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

 

December 1, 2005

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

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

Indonesia.....................................page 4-8

Sri Lanka.....................................page 9-15

Thailand.......................................page 16-20

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.

 

·    The World Food Program (WFP) says it will extend its operations in Indonesia and Sri Lanka through 2007 for 1.5 million people affected by the disaster, but will phase out Somalia and the Maldives by the end of this year. Aid will be provided to some 1.2 million people affected by the tsunami in Indonesia and another 347,000 in Sri Lanka. Relief operations in Thailand and Myanmar were wrapped up in mid-2005. The food agency says it will concentrate on the most vulnerable: Children, new mothers, displaced people and the elderly. At the peak of the operation in May, WFP had provided food to some 2.24 million people in 6 countries. (Nov 29, WFP)

 

·    UK-based aid agency Oxfam says that victims of the tsunami still living in temporary shelters in Indonesia and Sri Lanka are not being given appropriate land to rebuild their home. The agency is urging governments to provide more land to permit the construction of permanent housing. Many lost their land to the tsunami, while others, such as in Sri Lanka, are barred by the government from rebuilding on their own land, which is inside new coastal “buffer zones.” In Indonesia, the government has no policies in place to provide new land to the landless, so rebuilding cannot even begin, Oxfam says. “Thousands of permanent homes have already been built for tsunami survivors, but until new land is provided for those made landless, the rebuilding process will be too slow. New land must be granted to those who lost it,” Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America said. (Nov-28, 30, Reuters, Oxfam)

 

·    UN envoy for tsunami relief, former US president Bill Clinton, visited Sri Lanka for two days earlier this week and Aceh, Indonesia on Wednesday (November 30) to review the progress of recovery in tsunami-hit areas. In Aceh, Clinton promised survivors that the international community would stand by them long after the tragedy fades from the media spotlight and also praised the historic peace pact between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels and the government signed in August. During his visit to Sri Lanka, Clinton praised reconstruction efforts and urged the government to seek peace with the LTTE. Clinton said that surplus funds could be redirected to help fight crises in Africa, but that there was still much rebuilding left to do in tsunami-affected areas. It was Clinton’s third visit to the affected region. (Nov-29, 30, Reuters, AP)

 

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

 

·    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)

 

·    Insurgency violence continues in southern Thailand;


Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 5

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 5

Overview:

 

As part of a whirlwind tour to tsunami-affected areas, including Sri Lanka, former US President Bill Clinton as the UN envoy for tsunami relief, visited hard-hit Aceh province on Wednesday (November 30). Clinton assured tsunami survivors in the province that the international community would stand by them during the rebuilding process long after the media spotlight on the disaster began to fade. Clinton also said that there were sufficient funds for the region and survivors should not worry that other disasters would divert attention. “After the one-year commemorations of the tsunami next month, the world attention might shift elsewhere. But the attention of the international community, the UN, national governments and non-governmental organizations big and small will stay with you until the work is done,” Clinton said. He also praised the government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels for signing a historic peace pact in August. (Nov-30, Dec-1, AFP, AP)

 

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

On Wednesday (November 30) UN Recovery Coordinator, Eric Morris, signed a memorandum of understanding with the BRR to ensure better communication and coordination. (Nov-30, IHT)

 

GOI officials said that Indonesia has activated the first phase of a tsunami early warning system off Sumatra in mid-November. A team of Indonesian and German scientists installed two buoys and a pressure sensor on the bottom of the sea off the coast of western Sumatra as part of a five-year plan. Officials were aiming to install some 20 buoys along the coast by early 2009. (Nov-17, Reuters)

 

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

 

BRR has set up a special trust fund to speed up rebuilding, the Rehabilitation Aceh and Nias (RAN) Trust Fund.  The BRR says that the new plan would cut red tape in disbursing money for projects.  

 

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

The World Food Program (WFP) says it will extend its operations in Indonesia through 2007 for 1.2 million people affected by the tsunami in Indonesia. The food agency says it will concentrate on the most vulnerable: children, new mothers, displaced people and the elderly. At the peak of the operation in May, WFP had provided food to some 2.24 million people in 6 countries. (Nov 29, WFP)

 

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 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 beneficiaries by December. WFP working to expand Mother and Child Nutrition (MCN) program to other districts in order to improve nutritional status of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating mothers. Program expected to assist 180,000 beneficiaries by the end of the year. (Nov-4, WFP)

Water and Sanitation

113,000 people benefit from 1 million liters of water provided by IFRC each day. (Nov-9, IFRC)

Public Health/Medical

UNICEF supporting 21 children’s centers across Aceh and North Sumatra which provide recreational activities, educational and psycho-social support to some 17,000 children and young people. (Nov-30, UNICEF)

 

IFRC and Indonesian Red Cross leading psychosocial activities in 13 villages in Banda Aceh and 30 communities in Aceh Besar district which are expected to assist more than 13,500 survivors. (Nov-15, Reuters)

IFRC says it has trained 200 volunteers and 1,000 community members to provide psychological support to communities. (Nov-9, IFRC)

 

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)

 

In October, the GOI 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, Eric Morris, has ordered 15,000-20,000 prefabricated shelters with a minimum durability of some 4 years. (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)

 

IFRC said that it is providing 27,000 family-sized tents to the 67,000 people still living in tents and has begun importing sturdier temporary housing units to provide at least 20,000 units for some 80,000 people. (Nov-9, IFRC).

 

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

Infrastructure

UNICEF says it is starting the construction of some 300 primary schools and the rehabilitation of some 200 others, which will serve some 120,000 children. (Nov-30, UNICEF)

 

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.  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.    

 

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)

 

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

GAM and government finish third phase of disarmament and troop withdrawals as part of August peace accord.

 

UN Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS) downgraded security phase for Aceh from Phase IV to Phase III as of November 2. (Nov-15, OCHA)

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)

 

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:

 

Former US President Bill Clinton warned that the resumption of hostilities in Sri Lanka could adversely affect tsunami recovery efforts in the country.  Clinton visited Sri Lanka earlier this week as the United Nations Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery. “Any recovery progress achieved this year will be quickly reversed if Sri Lanka returns to civil conflict,” he said on Tuesday (November 29). Clinton said Sri Lanka had made significant progress since last year’s devastating tsunami that left nearly 40,000 Sri Lankans dead and affected more than one million people.  He said the fact that some 90 percent of the children are back in school, epidemics have been prevented and transitional shelter has been provided to almost all internally displaced persons, point to “real progress” that has been achieved since the disaster.  Clinton also held talks with newly elected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. 

 

Sri Lankan President Rajapakse said Monday (November 28) that the stalled peace talks with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels could begin immediately.  Speaking to the heads of diplomatic missions Rajapakse said, “We can resume immediately on reviewing the operation of the ceasefire, whilst we prepare ourselves for eventual substantive talks leading to a lasting solution.  These processes can work in parallel and not necessarily sequentially.”   He said his government remained committed to the 2002 ceasefire, and he expected the LTTE to comply with the provisions of the ceasefire, especially those “relating to the observance of human rights, such as refraining from recruitment of child soldiers, political killings, abductions, and other illegal activities.”  Rajapakse has said he wanted to make the peace process more open and more inclusive than it currently is, to ensure participation for all the people in the country.  Rajapakse’s comments come a day after LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran warned that he would intensify the struggle to establish self-government in northeastern Sri Lanka if the new government failed to put forward a “reasonable political framework” satisfactory to the political aspirations of Tamil people by the end of this year.  The LTTE has yet to respond to Sri Lankan government’s latest proposal.  However, rebels in the past have warned that a renegotiation of the ceasefire agreement could cause it to collapse. 

 

At least 6 people were reported dead, and up to more than 50,000 families were displaced after heavy rain over several days triggered flooding across the country last week.  According to Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA), 4 people drowned and 2 others died when a wall collapsed on them.  Deaths were reported from the capital Colombo, and Horona and Padukka areas on the outskirts of the city.  Colombo reportedly had some 270 mm (10.5 inches) of rain. Several roads and at least two main roads out of Colombo were impassable, and reportedly caused major traffic woes.  Southern Galle district, central Ratnapura and the western province were reportedly among the worst-hit areas.  Reuters reported the Eastern province as being affected by the heavy rains as well.  Rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-held areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitvu in the north were also hit by floods, reportedly affecting victims of last December’s tsunami disaster still living in shelters.  According to DPA, President Rajapakse has set up an emergency relief coordinating center and deployed security troops to help evacuate victims and provide food for the affected.

 

The independent think-tank, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), says that international and local NGOs have wasted aid money and slowed reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka. The IPS recommended the government rein in the number of NGOs which it says is in competition with one another and primarily concerned with grabbing media attention. “Reluctance to cooperate with government institutions and competitive behavior towards others continue to hamper coordination and implementation,” the IPS said. Almost 300 NGOs collected millions of dollars for Sri Lanka following the disaster, according to Agence France-Presse. (Dec-1, 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) 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

Officials say they hope to use text messages and the mobile phone system as a mobile phone warning system. A pilot project will be launched in the island’s southern coast, and will use text messages to alert police, village chiefs and other officials. Dialog Telekom, a mobile phone operator, says the system could be up and running by mid-2006. About 3.5 million Sri Lankans have mobile phones. The system will also use alarms linked to the network which will trigger sirens in temples, churches and police stations. Officials will control the system from the capital, Colombo. (Nov-14, Reuters)

 

HIC is working with TAFREN to develop CAPS (Coordination and Planning System) database for the management of information. (Nov-14, OCHA)

 

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

The World Food Program (WFP) says it will extend its operations in Sri Lanka through 2007 for some 347,000 people affected by the disaster. WFP says the assistance to tsunami-hit communities will be joined with a larger, ongoing program for people in conflict-affected areas. Assistance will focus on long-term recovery rather than free food distributions. Some 100,000 children under age five, as well as pregnant and new mothers will be provided with supplementary food through mother and child nutrition programs. (Nov-29, WFP)

 

WFP says that from October 1, Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) has replaced General Food Distribution (GFD) which scaled distribution down to 350,000 people. The program will continue until December 31. WFP planning to distribute 17,485 tons of mixed food commodities under VGF. 444 Food For Work (FFW) projects were approved. From October to December, WFP planning to distribute 10,967 mixed food commodities to some 183,000 beneficiaries. School feeding activities involve 397 schools (106,000 children) (Nov-4, WFP)

 

WFP currently providing fortified Corn Soya Blend (CSB) to almost 100,000 children and women in health clinics under its Emergency Operation. (Nov-4, WFP)

 

Child Nutrition Surveillance figures from tsunami-affected areas available at: www.cnslk.org. (Nov-4, WFP)

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

IOM has completed 4,437 transitional houses for some 20,000 people in seven affected districts. Transitional houses are expected to last between 2 and 4 years. IOM has been asked to build about 5,500 transitional houses in the country. IOM is also supporting the shelter upgrading process. (Oct-31, IOM)

 

IFRC says that the GoSl, NGOs, and UN think that it will take a year-and-a-half to three years to construct or repair all housing. The major challenge thus far has been to identify and secure adequate land. About 15,000 permanent houses will be built by IFRC donors, while another 25,000 will be supported by other agencies. As of November 1, IFRC says it has been allocated 43 sites in 10 districts for the construction of 5,517 houses and the construction of over 2,200 homes is underway. (Nov-9, IFRC)

 

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

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

The Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said October 31 that the number of political killings in the island nation this year is over 190 and is undermining a February 2002 ceasefire. 

 

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:

 

The Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) authority has announced that the first group of some 80 bodies of Myanmar nationals killed in the disaster will be returned to their families by the end of this year, the Bangkok Post reported. Pol Col Khemmarin Hassiri, superintendent of the TTVI’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit, said that he is going to contact the International Organization for Migration and the Law Society of Thailand about the planned return of the bodies, who will then reportedly contact the victim’s families. Khemmarin says that the two organizations have been acting as coordinators between the TTVI and Burmese workers who lost relatives in the disaster. (Dec-2, Bangkok Post)

 

Australian and Thai experts met in Bangkok on Monday (November 28) to swap ideas on improving management of Thailand’s tsunami-damaged coast. Australian Ambassador William Paterson said Australia was pleased in sharing its expertise in managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority. “Revitalizing the damaged coastline in Thailand is critical for the rebuilding of the tourism and fishing industries, and Australian know-how and resources can make a real difference in helping the Thais recover lost livelihoods,” Paterson said. Speakers from the CRC Reef Research Centre and the International Marine Project Activities Centre, based in Townsville, Queensland, participated with Thai officials. (Nov-29, 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. 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

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and the UNDP on 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. 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)

 

Thai 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. 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)

 

The Thai government says it has a working tsunami early warning system in cooperation with the US and other neighboring countries. Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon says the GOT has been working closely with neighboring countries and the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. “We have an early warning center in Thailand. We will continue to upgrade that center. We are coordinating with our neighboring countries and also the center in Hawaii,” he said. (Nov-7, AFP)

 

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)

 

Thailand 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 AFP, GOT plans to spend up to US$12 million on events and accommodation and expects at least 2,000 foreigners and 4,000 Thais to attend commemorations along 6 beaches at the first anniversary of the December 26 disaster. (Nov-7, AFP)

Logistics

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

Food

 

Water/Sanitation

UNICEF supporting some 800 schools in all 6 tsunami-affected provinces for water supply improvements. (Dec-1, UNICEF)

Public Health/Medical

Mental Health Recovery Center in Phangnga says that it has provided counseling to 18,356 villagers in 6 coastal provinces. The counseling service would be provided until 2008. (Nov-7, 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 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)