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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

July 6, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Overview......................................page 2-3

Indonesia.....................................page 4-7

Sri Lanka.....................................page 8-11

Thailand.......................................page 12-15

Overview

 

·      The overall focus of attention is on long-term recovery and rehabilitation for the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The death toll from tsunamis triggered by the undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island is 232,010 (Jun-22, Reuters) people along the coastal areas of 11 countries in the Indian Ocean. 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. Nearly 166,000 dead and missing are from Indonesia. The dead and missing toll in Sri Lanka climbed to nearly 39,000. The death toll in Thailand is around 5,400, including about 1,953 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have been reported in the other countries.

 

·      Coordination:

 

·    The UN announced a website to track total funds pledged. The website will be accessible through www.reliefweb.int and will have information on pledges received and disbursed. (May-24, UNNS)

 

·      International Assistance:

 

·    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$977 million to US$1.086 billion. (Apr-6, Reuters) Egeland says that in an unprecedented response, about US$11 billion in total had been pledged by some 90 donor nations. (Jun-24, Reuters) Reuters also reports however, that government and multilateral agencies have pledged about US$6.9 billion in aid while private donations amount to almost some US$5 billion. (Jun-27, Reuters)

 

·       UNOCHA reports that a regional tsunami lessons learned and best practices workshop was held in Medan, Indonesia, on June 13-14, bringing together representatives from Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as representatives of regional organizations and donors. The event was the culmination of a series of four national-level workshops held in May and June in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. According to UNOCHA, some of the main lessons learned and best practices include: There was a sense of satisfaction of the overall outcome of the relief operation; Affected communities were the first and primary actors in early relief efforts; The state of disaster preparedness in affected countries was uneven; Militaries of the affected countries played an important role in the immediate aftermath; Excellent cooperation between national and international militaries was highlighted; Large number of diverse actors created coordination challenges; and on an operational level, the need for better information management was highlighted. (July-5, UNOCHA)

 

·    UNICEF says that school construction, clean water and sanitation are the top tasks remaining in the recovery from the earthquake and tsunami disaster. The Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, Toshiyuki Niwa, says that the emergency phase is over, but the region has far to go to fully recover from the disaster. UNICEF has received some US$522 million in aid so far. About 1.1 million children have been vaccinated against measles, 1 million children have received school supplies, and more than 550,000 people have been provided with adequate sanitation facilities. (July-1, AP)

 

·    The United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that agreement has been reached with 27 countries on a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean. The decision was reached at the close of a 10-day meeting on June 30 in Paris. The plan for the new system is for countries to set up individual warning centers that will be linked together in a network. (Jun-30, BBC) UNESCO’s Oceanographic Commission says that the network was expected to start running by July 2006. (Jun-30, AP)

 

·    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. (May-23, AFP)

 

·      Food: WFP says that as of June 9, the UN food agency had reached a total of 2.24 million people and had dispatched 129,370 metric tons of food to beneficiaries.

 

·      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.

 

·    UNAIDS officials say that the tsunami disaster has left countries that were already vulnerable to AIDS at a greater risk of the disease. Jan Leno, from the UNAIDS Secretariat, says that while HIV rates had not yet been seen to rise in any of the worst-hit regions, surveys show an increase in pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The risk has also increased due to the breakdown of basic services and health care systems. (July-4, Reuters)

 

·      Security: Sporadic clashes between TNI and GAM in Aceh; 3 soldiers in Sri Lanka’s east gunned down by alleged LTTE rebels.

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 5

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 6

Overview: According to Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, the head of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR), a major reconstruction drive is expected to start in the coming weeks as both the GoI and donors have agreed to disburse some US$2.8 billion for reconstruction projects. Kuntoro says that US$980 million would come from the state budget, while the rest would be provided by international donors. Kuntoro says the initial stage of rebuilding would focus on the construction of harbors to serve as “gateways” for bringing in materials into the province, the Jakarta Post reports. He says that the reconstruction work would require some 7 million cubic meters of timber, however, the country could only produce some 2.5 million cubic meters. Kuntoro vowed not to use illegal timber and to make sure that corruption was kept out of the reconstruction process. State Minister for National Development Planning Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that international donors had pledged to disburse between US$6 billion and US$8 billion for reconstruction. (July-7, Jakarta Post) Meanwhile, Firdaus Illyas from aid group Aceh Emergency Commission, and legislator A.S. Hikam are alleging that corruption has claimed over US$100 million that was earmarked for reconstruction. Parliament was scheduled to discuss the allegations. (Jul-1, AP)

 

Indonesia said today (Wednesday, July 6) that it has finalized a draft peace deal aimed at ending the nearly three-decade long separatist insurgency in Aceh province.  Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla told the media that the government would discuss a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels at next week’s informal peace talks in the Finnish capital of Helsinki.  He said if an agreement is reached, the two sides would proceed to a formal meeting.  Kalla reiterated government opposition to a key GAM demand that they be allowed to form a political party.  Kalla, who is the government’s most vocal supporter of the peace process said, “We will not agree to that option.”  The rebels’ demand to form a political party would require a change in the Indonesian constitution that requires all political parties to have representation in at least half of the country’s 32 provinces and be headquartered in the capital Jakarta.  Defending the government’s ongoing peace talks with the rebels, Kalla said the alternative to talks is “all-out war."  The next round of talks is scheduled for Tuesday (July 12). 

 

The Indonesian military (TNI) on Friday (July 1) said that it welcomes the presence of foreign observers in Aceh.  A group of European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) representatives had been in Aceh last week for a four-day ground survey of the province, aimed at establishing peace monitoring bases.  “What the team does is to create a possible peace and Indonesia’s military supports peace,” Aceh’s military commander, Major-General Supiyadin A.S. said.  “But the most important thing is GAM must be disarmed,” he added.  The EU is an observer in the peace talks between the GAM and the GoI.  On Monday (June 27), the commander of the GAM rebels had ordered his fighters to avoid fighting with TNI troops during the EU fact-finding mission.  Muzzakir Manaf, commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), warned his men that the Indonesian military (TNI) might try to sabotage the peace process, the Jakarta Post reported.   However, the TNI denied that it was trying to undermine the peace process.  Clashes between the Indonesian military (TNI) and GAM are still common in the province, despite several rounds of peace talks this year between the two sides.  According to Reuters, diplomats have been examining proposals under which about 200 EU unarmed military personnel could be sent to monitor a potential truce between the GAM and TNI.  However, EU officials say that the final number will depend upon the team’s conclusions, Reuters reports. 

 

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview…………………………………………………..page 9

 

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 9

 

Overview: European cease-fire monitors said on Monday (July 4) that the Sri Lankan military has not met a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demand to increase security for rebel cadres traveling in government-controlled areas, however, monitors expressed hope that a compromise between the two sides would be achieved.  Hagrup Haukland, the chief of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), reportedly met with Defense Secretary Asoka Jayawardene to discuss the issue. “No final decision was made about the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) proposal on the transport issue.  But we are confident some common ground will be reached soon,” said spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir of the SLMM.  She added that defence officials also expressed concern over recent killings blamed on the LTTE.  Last week, three soldiers, including two intelligence officers, were killed and a month earlier, a senior army intelligence officer was gunned down by suspected LTTE rebels.  The SLMM had expressed concern that the fragile Norwegian-brokered February 2002 ceasefire, that has largely held thus far, could be in danger.  Last week, the LTTE set a July 14 deadline for the government to improve security for rebels traveling in government areas.  The LTTE on June 30 said that it had told peace-broker Norway and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) ceasefire monitors that the government must “unequivocally express its commitment” to the truce.  The rebels said they would begin using their own armed escorts if Colombo does not address their concerns within two weeks.  “If the LTTE decides to use its own armed escort, the Ceasefire Agreement will likely collapse and the LTTE should not be held responsible for breaking the ceasefire,” LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan said.

 

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank last Thursday (Jun-30) warned that political instability could compound problems for the economy, which was already badly damaged by the tsunami disaster. The Bank says that the country’s GDP growth rate slowed to 4.8 percent in the first three months of this year compared to an expansion of 6.4 percent in the same period last year due to the tsunami. The Bank is concerned that in the longer term, “political instability” could affect the economy. The bank says it still expects a 5 to 5.5 percent GDP growth rate this year, about the same as the 5.4 percent of last year. However, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that international lenders have forecast a drop of at least a percentage point in GDP growth this year as a result of the disaster. (Jun-30, AFP)

 

Sector Status
Affected Population	Sri Lanka 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.
Coordination	Joint mechanism deal, officially known as the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS) to allow committees from the LTTE, the government and Muslims to discuss and monitor tsunami aid projects.   The Task Force for Relief (TAFOR) will collate and analyze data, coordinate and facilitate relief measures connected to healthcare, education, foreign donor assistance and food relief. 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.   Information on many NGO activities can be obtained from the following link: http://www.humanitarian-srilanka.org/ (under Tsunami 2004 Information Center)
Logistics	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 915,000 people. Food distributions will discontinue in August and will give way to targeted and recovery-oriented approaches. (Jun-27, WFP) WFP says targeted feeding currently reaches 260,000 mothers and children through Maternal Child Health projects and 144,000 children through school feeding programs. (Jun-27, WFP)   WFP has decided to purchase 18,130 metric tons of rice from Sri Lankan farmers to offer to local people living in affected areas. (July-2, Xinhua)
Water and Sanitation
Public Health and Medical
Shelter	GoSL’s task Force for Relief announced today the completion of 90 percent of the targeted 47,000 “halfway homes” or temporary shelters for people who lost homes in the disaster. The GoSl says the remainder was expected to be completed within a week. (July-6, AFP)   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. IOM plans to build transitional homes for nearly 21,000 people in seven districts. (June-03, IOM)
Infrastructure	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   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 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	Three soldiers reportedly gunned down by suspected rebels on June 30 in eastern district of Batticaloa.
International Financial Assistance	Officials say that international 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.

 

Thailand

 

 

 

Overview. ………………………………………………. page 13

 

Sectors……………………………………………………page 15

 

Overview: Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) will sign a bilateral deal on the Promotion on Fire Defense and Disaster Management Exchange in Bangkok on Wednesday (July 6)

 

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will stop over briefly in Phuket enroute to China on July 11. Rice has expressed interest in seeing the assistance provided to tsunami victims. (July-4, TNA)