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA). FAO will be focused on the agriculture and fisheries sectors in tsunami-affected areas of the region. (June-6, FAO)

 

·      Health/Medical: WHO estimates 500,000 people were injured. There were scattered reports of diarrhea, malaria, dengue, measles, pneumonia, tetanus and skin infections, but no outbreaks.

 

o      The WHO said it and other humanitarian organizations must change the way they respond to natural disasters.  A future agenda would focus more on health and psychological trauma, cut down on duplication of tasks and promote greater civilian-military coordination.  Reuters reports that a controversial recommendation by the WHO was that the UN would create a rapid assessment of what was required and then requisition military support agreed upon in advance.  Officials said that they set a six-month deadline for reform. 

 

·      Security: Reports of continued violence in Sri Lanka’s east; Sporadic clashes between TNI and GAM in Aceh also reported.

 

·       Political-Military: No new information available

 

·      International Assistance: At least US$9 billion has been raised for affected countries thus far. (May-20, Reuters).

 

·       In a report sponsored by UK-based ActionAid, the independent Indian research group, the Institute for Human Development, says that only 39 percent of the some US$6.7 billion dollars pledged by governments, agencies and private donors, had reached those affected by the disaster. (Jun-22, AFP)

 

·    David Nabarro, crisis chief at the World Health Organization (WHO), says that the tsunami relief effort is in a critical phase: “We’re now in the more tricky period of recovery. The next three months are key. That’s when we have to make sure everything maintains its momentum.” (Jun-23, AFP)

 

·    UN special envoy for tsunami relief, former US President Bill Clinton, on Wednesday (June 22) made an appeal for continued aid for Southeast Asia, nearly 6 months after it was hit by the disaster. Clinton praised the “rapid response” by countries, NGOs, the UN, and private donors, but stressed that “the recovery effort has a long way to go.” Priorities include establishing an early warning system and creating a reporting system to ensure that donations are being used as intended. (Jun-22, AFP)

 

·    UN agencies, at a meeting organized by the UN Development Program (UNDP), said on May 25 that countries hit by the disaster will take at least 5 to 10 years to recover with the help of international aid. Experts said that efforts are needed to tackle problems with conflict, poverty, and land disputes that existed before the disaster. (May-23, AFP)

 

·    Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said on April 6 that the UN was raising its initial appeal of US$970 million to US$1.08 billion. (Apr-6, Reuters)

 

·       The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that estimates from India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand put the combined costs of the fisheries sector alone at some US$520 million. (May-19, FAO)

 

·       The Director of the Secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Salvano Briceno, speaking to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) Assembly in Paris, reports rapid progress in the setting up of a tsunami early warning system in the Indian Ocean. Briceno reported the upgrading of an Indian Ocean observing system under UNESCO/IOC leadership; improvements to regional telecommunications system for exchanging hazard data and warning messages by the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO); and the establishment of national tsunami centers by India, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries. (Jun-22, UNNC)

 

·    According to Visa International, travel and tourism spending is experiencing a new slump despite an initial recovery in March. The study shows that spending by cardholders fell in April and May in Phuket, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives compared to last year. “We found that US$3 billion is likely to be lost from the tourism industry in the region…” James Murray, Visa’s executive vice-president for Southeast Asia told the conference. (May-25, CNN)

 

·       International Development & Relief Organizations:

§       The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on May 9 launched a US$1.2 billion million 5-year plan to help 10 countries to rebuild. (May-24, Reuters)

 

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 6

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 8

Overview: The death toll stands at 131,029, with some 37,000 others reported to be missing. Some 2,226 more bodies were found between May 6 and June 18 in Banda Aceh and the west coast, according to the GoI. (Jun-22, Reuters, AP, GoI) The Indonesian government (GoI) 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. 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 Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) says that there are over 500,000 IDPs in Aceh and over 22,000 in Nias. In Aceh, about 250,000 are staying in tents, while some 150,000 are in temporary government shelters. The remaining 100,000 are either staying with host families or are rebuilding their homes. Head of the BRR, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, says that he encourages IDPs to return to their land and to come to a consensus about the rebuilding of their villages and to then propose the plans to the BRR. (Jun-19, GoI)

 

The next round of peace talks between the Indonesian government and separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels will focus on troop withdrawal from the restive Aceh province.  Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awalluddin, who is also the government’s chief negotiator for the peace talks, told reporters yesterday (Tuesday, June 21), “Among the items that will be discussed are ways to end the military conflict in Aceh by withdrawing the armed forces of the two parties.”  The comments are in stark contrast to remarks made by TNI Commander General Endriartono Sutarto last month that the military would not withdraw from Aceh as requested by GAM, and that the military operations against the rebels would continue.  Responding to media questions, Hamid said, “There will be no problem with the TNI since they are fully committed and supportive of the peace talks.”  He said arrangements for the granting of amnesties and economic compensation for the rebels are among other items that would also be discussed in the upcoming peace talks.  The fifth round of peace talks is scheduled for July 12 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.  The Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), headed by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, is mediating peace talks between rebels and the government.  Since January this year, four rounds of peace talks have been held in Helsinki, which have been largely positive. (Jun-2, Jakarta Post, Xinhua)

 

The government of Indonesia said Monday (June 20) that it hoped the separatist conflict in Aceh province could be resolved by August through peace talks.  Indonesian Information Minister Sofyan Djalil says that several rounds of talks between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Jakarta had resolved nearly all differences between the two sides and both sides were close to a final agreement.  “We expect the whole issue will be solved by August.  About 90 percent of the issues have been actually settled,” Djalil said.  Despite the apparent progress of the peace talks, domestic criticism has been raised over the pace of the peace process. There has been growing dissent from Indonesian legislators and the army over what they say is undeserved preferential treatment given to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Security Minister Widodo Adisucipto earlier this month said that Jakarta would not give in to demands by the rebels for political representation, while the military has reiterated its rejection of rebel calls for a ceasefire in Aceh.  In the past several weeks, the peace process hit several apparent roadblocks when the Indonesian government announced that it would not be giving in to a key GAM demand for political representation, in return for the GAM’s withdrawal of its key demand for autonomy. The rebels had recently agreed to drop their demand for independence or a plebiscite in favor of limited autonomy, provided that they are allowed political representation at elections. The military had also announced that its offensive against the GAM rebels would continue, despite the ongoing peace talks. (Jun-20, AFP)

 

The Indonesian government on May 11 said that foreign aid workers can extend their visas for another month. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of the government’s rebuilding agency for Aceh says that the extension would allow his agency to assess the work of the aid organizations. (May-11, AP) The government has required foreign aid groups to give detailed reports of their activities so the government could decide whether the visas will be extended.  Some observers say some nationalist politicians and the military are suspicious of foreign groups and may fear the presence of aid groups might increase international sympathy for the GAM rebels in Aceh.  The Indonesian government also said on May 2 that foreign aid groups that want to continue working in Aceh province will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that they will not “interfere in the country’s domestic affairs” or support the separatist movement. 

 

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed members to an agency which will oversee the reconstruction of Aceh province, called the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR-Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi) for Aceh and Nias.  The agency will be headed by former mines and energy minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who will manage the some US$4.84 billion fund for reconstructing Aceh and Nias.  (May-9, Reuters, BBC)

 

BRR head Kuntoro says that after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, around US$1.2 billion in foreign aid is ready to be spent on reconstruction projects in Aceh. Indonesian House of Representatives on June 4 approved 8.2 trillion rupiah (US$863 million) for fiscal year 2005 for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh and Nias (Jun-12, GOI). Reuters reported that the GoI has set aside some US$635 million for rebuilding. Kuntoro says that he does not expect those funds to be made available until September. (May-19, Reuters). On June 9, BRR approved 172 of the 187 projects it reviewed valued at US$586 million. (Jun-12, GOI)

 

GOI put the December 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. 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)

 

Indonesia to receive US$400 million of a total of US$857 million aid package pledged by the United States for tsunami-affected countries. (May-26, Reuters)

 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on April 20 said that it plans to lend some US$519 million to Indonesia in 2005. (Apr-20, ADB)

 

The World Bank reported May 10 that at the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Aceh and North Sumatra, some US$250 million in grant financing was approved for Aceh and Nias. (May-10, World Bank)

 

Idwan Suhardi, a senior researcher at the ministry of research and technology, says that Indonesia will have a basic tsunami warning system in place by the end of 2005 that will incorporate mosque speakers to warn villagers. However, he says that a more comprehensive network will take much longer to produce. (Jun-17, AP) Indonesia will unveil a national tsunami warning system in August as part of a regional network aimed at preventing a repeat of the destruction caused by the tsunami on December 26, 2004. (Jun-1, JP)

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: City returning to some semblance of normalcy. UNJLC reports that there are somewhere between 150-200 NGOs in Banda Aceh. (Feb-23, UNJLC)

 

West Coast of Aceh Province/Western Islands: 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, mainly on the island of Nias. (Mar-10, Jakarta Post) The west coast of Aceh had a population of about one million in its six regencies, with about 500,000 in the heavily damaged northern three and 500,000 in the southern three.

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview…………………………………………………..page 12

 

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 15

 

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 38,940. (Jun-22, Reuters) Of the total, approximately 5,000 have been declared missing. (May-3, DPA) 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. The GoSL said on April 28 that around 50,000 people in Sri Lanka made homeless by the tsunami are still in tents and relief centers. The GoSL and aid groups have built temporary housing for some 77,000.

 

Following a meeting with the Norwegian peace envoy Vidar Helgesen today (Wednesday, June 22), Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels said that they agree with Norway's final draft of  a controversial tsunami-aid sharing deal and will not re-negotiate it. Helgesen met with LTTE rebel leaders in rebel-held Kilinochchi area, about 320 km (200 miles) north of Colombo, for talks on the deal, which will allow the equitable distribution of foreign tsunami aid in the country. Expectations had been high that the meeting would result in the finalization of the agreement. However, Norwegian negotiators reportedly told the LTTE to be prepared for further delays caused by political wrangling in Colombo. Helgesen, who met with President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday, said that although the government had a strong commitment to the agreement, officially known as the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS), a timetable still had to be decided. "The Norwegian facilitators requested us to keep patient until the dust has settled in the South," said S. Puleedevan, head of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat. A major sticking point in Colombo has been the inclusion of the Muslim minority population in the deal. Foreign diplomats say that that the government is still trying to decide how much aid the Muslim minority will receive. Helgesen reportedly informed Kumaratunga of concerns by Muslim parties to be "an equal party and a signatory to the agreement." Sri Lanka's Muslim community, the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka after the Tamils, was also hard hit by the tsunami. Most of them live in the country's east, where the LTTE has some influence. The P-TOMS is meant to allow committees from the LTTE, the government and Muslims to discuss and monitor tsunami aid projects. Last week, a key party in President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s ruling coalition withdrew in protest against the aid-sharing deal, which it said would help solidify the LTTE’s goal of establishing a Tamil state. The withdrawal has reduced Kumuratunga’s government to a minority, however, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has agreed to not to try to force her out of power.  The BBC reports that it is likely that the aid deal will go forward because the president’s credibility is now linked to her commitment to the US$3 billion aid deal, which is backed by the international community. The international community also believes a successful deal could result in the resumption of peace talks between the LTTE and the government, which stalled in April 2003.

 

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) say that the joint mechanism plan to distribute international tsunami aid could help to revive stalled peace talks in the country.  The chief of the LTTE’s political wing, S.P. Thamilselvan, says that the government must also agree to discuss the LTTE’s demands for interim self-rule in the Tamil-dominated north and east.  “Most certainly we welcome such a gesture from the government to sign (the joint mechanism).  But having said that, just signing the agreement is not going to pave the way for peace talks.  Implementation is the most important aspect.  Immediately after implementation, if sincere action is taken, well and good, it will open the way for the peace process,” Thamilselvan said.  The comments were reportedly in contrast to LTTE warnings earlier this month that the delays in signing the tsunami aid deal risked putting Sri Lanka into a “very serious and dangerous” situation.  Thamilselvan added that the LTTE is asking Colombo not to “politicize” tsunami relief.  He says that although the proposed joint aid distribution plan was not a part of the Norwegian-brokered peace process, it could be used as a confidence-building measure.  Although it has been six months since the tsunami killed or left missing some 39,000 people, international aid to the affected areas had been held up because of disagreements within the government.  President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s shaky coalition government was recently reduced to a minority in parliament after her Marxist ally, the JVP, quit her Freedom Alliance government in protest over the aid sharing deal.  However, observers say that despite Kumaratunga’s coalition losing the majority, the situation should not affect plans for the joint aid distribution deal.  In talks last week with UNP leader, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Kumaratunga was assured of the UNP's full support of the joint mechanism. According a spokesman of the UNP said, “We have made it clear that we (the UNP) will not make use of this crisis to bring the government down.” The LTTE has already signed a draft of the Norwegian-brokered pact.  Under the deal, committees will be comprised of rebels, government officials and Muslims, which can recommend, prioritize and monitor projects, according to Reuters.  The joint deal will initially last one year and can be extended later if both sides agree to an extension.   

 

After the closing day (May 16) of a two-day international donors meeting held in Kandy, officials say that donations and debt relief have reached some US$3 billion over a period of three to five years, nearly twice as much as what the government has estimated it will cost to rebuild.  (May-20, Reuters)

 

The government has estimated that it will cost up to US$1.6 billion to rebuild infrastructure destroyed or damaged.  The so-called Paris Club of rich creditor nations in March offered to freeze Sri Lanka’s $300 million in debt payments until the end of 2005.  The government has said it wishes to see that extended for three years.  (May-11, AFP) The Paris Club has agreed to allow the deferred payments to be repaid over five years, with a one-year grace period.  Sri Lanka owes the Paris Club some US$4.6 billion.

 

Australia has announced that tsunami relief from Australia to Sri Lanka is to be almost doubled from US$10 million to US$18 million, which will be targeted at six province in the northeastern region. (June-3, BBC) The World Bank doubled its commitment 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 approved some US$157.5 million. (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). 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)

 

On Friday (June 3), a group of nearly 100 aid agencies working in Sri Lanka, the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies, called for an end to violence in the country, saying that recent killings and ethnic tensions along the east coast districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa, have raised worries about the safety of agency staff. CARE and the nearly 100 other relief organizations are in the country to help rebuild Sri Lanka’s coastline.

 

The UN Environment Program warned on June 17 that tsunami waves may have upset some of the country’s key ecosystems. Tsunami waves have pushed seeds of so-called alien invasive species from coasts further inland. (Jun-17, AP)

 

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, with some figures saying up to 1 million (may-20, Reuters); over 100,000 still in camps or shelters, over 400,000 now living with relatives or friends. (Mar-24, Reuters) 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)   According to statistics published by the Tamil daily Virakesari, out of the total killed, some 12,562 were Muslims. Amparai district in the southeast accounted for 7,258 (58 percent) of the total number of Muslims who were killed in the disaster. Out of the overall figure of missing, some 1,980 (34 percent) were Muslims. 7,285 of the injured (48.5 percent) were Muslims. (May 16, Hindustan Times)
Coordination	On February 4th the Centre for National Operations (CNO) handed over responsibilities of continuing its main functions of collating and analyzing data, coordinating and facilitating relief measures connected to healthcare, education, foreign donor assistance and food relief. The Task Force for Relief (TAFOR) 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 Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES). Responsibilities connected to IDPs, Transit Camps, and liaison with the District Secretaries will be the task of the CGES. (Feb-9, UNJLC)   For further information, check the TAFREN website at http://www.tafren.gov.lk/ or the CNO website at http://www.cnosrilanka.org/ The Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation’s website, www.mrrr.lk contains additional information.
Logistics	In a controversial move, UK-based Oxfam says it has had to pay the Sri Lankan government some US$1 million in import duty for vehicles used in tsunami reconstruction work. (Jun-17, BBC)   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. (Apr-19, OCHA)   UNJLC report, “Comprehensive Road Network Assessment of the Tsunami Struck Areas in Sri Lanka” completed and available at www.unjlc.org. (Feb-23, UNJLC)
Food	WFP says it is feeding some 910,000 people and will continue to do so until the end of June. WFP initially began feeding some 750,000 people and had expected to be targeting only the most vulnerable by April. (May 18, Reuters)   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. (Apr-19, OCHA)   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)
Water and Sanitation	South Korea is funding a Greater Galle water supply project expected to cost some US$48.2 million and will benefit some 160,000 people. (May 12, Daily News)   Oxfam has spent some US$9.8 million on water and sanitation, benefiting 430,000 people. (May-31, Oxfam)   Red Cross and Red Crescent water purification teams are producing and distributing over 3 million liters of clean water every week, benefiting over 30,000 people weekly. (June-3, IFRC)   Americares launched a US$1,000,000 water purification program to improve water quality and provide sources of clean water for 46,000 survivors. (Apr-18, Americares)
Public Health and Medical	Sri Lanka Ministry of Health has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and the IFRC to rebuild and rehabilitate 34 health facilities. (Mar-18, IFRC)
Shelter	World Bank in Sri Lanka found about 90,000 homes fully or partially destroyed. The Bank has allocated initial US$40 million for permanent housing cash grants. (June-2, World Bank)   IOM has finished constructing nearly 850 transitional shelters to house nearly 4,000 people in the east and south for four years. More than 1,100 people moved into their new homes earlier this week. IOM plans to build transitional homes for nearly 21,000 people in seven districts. (June-03, IOM)   GoSl announced the ceremonial launch of the North East Housing Reconstruction Program (NEHRP) held at the Mahaweli Centre. NEHRP is designed to facilitate the reconstruction of over 31,200 houses in the North and East over a period of four years (2005-2009).   Mano Tittawella, chair of TAFREN says the GoSL finished demarcating land for up to 34,000 permanent houses outside of the buffer zone. He says that the bulk of the project will start in May and June and 80 to 90 percent of the housing units are expected to be completed by the last quarter of the year. The Daily News reports that some 194 donors have made pledges to construct around 97,000 permanent houses. GoSL has also decided to continue the family allowance of some Rp5,000 (US$50) up to June 30. (Apr-29, Daily News)   GoSL says it will give US$2,500 to families whose houses have been destroyed while owners of partially damaged houses would receive US$1,000. (Apr-5, GoSL)   As of May 25, temporary shelters constructed under the Transitional Accommodation Projects (TAP) for tsunami victims in all affected districts have totaled 29,796 units. An additional 9,273 units currently under construction are due to be completed end of May would bring the total number of units to nearly 40,000. Breakdown by district is: Colombo (798), Kalutara (628), Galle (1968), Matara (1076), Hambantota (1229), Ampara (54442), Batticaloa (2892), and Trincomalee (1436).   UN-Habitat program has recently commenced reconstruction of tsunami damaged houses in Galle and Kattandkudy. Under the program, funded by Japan, a total of 540 houses would be built in Galle during the first phase and some 200 houses would be built in Kattandkudy. (May-31, DN)
Infrastructure	On May 19, GoSL announced details of a US$700 million plan to upgrade ports, build a new southern harbor at Hambantota and add a second runway at its international airport. The government will provide US$100 million of the funds, with the rest provided by donors. (May 20, BBC)   SP Thamilselvan, chief of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said that more than US$1 billion was needed to rebuild Tamil areas ruined in the disaster   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 TAFREN, 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)   A total of 77,561 houses have been damaged or destroyed by the tsunami, including 41,393 houses that were completely washed away, according to the latest figures by the Census and Statistics Department. (Apr-29, Daily News)   The Minister of Agriculture says that direct damage to the farmers of the tsunami was some US$3.5 million.
Security

 

Thailand

 

 

 

Overview. ………………………………………………. page 19

 

Sectors……………………………………………………page 20

 

Overview: Latest death toll issued by the Thai Ministry of Interior Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is at 5,395, while 1,175 bodies remain unidentified. The number of Thai deceased is at 1,972 and foreign nationals at 2,248, with another 1,175 of unknown nationality. Number of missing is at 2,817. Of those, 1,924 are Thais. (May 13, UN) New data shows that among missing Thai nationals, 1,655 are from Phang Nga province, nearly three times more than Phuket. Missing foreign nationals amount to 896 altogether, split between Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi (Phi Phi). (UN, June-13)

 

Search teams from Germany, France and Nordic countries, which suffered the highest losses at Khao Lak, have been sent to search for bodies. Experts from 16 international countries have identified 1,710 bodies in the world’s largest forensic operation. (Jun-20, Reuters) The Justice Ministry will set up a national center for the systematic identification of missing persons within four years, in cooperation with the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) and the police. (June-16, The Nation) The Thai Cabinet on May 24 approved in principle a Justice Ministry proposal to declare dead some 1,924 people of Thai nationality missing in the tsunami disaster so their families could claim inheritance and other benefits. (May-24, Bangkok Post, The Nation) The Disaster Victim Identification Centre (DVI) has some 2,076 bodies awaiting identification, while another 3,319 have been identified. (UN, June-13) The DVI is seeking a total budget of some 260 million baht (US$6.5 million) in order to set up an automatic fingerprint and DNA checking system and database in line with international standards. (May-24, Bangkok Post) The government has decided to send some 2,000 DNA samples of unidentified foreigners to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Royal Thai Police (under Interior Ministry), and 460 international forensic experts from more than 20 countries are assisting in body identification. (Mar-14, Xinhua)

 

According to Office of the Attorney-General, land disputes between villagers and land speculators after the disaster involve more than 5,000 rai of land. According to the NGO, Save Andaman Network, more than 30 villages are struggling to reclaim their land rights amid intimidation. (May-26, Bangkok Post)

 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to help Thailand establish a regional tsunami warning system. (Jun-16, TNA) (Phuket will have a system of disaster warning towers covering the entire province within the next four months. It is hoped the project will restore tourist confidence. (June-14, TNA) A tsunami evacuation drill is planned in Phang Nga province later this month. (June-13, TNA) Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center, the first among tsunami-affected countries, formally opened on May 30. In the first phase, it will focus on earthquakes and tsunamis before extending to other disasters. (May-31, Bangkok Post) Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says that Thailand would have a tsunami early warning system installed by mid-May and finished by next year. The full system will be finished by the end of 2006.

 

Resorts in Phuket recorded occupancy rates of only 20 percent in April and May, compared with 70 percent in the same period last year. Other provinces, such as Phang Nga and Krabi, have been hit hard. The tourism industry only generated 6 billion baht (US$147 million) in revenues nationwide in April, compared with 50 billion baht (US$1.2 billion) in the same period last year. (June 3, The Nation) Disaster expected to cost tourist industry some US$780 million (30 billion baht) in 2005. (Mar-24, Reuters) The southern region used to contribute about half of Thailand’s tourism revenues.

 

New government figures say that as of May 31, 34,710 registered employees of 952 businesses have been affected. Phuket has the highest number of affected employees with 21,297. The Social Security office has paid over US$5 million in benefits in the region. (June-13, UN)