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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

August 4, 2005

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

Table of Contents:

Overview......................................page 2

Indonesia.....................................page 3-7

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 dead and missing toll from tsunamis triggered by the undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island was 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 was 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. In India, at least 10,672 died in Tamil Nadu State and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 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:

· Indian Ocean Earthquake-Tsunami Flash Appeal Expenditure Tracking: http://ocha.unog.ch/ets/Default.aspx

· International Assistance:

· UN raised its initial appeal of US$977 million to US$1.086 billion. (Apr-6, Reuters) About US$11 billion in total had been pledged by some 90 donor nations. (Jun-24, Reuters) The UN said that some US$333 million of pledges received has been spent. (July-15, DPA) Reuters reports that government and multilateral agencies have pledged more than US$9 billion in aid for nations affected by the disaster, while global private donations amounted to almost US$5 billion. (July 27, Reuters)

· Oceanographic experts are gathering in the west Australian city of Perth to discuss scientific and technical requirements needed for a tsunami warning system. Delegates from 27 Indian Ocean countries are at the three-day meeting. The head of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) says that a basic alert system is in place, but is still “insufficient.” The IOC says that a full system should be in place within 12 months. At the meeting, it was decided that India would be the warning system’s first head, a position that will rotate every two years. Indonesia and Mauritius were elected vice-chairs. (Aug-3,4 Reuters, AFP)

· Food: WFP expects to feed about 800,000 people in Indonesia for at least another year; in Sri Lanka, about 915,000 people being fed—distributions will discontinue in August and will give way to targeted and recovery-oriented approaches; in Thailand, food assistance provided to some 26,000.

· 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.

· Security: Situation in Sri Lanka’s east reported to have calmed from earlier violence; One police officer reported killed in Jaffna in the north.

Indonesia

Organization

Overview …………………………………………………………page 4

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 5

Overview:

The Jakarta Post reported Wednesday (August 3) that 28 members of peace-monitoring teams for Aceh from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), arrived in the province to help prepare for the deployment of monitors.  The team is reportedly making logistical preparations for the mission.  The EU is expected to lead the peace monitoring mission in Aceh, following the formal signing of the peace deal scheduled for August 15. The monitoring mission will be the first for the EU in Asia, which will likely be providing a majority of the peace monitors from the EU’s European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). In addition to EU members, countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, and most likely Thailand, will send observers. Monitors could start moving into Aceh as early as August 16, a day after the peace deal is due to be signed. Indonesia’s foreign ministry has said that the main task of peace monitors would be to oversee the disarmament of GAM rebels and TNI troop withdrawal, which are key points of the peace accord. ABC Radio Australia reports that the group is expected to stay until August 9 and visit nine districts in Aceh, to locate suitable places to be used as offices for the monitoring mission.  The team is made up of 18 members from the European Union, 6 from ASEAN nations and 4 from Indonesia.  Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post reports that the EU and Jakarta have said that they would like Thailand to send troops to Aceh to join other troops from four neighboring ASEAN countries that are sending monitors.  According to the paper, the EU sent a request to Thailand’s Defence Ministry, asking for a 40-member Thai contingent, to join similar numbers of other troops from the four other countries.  Supreme Commander Gen Chaisit Shinawatra has given in-principle approval for the deployment, the Bangkok Post reported.  In May 2003, a 46-member Thai monitoring team withdrew from Aceh after both the GAM and Indonesian government were found to have violated a December 9, 2002 peace pact and the ceasefire collapsed. 

Indonesia’s security chief said that Jakarta is planning a disputes settlement process to anticipate any violations of the peace agreement between the government and the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM).  Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Widodo Adi Sucipto, said Tuesday (August 2) that the dispute settlement process would be finished before the government and GAM sign the peace agreement scheduled for August 15.  “There must be a process for dispute settlement.  We will have formulated it soon,” Widodo said. 

Indonesian Information Minister Sofyan Djalil on Monday (August 1) said that Indonesia will grant amnesty to GAM rebels by the end of August after a landmark peace deal is signed on August 15.  “Amnesty will be given by the latest 15 days after the signing,” Djalil said. Indonesian officials have said that they would not grant amnesty to rebels jailed for criminal offenses such as murder and robbery, however, the amnesty could mean that thousands of other convicted rebels could be released.  The government had promised the amnesty in a bid to meet demands by rebels to restore their political rights in order for them to compete in local elections in Aceh. 

Sector Status
Affected Population	The death toll stands at 131,029, with some 37,000 others reported to be missing. The Aceh Central Bureau of Statistics says that 7,000 surveyors will launch a population census in Aceh to more accurately gauge how many died from the disaster. Aceh had a population of 4.2 million people, according to the 2003 national census. (July-5, AFP) The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR - Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi) 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 about 150,000 are in temporary government shelters. The remaining 100,000 are either staying with host families or are rebuilding their homes. (Jun-19, GoI)
Coordination	The BRR will oversee reconstruction.  The agency will be headed by former mines and energy minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who will manage the US$4.84 billion fund.  (May-9, Reuters, BBC) The GoI has collaborated with NGOs and donors to initiate the construction of the website, e-Aceh, in response to the need for transparency and coordination of reconstruction. (www.e-aceh.org)
Logistics	UNJLC reports road network within Banda Aceh is good, however, conditions of some sections of coastal roads are prone to deteriorate. (July-20, UNJLC) For more logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.
Food	World Vision says it has distributed some 2,000 MT of food to over 130,000 recipients in Aceh over the past month. Rations are supplied by the WFP. IOM says numbers have gradually increased over the past few months. Monthly distributions are taking place in and near the cities of Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. (Aug-4, WVI) IFRC says total number of beneficiaries currently registered and possessing ration cards for food and non-food relief aid is 437,445 and the number is increasing. (July-28, IFRC) WFP expects to feed up to 800,000 people for another year. (June 22, Reuters)
Water and Sanitation
Public Health/Medical	IOM building more than 50 satellite health clinics to help those living in temporary living facilities. (July-19, IOM) West coast lost some 50-70 percent of its health services. (Jan-24, The Age) Tsunami destroyed 30 health clinics out of 240, seriously damaged 77, and caused minor damage to 40 others. (Jan-18, UNJLC)
Shelter	Over 300 of around 500 IOM-built homes under construction in more than 30 locations throughout Aceh have been completed. (Aug-1, IOM)
Infrastructure	The BRR reports that a further 90 concept notes for reconstruction and rehabilitation project proposals were reviewed by the BRR last week and some 87 projects were approved, totaling about US$1.064 billion. (Aug-1, GoI) The World Bank-managed Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) last week approved 2 projects worth US$82 million. Projects include the Urban Community Recovery (UPP) program for restoring infrastructure in 352 urban villages (US$18 million) and the Rural Community Recovery (KDP) program for assisting some 3,000 villages to develop community based infrastructure (US$64 million), the BRR reported. (Aug-2, Indonesia-relief.org) The UN said that the tsunami eroded some 97 percent of the GDP in Aceh, amounting to an estimated US$4.5 billion in damage. (July-15, The Jakarta Post) The IFRC, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and ICRC have submitted a list of 105 projects to the BRR, worth a total value of US$345 million and part of an overall US$600 million commitment. (July-19, Indonesia-Relief.org) IOM and UNICEF will construct some 200 temporary schools during the coming months. (July-19, IOM) 116,880 houses were destroyed or damaged in 2,496 villages throughout 17 affected regencies (kabupaten) from a total of 21 in Aceh. Of these, 57% were destroyed and 12% sustained major damage. The total amount of settlement areas affected by the tsunami amounted to 173,673 hectares (429,200 acres), of which 35% of the villages were completely destroyed. (Jun-19, GoI, IOM)
Security	GoI and GAM agree on draft peace agreement. Indonesian President Yudhoyono orders military to halt offensive, however some clashes have been reported.
International Financial Assistance	The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) reports it has raised US$1.3 billion to help victims in Indonesia. (July-1, Indonesia-Relief.org) 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. GoI will accept the offer of a debt moratorium from the Paris Club. The total debt on which repayment will be delayed is US$2.6 billion. (Mar-14, Tempo Interactive) Indonesia has some US$48 billion in foreign debt to donor countries under the Paris Club. (Mar-14, Xinhua) The World Bank says that about US$500 million has been raised from foreign donors for reconstruction thus far. The Steering Committee of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Aceh and North Sumatra will manage the funds. (Jun-26, AFP) BRR head Kuntoro says that around US$2.8 billion is ready to be spent on reconstruction projects in Aceh, out of which about US$1.9 billion had come from international and private sector donors. (Jun-25, Reuters) Indonesian House of Representatives on June 4 approved 8.2 trillion rupiah (US$863 million) for fiscal year 2005 for Aceh and Nias (Jun-12, GOI)

Sri Lanka

Overview…………………………………………………..page 9

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 9

Overview:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday (August 3) warned the Sri Lankan government to step up tsunami reconstruction and revive the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels or risk increasing its economic troubles.  “The longer-term challenges facing Sri Lanka include moving toward fiscal consolidation, implementing structural reforms that enhance the investment climate and reviving the peace process,” the IMF said.  The warning was issued after the IMF reviewed Sri Lanka’s performance during the first half of this year, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.  The IMF report said that economic growth this year was forecast at 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent in 2004 and 6.0 percent in 2003.  Annual inflation hit 16.8 percent by the end of December 2004, which reflected higher oil and food prices.  Despite the warning, the IMF commended Sri Lanka for its “prompt and effective” relief following the December 26 tsunami disaster.  However, the IMF says that “a key ongoing challenge will be to manage the reconstruction activity in an efficient and transparent manner by mobilizing donor assistance effectively and maintaining macro-economic stability,” and noted that the peace process must be revived to ensure economic recovery.

Peace broker Norway is sending Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen on Thursday (August 4) for another attempt to restart the stalled peace process in the country.  Sri Lankan government spokesperson Nimal Siripala de Silva said last week that the visit was taking place as part of an effort to encourage both sides to talk after Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court earlier last month (July 15) blocked a tsunami aid-sharing deal.  The Supreme Court ruled that the tsunami deal in principle is legitimate, but objected to specific clauses and issued a temporary suspension. The LTTE has asked for donors to directly send aid to them, but it is unlikely that would happen.  International donors had been pressuring the government to push through the plan so that US$3 billion pledged in foreign aid could get to tsunami-affected areas.  The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on September 12. Many had hoped that the aid-sharing deal would help kick-start the stalled peace talks which have been on hold since April 2003, however, recent violence in the east and disagreements between the LTTE and government have dampened efforts.

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	The Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) has established a Helpline to provide information and provide queries of tsunami-affected in the country. (July-7, UNOCHA) 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	For logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.
Food	FAO provided an in-service training program for Agriculture and Fisheries instructors from July 26-28. (Aug-4, FAO) 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)
Water and Sanitation
Public Health and Medical
Shelter	The Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) reports that the establishment of transitional shelters was completed by the second week of July in Galle and the focus has now turned to the construction of permanent houses. (Jul-31, CHA) IOM has built more than 2,100 transitional homes and expects to build 3,000 before the onset of the eastern monsoon. (July-22, IOM) 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) TAFREN chair Mano Tittawela said that 7,000 permanent houses have been completed and said that 80 percent of the required permanent housing for the displaced will be completed before the end of this year. (July-7, GoSL) IOM says it has finished about 2,000 transitional homes as of this week. IOM reports that the GoSL has said more than 40,000 transitional houses island-wide have been completed, but 20 percent do not meet minimum standards. (Jul-12, IOM)
Infrastructure	FAO and the Italian Cooperation finished a workshop last week to put in place mechanisms for the development of model coastal communities in Hambantota, Ampara and Batticaloa districts. (Aug-4, UNOCHA) UNOCHA reports that UNICEF participated in a meeting with the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) of the LTTE in Kilinochchi district to discuss the progress of tsunami reconstruction work, livelihoods and the environment. (Aug-4, UNOCHA) 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 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	Police officer killed by angry mob on Thursday (August 4) in the town of Jaffna. (Aug-4, Reuters) Consortium of the Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) reports that NGO activity in eastern Trincomalee has been disturbed due to security situation. (Jul-31, CHA)
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 13

Overview:

The UNDP has signed an agreement with the Thailand-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) to support the GoT Department of Disaster Prevention Mitigation (DDPM) in implementing a “community-based, multi-hazard early warning and disaster preparedness system” in the country, the UNDP reported. The US$500,000 project will be implemented by ADPC and funded by UNDP, and will assist the Thai government in establishing both national and regional tsunami warning systems. The project will begin with the installation of two sea level gauge stations on the west coast, one at Koh Taphao off Phuket and the other at Koh Miang in the Similan islands. The system is expected to be completely operational by early 2006, Suvit Yodmani, executive director of the ADPC said. In the next phase, ADPC will work with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to build community-based disaster risk management, community preparedness, and search and rescue capabilities, the Bangkok Post reports. (Jul-29, UNDP; Jul-30, Bangkok Post; Jul-29, AFP)

Indian environmentalists have said that a tourism deal between India’s Andaman islands and Thailand’s resort town of Phuket would destroy the islands’ fragile ecology. In an effort to revive the Andaman and Nicobar islands, officials signed a five-year deal in June with Phuket, which would allow tourists visiting Phuket to take a short flight to the Andamans. However, environmentalists say the infrastructure and ecology can not cope with an increase in the number of tourists. (Aug-3, Reuters, BBC)

Efforts to revive the tourism industry along the Andaman coast are not expected to be completed in the next three months in time for the high season, the secretary of the Thai Hotels Association, ML Hathaijanok Kritakara said. Hathaijanok says that the association expects the occupancy rate for the industry will fall 10-20 percent this year. (Aug-2, The Nation)

Sector Status
Affected Population	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) According to the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification Centre (TTVI) the current database reports some 785 persons missing (516 Thais and 269 foreigners) but there are some 1,976 bodies in the two TTVI sites. Officials say that migrant workers could account for this discrepancy and they are checking databases of registered migrants. However, many migrant workers are unregistered. (Jun-27, The Nation) Experts from 16 international countries have identified 1,710 bodies in the world’s largest forensic operation. (Jun-20, Reuters) The Disaster Victim Identification Centre (DVI) has some 2,076 bodies awaiting identification, while another 3,319 have been identified. (UN, June-13) 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 The Tsunami Action Group (TAG), a migrant advocate group, and the Law Society of Thailand have estimated that between 700 and 2,500 Myanmar migrant workers went missing. Many of them were not officially registered, and do not appear to be included in the official list of the killed. (June-8, Amnesty International) Other estimates have the number at 1,000 to 7,000. (Jun-27, Irrawaddy) TAG puts the number of dead at upwards of 6,000 to 7,000. (Jun-27, Irrawaddy) There appears to be no efforts to track down missing migrants, although there are reportedly 2,000 unidentified bodies of foreign workers. (June-8, Amnesty International) World Vision International (WVI) says that it has assisted sea gypsies along Rawai beach, Phuket with clothing donations. WVI says it is the only NGO working in the area. Most of the affected are from the Moken tribe. The Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI) estimates some 1,000 sea gypsy households have been affected by the disaster. (Aug-4, WVI)
Coordination	Due to Cabinet member changes, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered the following changes to government coordination of tsunami relief: (May-7, TNA) o Rebuild homes, infrastructure and revive tourism - Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop will stay in his current position. o Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, will oversee the assistance program o Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam will be responsible for donations o Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchob will be responsible for helping owners of fishing trawlers o Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop will oversee repair of damage caused by the tsunami (May-7, TNA) The government has provided assistance to tsunami victims totaling nearly US$9 million (355, 727,050 baht). According to a former chief of the Meteorology Department, Smith Tumsaroch, Thailand will complete the establishment of its disaster early warning system in all parts of the country integrally over the next two years and will cost nearly 140 million baht (US$3.4 million). (Jun-29, 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) UN-HABITAT and UNDP have signed an agreement to support local governments in participatory rehabilitation planning in affected areas. The assistance is part of a bigger UNDP project which focuses on the rehabilitation of minority communities. UN-HABITAT aims to build capacity of government organizations and to document best practices in rehabilitation planning and implementation. (July-27, UN-HABITAT)
Logistics	For logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.
Food	WFP says that it is providing food assistance to some 26,000 people. (Jun-27, WFP)
Water/Sanitation
Public Health/Medical	A Disease Control Department official, who asked to remain anonymous, says that budget constraints and violence are the reason for the sharp rise in malaria cases in the country’s three southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. The department says 2,534 people in the provinces were infected between January and June, an almost 150% jump from 2004. (Aug-3, Bangkok Post)
Shelter	Government will step up the building of temporary and permanent houses following criticism that housing was being poorly constructed. (Jun-29, TNA)
Infrastructure	The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) budget for renovation of Patong and Kamala beaches in Phuket, has been finally settled at 291.4 million baht (US$7.08 million). (Aug-4, Phuket Gazette) Ministry of Interior reports 3,833 non-residential buildings damaged, but 2,430 can be repaired. (May-27, UN)
Security	The US, Britain and Australia have issued travel warnings to its citizens, advising against non-essential travel to the south. Insurgency violence continues in three southernmost provinces (Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani).
International Financial Assistance	The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has set aside US$1.7 million for Thailand, to help develop long-term solutions for tsunami-affected areas, especially Krabi, Phuket and Phang Nga. Funds will come from the Asian Tsunami Fund, which was set up by the ADB in February with an initial contribution of US$600 million. (July-12, Phuket Gazette)