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

 

November 3, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

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

Indonesia.....................................page 3-8

Sri Lanka.....................................page 9-14

Thailand.......................................page 15-18

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’s Aceh province. 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:

 

·    The UN says that in an unprecedented response, donors have poured more than US$11 billion into relief and reconstruction following the disaster, but are neglecting other emergencies. Egeland says that donors already met around 90 percent of the UN’s own US$1.28 billion appeal for funds for immediate and interim relief. According to Reuters Alertnet, governments, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have paid or approved US$5.7 billion, or some 80 percent of the US$67.1 billion they had promised. (Sep-23, Reuters)

 

·          The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said Wednesday (October 5) that it had received US$1.5 billion dollars for tsunami relief and has pledged full accountability for the sum. (DPA, Oct-5)

 

·      Food: WFP is feeding about 500,000 people in Indonesia; in Sri Lanka, about 915,000 people being fed; 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: Insurgency violence continues in southern Thailand.

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 3

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 3

Overview:

 

Heru Prasetyo, who heads donor and international relations at the Aceh and Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR), says that the agency has set up a special trust fund to speed up rebuilding.  At a press conference, Prasetyo introduced the Rehabilitation Aceh and Nias (RAN) Trust Fund, which he says is a “reaction to the very slow progress we see in the field.”  Prasetyo says that the new plan would cut red tape in disbursing money for projects.  “We are trying to cut short the process between sources of funds to the implementation on the field without sacrificing accountability and transparency,” Prasetyo said.  He says that out of US$7.1 billion pledged to help rebuild the country’s tsunami-hit areas, some US$3.6 billion had been designated for immediate projects.  According to Reuters, one major factor that slowed reconstruction was the channeling of some of the money to the country’s state budget, requiring a long and bureaucratic process.  Prasetyo told a news conference that “the supposedly responsible government agencies have unintentionally treated an emergency situation with a ‘business as usual’ attitude.” The UN’s chief emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, said that the pace of reconstruction was slow in Aceh because of poor coordination between the Indonesian government and donors. Prasetyo says that around 17,000 houses have been completed, and the BRR was aiming to complete 30,000 by the end of the year.  The Jakarta Post reports that a study by the Aceh Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Appraisal (ARRA) project found that poor coordination has been blamed for the slow reconstruction progress, particularly in housing and economic recovery.  “It is hoped that the results of this rapid monitoring appraisal will serve as useful input for governmental and non-governmental organizations in taking concrete steps to accelerate and support the effective implementation of the rehabilitation and reconstruction process,” the ARRA team said.  Some of the findings included the housing and clean water sector, where the ARRA found that there was too wide a variety of styles and types of housing, such that people did not know minimum standards set by the BRR.  In the economic recovery sector, the ARRA found that many of the economic recovery programs being offered comprised only partial assistance and was not accompanied by appropriate guidance.    

 

In response to criticism that reconstruction in Aceh was going too slowly, BRR head Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said that “People say we’re slow. Well in the whole of Indonesia there are 16,500 new houses built a year. We’re building 22,000 in Aceh. But compared with the hundreds of thousands that are needed, yes, it’s a challenge. NGO’s that don’t perform will be sanctioned. They’ll be asked to leave.” (Nov-3, Reuters)

 

Sector Status

Affected Population

The death toll stands at 131,029, with some 37,000 others reported to be missing.

 

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 new UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh is Eric Morris who will work closely with the BRR and aid groups

 

The BRR will oversee reconstruction.  The agency will be headed by former mines and energy minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto  (May-9, Reuters, BBC)

 

The BRR has requested that NGOs engaged in rehabilitation and reconstruction to submit progress reports on their ongoing activities. BRR says that it is requiring NGOs to submit their first report by September 16 and the second report by December 2. BRR says NGOs can access guidelines and monitoring forms from www.e-aceh-nias.org (BRR website) or by requesting forms at projects@brr.go.id (Sep-6, GoI)

 

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

The United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) exited its tsunami mission on September 30, 2005. (Sep-28, UNJLC) At the request of the GoI and the UN Country Team, a UN logistics coordination service, called the UN Logistics Coordination Support (LCS) will be established to provide integrated, multi-modal logistics coordination support to aid groups during reconstruction. (Sept-8, UNJLC)

 

For more logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.

Food

WFP currently feeding about 500,000 people. (Oct-18, Reuters)

 

Indonesia’s chief of reconstruction says that Aceh will need food aid at least through 2006.  WFP will ask its board at a meeting in Rome on November 7 to continue emergency food distribution for the rest of this year and 2006. 

 

WFP currently operating three general activities: General Food Distribution (GFD), a School Feeding Program (SFP), and a Maternal Child Nutritional (MCN) program. GFD will only target vulnerable groups over the coming months. However, supplementary feeding activities will increase. SFP expected to reach 340,000 and MCN plans to reach 180,000 beneficiaries by December.

Water and Sanitation

IFRC says overall water distribution figure for Aceh and North Sumatra stands at more than 1 million liters per day. IFRC says water and sanitation activities continue to benefit some 113,000 beneficiaries. (Aug-11, IFRC)

Public Health/Medical

WHO operations in Nias will shut down as district offices are now operational, the WHO says. (Nov-3, WHO)

 

WHO says the “mapping” of health facilities in Aceh has been completed. (Nov-3, WHO)

 

The GOI has reported a new case of polio in Aceh.  Although the patient lives in East Aceh district, which was not affected by the disaster, health officials were concerned over a possible resurgence of polio as tens of thousands of people were still living in camps and vulnerable. IFRC urges a three-pronged approach to help stop the spread of polio: comprehensive vaccinations, awareness campaigns, and safe water systems. (Oct-25, IFRC)

 

The WHO has established an integrated health emergency unit for disaster response, located at the Ministry of Health in Jakarta. The unit is coordinating inputs and tracking progress of ongoing activities in disaster affected areas. (Aug-15, Reliefweb)

Shelter

According to Reuters, there are some 67,500 still living in improvised camps, with another 75,000 living in government-built barracks and another 300,000 living with friends and relatives. The UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh has ordered 15,000-20,000 prefabricated shelters with a minimum durability of some 4 years. (Nov-3, Reuters)

 

Tzu Chi foundation has begun building 3,700 permanent homes in Aceh worth some US$27 million. (Nov-3, Reuters)

 

BRR head Kuntoro says that the GoI has built 10,000 homes out of a targeted 120,000 homes to be completed in 2007. He says the BRR had targeted to build 30,000 homes for this year. (Oct-24, Xinhua)

 

The new UN Recovery Coordinator for Aceh, Eric Morris, says that moving the 67,500 people still living in tents into intermediate shelters as the rainy season approaches is the biggest priority. (Oct-17, 18, BBC, Jakarta Post, Reuters)

 

The IFRC said it was working with other agencies to import and distribute 27,000 large tents to replace smaller tents initially donated after the disaster. Another 15,000 pre-fabricated temporary housing units, enough for some 60,000 people, are expected in November. (Sep-23, AFP) The IFRC has committed to build, as of August 1, more than 27,000 permanent new homes and to repair more than 7,000 other houses. IFRC estimates that more than 65,000 people are living in government-built barracks and says that many of these will need repair in the upcoming months. IFRC will help build extensions to existing homes to alleviate overcrowding for an estimated 16,500 families living with host families. The UN estimates the displaced could be living with host families for one to two years. (Aug-11, IFRC)

Infrastructure

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland, said in mid-October that reconstruction in Aceh province was too slow. Egeland said that better coordination and leadership was needed.

 

Disaster destroyed or damaged some 948 miles (1526 kilometers) of roads. (Oct-25, CSM)

 

GoI says that of an estimated 57,758 hectares (142,700 acres) of devastated land, 20,000 hectares (17,300 acres) has been targeted for rehabilitation for 2005. BRR will rehabilitate 7000 hectares (49,420 acres), while the other 13,000 hectares (142,700 acres) will be rehabilitated by groups such as the ADB, USAID and FAO. (GoI, Sep-26)

 

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

The Aceh Monitoring Mission said that the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels have agreed to quicken the pace of Indonesian troop withdrawals and rebel disarmament ahead of schedule. 

 

WFP has been appointed as the UN Agency Focal Point for Security in Medan. (WFP)

International Financial Assistance

The World Bank has warned that economic stagnation in the country could push another 600,000 people in Aceh below the poverty line in the next 6 to 18 months. (Oct-25, CSM)

 

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the international community to disburse more of the billions of dollars of aid pledged for Aceh. Yudhoyono said that only around a third of the US$3.5 billion earmarked for Indonesia has been disbursed. Yudhoyono also called on aid agencies to speed up construction efforts.

 

The World Bank says that reconstruction and monetary aid pouring into Aceh could put livelihoods at risk once the money dries up unless the economy is strengthened. World Bank data shows the province’s annual inflation rate at 17 percent, versus 7 percent in other parts of Indonesia. Reuters reports that Aceh’s unemployment rate is at 27 percent and around 600,000 people will be pushed below the poverty line, with daily earnings below US$1 within the next 6 to 18 months. (Aug-25, Reuters)

 

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)


Sri Lanka

 

 

Overview…………………………………………………..page 10

 

Sectors…………………………………………………….page 10

 

Overview:

 

The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said Monday (October 31) that the number of political killings in the island nation this year is over 190 and is undermining a February 2002 ceasefire.  “Over 190 people have been killed in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the year in suspected political killings.  The killings have gradually undermined the ceasefire and resulted in mistrust and bad atmosphere between the parties,” the SLMM said. The monitoring body urged both the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to end the cycle of violence in order to rebuild confidence and restart the stalled peace process. More than 64,000 people have been killed since the LTTE began fighting for a separate state in 1972.  The SLMM also condemned the latest killing of an army intelligence chief, who was shot dead yesterday (Sunday, October 30) near the capital, Colombo.  Police have detained 4 people for questioning after the intelligence officer was found dead near his home in the Kiribathgoda suburb of Colombo.  “We are questioning four people but it is too premature to speculate as to who was responsible,” local police chief Asoka Wijetillake said.  Security forces usually immediately blame the LTTE for the killings of its officers.  The officer was reportedly the second most senior officer to be killed since the 2002 ceasefire.  The LTTE has blamed the Directorate of Military Intelligence for supporting an eastern rebel faction which broke away from the main rebel faction in the north last year, but the military has denied the claim. 

 

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) UNICEF says that some 518,698 people remain displaced with most living with relatives and friends, some in “collective accommodation centers” or in camps.

 

As of August, 2005, some 800,000 people remain displaced in Sri Lanka by both the island’s long-running civil war and the tsunami disaster, the Global IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Project of the Norwegian Refugee Council reports.  Around 457,500 people displaced by the tsunami are still living in temporary shelters or with friends and family. Another 347,500 people remain displaced by the conflict.  The tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004, had initially added one million displaced to the country. 

 

 

Coordination

The NGO, World Vision International (WVI) reports that a mapping project from the UN’s Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) supported by WVI, will provide NGOs a means of putting project data onto maps of areas affected by the tsunami. (Oct-11, WVI)

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed an agreement with the GoSL to support the creation of computerized database centers to register people affected by the tsunami. The database will identify needs of tsunami-affected individuals on a case-by-case basis to ensure that people receive the assistance they need and avoid duplication. (Sept-9, IOM)

 

The UN Development Program (UNDP) announced the launching of the web portal, known as the Development Assistance Database (DAD), which will help to better coordinate and monitor post tsunami recovery aid. TAFREN is spearheading the database with support from UNDP. The website can be found at: http://dad.tafren.gov.lk. (Sept-2, UNDP)

 

Sri Lankan Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Joint mechanism deal, officially known as the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS.

 

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.

Logistics

For additional logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.

 

Food

World Vision has distributed boats, fishing gear and agricultural equipment worth some US$800,000 to some 1,750 people in eastern Trincomalee district. WVI also distributed 90 fiberglass boats, 180 canoes, 35 boat engines in Sampoor, Muttur and Echchalampattu. WVI says that some 16,479 boats and 1 million nets were destroyed in the tsunami. WVI has also distributed seed paddy to some 1,200 farmers; 25 farmers received water pumps; and 140 goats were distributed to women in the Kuchchaweli area. (Oct-31, WVI)

 

WFP is planning to distribute 10,967 tons of mixed food commodities to some 183,000 beneficiaries under Food-for-Work programs. Under the Food for Education Program, WFP is planning to distribute 841 tons of food commodities. UNOCHA says school feeding activities are ongoing and 102,000 primary school students receive mid-morning meals each day. (Oct-7, UNOCHA)

 

UNOCHA reports WFP Food-for-Work rehabilitation activities/projects will be implemented from July to December and will benefit some 138,000 people. (Aug-26, UNOCHA)

 

WFP says it is feeding some 915,000 people.

Water and

Sanitation

IFRC says an estimated 45,000 latrines and 76,000 wells were destroyed or damaged by the tsunami. (Oct-10, IFRC)

 

IFRC says it is producing and distributing over 3 million liters of water a week, which benefits up to 50,000 people in the east of Sri Lanka (Oct-10, IFRC).

 

Public Health

and Medical

Following an outbreak of chicken pox in Kallady, a camp near the eastern city of Trincomalee, IOM medical staff collaborating with the Sri Lankan health department organized a vaccination campaign against chicken pox for 200 children. IOM also carried out an information campaign to halt the spread of the disease. (Oct-11, IOM)

 

Shelter

According to the Press Trust of India, Governor Kingsley Wickramaratne of the Southern province says that the estimated 800,000 people left homeless by the tsunami will have permanent housing by April. The tsunami destroyed some 80,000 houses, according to the PTI. (PTI, Oct-29)

 

UNHCR is pushing ahead with a project to provide transitional shelters for 14,000 people in Ampara district. UNHCR also expected to complete its transitional shelter work in Jaffna with some 1,558 shelters being built, which will accommodate some 8,000 people. UNHCR has supported the GoSL’s Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) with the provision of over 55,000 shelters at 500 sites nationwide. More than 200,000 people in all should benefit from the program. The UNHCR Shelter Coordinator says that with some 95 percent of transitional shelter needs met, focus is beginning to shift to “care and maintenance” of shelters. UNHCR says it will complete its transitional shelter work by the end of the year. (Oct-25, 26, UNHCR, UNNS) The project was funded by UNDP, UNHCR, IOM and local and international NGOs. 38,600 shelters were constructed in Northern and Eastern districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Jaffna, Killinochchi and Mullativu, while 12,260 have been constructed in the Southern districts of Galle, Kalutara, Hambantota, Colombo and Matara. (Oct-11, Daily News)

 

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)
Infrastructure

Oxfam, along with partner Education International, has begun work on the first of 12 schools across the island, damaged by the tsunami. Schools to be rebuilt include one in Galle, one in Matara, one school with buildings in two different locations in Kalutara, three in Trincomalee, two in Batticaloa, one in Ampara and two in Mullaitivu. (Oct-31, Oxfam)

 

The Daily News reported that the GoSL has decided to revise its 100/200 meter buffer zone for reconstruction along the island’s coastal areas. The GoSL Information Department said that under the new set of rules, the buffer will be reduced to a range between 25-55 meters in the south and 50-100 meters in the northeast. Following the disaster, the government declared a 100/200 meters strip of land as a “no build zone,” however, many residents had complained that this would push back those whose livelihoods depended upon being closer to the ocean. UN resident Coordinator Miquel Bermeo welcomed the decision, saying that it would free up more land and better accommodate the wishes of the people. (Oct-15, Xinhua)

 

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved US$310 million in donor funding to reconstruct 1,137 kilometers (706 miles) of road and 25 bridges. The Cabinet has also approved the purchase of 100 new passenger train carriages for the Sri Lanka Railway Department. Sri Lanka’s Road Development Authority estimates that some 2,425 kilometers (1,507 miles) of coastline out of a total of 2,825 kilometers (1,755 mile) was directly affected by the disaster. (Sept-22, UNOCHA)

 

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)

Security

Sri Lanka on October 18 extended the state of emergency in the country which was imposed following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August. 

 

Ongoing violence in the east, some violence reported in the north.

International Financial Assistance

The World Bank says that around 220,000 families affected by the disaster have received up to 3 installments of cash grants worth some US$50 each, with another installment coming soon. The total disbursed by the WB by the end of the year will be US$40 million. Aside from the cash grants, WB has been handing out cash grants for housing, worth some US$2500 for families to repair or rebuild their homes. WB has committed up to US$150 million for the country. (Oct-21, World Bank)

 

The ADB announced a US$2 million grant from its Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to help restore income for poor families affected by the disaster. ADB estimates more than a third of the 500,000 people affected by the tsunami lost their incomes. (Oct-11, ADB)

 

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on September 12 delayed a hearing on a controversial government deal to share about US$3.2 billion in tsunami aid with the LTTE rebels.  The court is expected to hold the hearing for the aid-sharing deal, formally known as the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure (P-TOMS), on November 22, which falls after the November 21 deadline for the country’s presidential election. 

 

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 17

 

Sectors……………………………………………………page 17

 

Overview:

 

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and the UNDP on Friday (October 28) launched a website, “Thailand’s Development Assistance Database” (DAD) that tracks international assistance to Thailand. The site was created to avoid redundancy and provides systematic and accurate information for resources tracking and reporting of technical projects and activities, according to the Nation. Donors will also be able to update their projects online. The website can be found at: http://dadthailand.mfa.go.th. As of October 28, more than US$120 million has come in and 165 projects are under way in 10 Thai provinces. The head of the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency’s (TICA) humanitarian relief and assistance coordination task force, Manoth Suksabjarern, says that the system will serve as a prototype for other tsunami-affected countries including Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives. (Oct-31, The Nation)

 

On October 28, Thailand revealed details of plans to subsidize hotel rooms and flights for thousands of relatives of foreign victims who plan to attend anniversary memorials of the disaster. According to Reuters, Bangkok said it would pay for flights to the country for the next of kin of some 2,000 foreign victims as well as two nights of hotel accommodations. Tourists who were hospitalized as a result of the disaster will be invited to attend memorials, but will not receive reimbursements for their travel. Details can be found at the Thai Foreign Ministry website at www.mfa.go.th/tsunami. (Nov-3, Reuters)

 

According to the Bangkok Post, Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat said that tsunami-affected Koh Phi Phi will be transformed into an upscale “boutique island” under a new development plan. “Accommodation on the island will be in a higher price range of between 5,000 and 30,000 baht rather than the 300 baht to 1,000 baht at present,” Phinij said. He added that the plan was necessary to prevent the island from turning into a slum with garbage and wastewater problems. (Oct-31, Bangkok Post)

 


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. 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)

 

The Phuket-based Disaster Victims Identification Centre (DVI) will be closed on December 26. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said on October 12 that some 1,000 bodies remain unclaimed by their relatives. Around 300 westerners are reported to be among the bodies while the rest are those of Thai and other Asian nationals. All the bodies have been processed by DVI officials who are expected to move their office from Phuket to Bangkok before December 26.

 

The head of the victim identification centre, Police General Noppadol Somboonsub, says that by the end of 2006, investigators should finish identifying all the bodies of the people killed in Thailand by the tsunami. There are 3,777 bodies of victims being kept at several identification units. The Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) Information Management Centre has identified around 2,419 bodies and returned them to their relatives. Remaining bodies are kept at Mai Khao morgue, according to police Lt-Col Wiwat. He says forensic experts and DVI officials could examine 30-50 bodies a week. (Oct-14, Bangkok Post) Foreign experts helping to identify unknown bodies killed in the disaster will leave Thailand by the end of the year when their Thai colleagues will take over. (Aug-25, Reuters)

 

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) Some 30,000 Burmese workers were registered with the Thai government according to the Irrawaddy. (Irrawaddy, Oct-6)

 

The Chalong-based Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) center is expected to close some time before the anniversary of the tsunami disaster on December 26, Pol Col Khemmarin Hassiri, Superintendent of the TTVI’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) unit said. However, the exact date the center will be closed has not been fixed. (Phuket Gazette, Oct-4)

Coordination

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, announced towards the end of August that he was assigning three of his deputy prime ministers with specific responsibilities: Ministers Jarusombat and Liptapanplop are responsible for victim assistance in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket, and Minister Krea-ngam will oversee disbursement of compensation funds. Minister Vejjajiva, from the Prime Minister’s Office, has been assigned overall responsibility for the country’s disaster alert system. (Sept-9, UNNCTT)

 

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)

 

The Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva on October 12 announced that the construction of the tsunami warning system is in progress and that 24 warning towers will be completed by the first anniversary of the disaster, on December 26. Suranand says that the government plans to build 62 warning towers, of which four will come under the responsibility of Phuket’s local officials. Twelve towers will be complete by next month, the next 12 by December 26 and the rest will be ready by next March. The warning towers will be linked to 12 warning stations and will be overseen by the Ministry of Interior and cost Bt38 million (US$929,000). Maps and signs showing tsunami escape trails will be finished by November 15. (Oct-13, The Nation)

 

Phuket launched a Thai-English language website (www.phuketremembers.com) to commemorate the disaster and keep people updated on the progress and activities to mark the first anniversary from December 25-27. (Oct-18, The Nation)

Logistics

For logistical information see: http://www.unjlc.org.

Food

 

Water/Sanitation

 

Public Health/Medical

A seminar entitled “Rehabilitation through Adapted Physical Activity and Sport for Children and Youths Affected by the Tsunami in Southeast Asia” was held in Bangkok from October 28 to 30, funded by the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior. The seminar aimed to introduce physical activity as a means to help heal children’s mental health following the tsunami.

(Oct-30, The Nation)

 

Department of Mental Health working on Handbook to help tsunami victims cope with psychological wounds. Department deputy chief Vachira Chanpeng, says that the project has the backing of the WHO. (Oct-14, Bangkok Post)

Shelter

According to Reuters, only some 2,900 people are in temporary shelters, less than half the number in May. (Nov-3, Reuters)

Infrastructure

Phangnga province is reportedly building 4 warning towers in Takua Pa and Kuraburi districts which will be completed before the government’s warning towers are ready for use. The budget to build the warning towers comes from private funds and community organizations. They are expected to be finished in two months. (Sep-30, TNA)

Security

Thailand on October 18 extended a controversial emergency decree in the restive south. The emergency law, which was declared on July 20 and replaced martial law that was declared shortly after a renewed insurgency began in the region early last year, is renewable every three months. Over 1,000 people, including Muslim and Buddhist civilians and security forces, have been killed in the region since last year. Insurgency violence continues in southernmost provinces (Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, and Songkhla). Military declared martial law in Songkhla districts of Chana and Thepha on Thursday (November 3). (Nov-3, Bangkok Post)

 

The US, Britain and Australia have issued travel warnings to its citizens, advising against non-essential travel to the south.

International Financial Assistance

The 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)