TSUNAMI AID

The United States responded just as rapidly. At the direction of the President, the United States Seventh Fleet diverted the ships of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group, and the ships of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5. They were directed to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other affected nations to mitigate the effects of the recent earthquakes and tsunamis.  Pacific Command worked with the Government of Thailand to receive permission to use the large military airfield at Utapao, Thailand. Search aircraft were dispatched there from Japan and Okinawa, and U.S. Pacific Command sent a forward command element (FCE) to Utapao, Thailand, to establish the command, control and communication structure for Joint Task Force 536 (JTF 536). This was all done by December 28. By January 1, the United States had troops on the ground at Banda Aceh, Indonesia. On January 5, the hospital ship Mercy was dispatched. Ships and Marines from Okinawa were dispatched that same week, and were assigned in transit to Sri Lankan relief efforts. As of January 7, USAID had committed over $77 million to relief, and 27,000 metric tons of food had arrived or were en route to the region. By January 14, the United States had the following:

Further information about the United States government's relief efforts can be found at the Department of Defense site and the USAID site.

Let's not ignore the rest of the world's governments. Australia and the United States led the way, but other governments also provided immediate disaster assistance. Here is a table of some of the immediate relief provided.

COUNTRY	AID	DATE
China	14 person medical team to Sri Lanka	January 2, 2005
China	US$200,000 to the Myanmar Government	January 5, 2005
France	Total French aid in the Tsunami disaster to date is € 48.8 million ($66.3 million), broken down as follows: € 23 million (about $31.3 million) for French aid to prevent catastrophes and health risks € 25.8 million (about $35 million) for emergency relief Details of the above bilateral aid (updated on 5 January 2005) 1. Air transport an Airbus carrying first-aid workers and emergency equipment, and repatriating tourists from Sri Lanka and the Maldives (28/12/04) an Airbus flying humanitarian supplies to Colombo, a medical team and emergency equipment to Thailand (Phuket) and repatriating French citizens from Phuket (28/12/04) a hospital Airbus with a team of doctors flying from Bangkok and Phuket to repatriate the injured (01/01/05) an Airbus carrying 20 metric tons of humanitarian supplies, and experts (epidemiologists) to Sri Lanka, Colombo and Matara (02/01/05) 2. A Bréguet Atlantique 2 for search and rescue operations in Sri Lanka and Thailand (Phuket) 3. 60 metric tons of humanitarian supplies flown to Sri Lanka (35 metric tons); the Maldives (5 metric tons); Indonesia (20 metric tons). 4. Experts Sent: a) 60 rescue workers to Sri Lanka b) Forensic experts to Thailand (14) c) SAMU medical personnel to Sri Lanka (5) and Thailand (4) 5. Humanitarian operation in Indonesia (Banda Aceh): 70 emergency services first-aid workers, humanitarian supplies, field hospital (02/01/05)	January 3, 2005
Germany	Some 360 German troops in Aceh are expected to leave next month as foreign military operations wind down in Indonesia. While they have been a welcome presence, the aid effort has been marred by accusations by private aid organizations including the German Red Cross that the military has poorly coordinated the operation. The German military has anchored a supply ship, the Berlin, off the coast of Aceh equipped with a full-service clinic and two water treatment systems and set up a medical unit in the city of Banda Aceh. Germany has also established the Bakoy temporary shelter with its Technical Reconstruction Agency.	February 11, 2005
Israel	An El Al plane flew to Sri Lanka and Indonesia in Southeast Asia, carrying 85 tons of emergency aid materials donated by Israeli organizations and companies. On the instruction of Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Israel Foreign Ministry Director-General Ron Prosor and Deputy Director-General Amos Nadai accompanied the plane. The plane landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Monday, January 10, where equipment for emergency food kitchens donated by the National Council for Voluntarism, Koach Latet, and the United Kibbutz Movement. The kitchens will provide hot meals for some 4,000 people a day. In addition, these organizations and Magen David Adom contributed medical equipment to set up a mobile clinic. The five kitchen and nine medical personnel arrived on separate flights. Another medical delegation specializing in trauma arrived the same day, funded by the Israeli Health and Foreign Ministries, which will give a week-long seminar to local professionals. ...From Colombo the plane continued to Indonesia, arriving on January 12. Landing near the tsunami-affected areas of Aceh, Sumatra, 75 tons of emergency materials valued at $450,000 were unloaded. The cargo included 16 tons of baby food donated by Remedia and Materna, 30 tons of rice, flour, water, sugar and grains donated by Koach Latet, as well as the Sugat and Osem Israeli food manufacturers, five tons of plastic sheeting donated by Hovav Plastica and Haogenplast, and 20 tons of medicines produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals, donated through the Latet organization. In addition, donations from Shari Arison Glazer and the Shira Hadasha congregation in Jerusalem funded a water purification system produced by Israeli manufacturer Netafim, which itself donated a second system.	January 12, 2005
Russian Federation	On request of the Government of Sri Lanka the Russian Federation has been providing the following assistance to the population affected by earthquakes and tsunamis in the framework of a large scale international humanitarian operation: 1. USAR EMERCOM USAR team of 26 personnel and 3 dogs arrived in Colombo on December 27, 2004 with EMERCOM Il-76 flight. 2. Light Helicopter Capacity EMERCOM helicopter Bo-105 with a crew was delivered to Colombo with EMERCOM Il-76 flight on December 27, 2004 to be used for assessment missions and evacuation. 3. Humanitarian Relief 110 large tents and 2200 blankets were delivered to Colombo on December 27, 2004 with EMERCOM Il-76 flight; 60 large tents, 7MT of bed sheets, 2 water purification units and 2 MT of disinfectants to be delivered to Colombo with the next Il-76 flight on December 30, 2004. ETA to Colombo is 11.10 UTC December 30, 2004. 4. UNDAC Team EMERCOM of Russia has provided one UNDAC member for a mission in Sri Lanka to manage the reception center in Colombo airport (arrived on December 27, 2004). 5. Evacuation 18 Russian citizens were evacuated from Sri Lanka with the return flight of EMERCOM Il-76 on December 28, 2004. EMERCOM plans to send its 11-62 plane to Phuket (Thailand) on December 30, 2004 to evacuate Russian citizens and an injured Latvian citizen to Moscow. ETA to Phuket is 08.45 UTC, December 30, 2004. More Russian citizens will be evacuated from Sri Lanka to Moscow with the return flight of EMERCOM Il-76 on December 30, 2004.	December 29, 2004
Russian Federation	An air bridge has been established between Russia and Indonesia's Aceh province for the delivery of humanitarian relief and a Russian military field hospital to this area worst hit by the recent natural disaster. A Russian Air Force Il-76 plane arrived in the province's capital Banda Aceh, carrying the first consignment of hospital equipment. Also expected to soon arrive is a Russian Air Force Tu-154 plane with a large team of Russian doctors and medical workers on board. During the subsequent days, ten additional flights will complete the air transportation of a 120-bed hospital, necessary equipment and motor vehicles.	January 10, 2005
United Kingdom	HMS Chatham and the repair ship Royal Fleet Auxiliary Diligence remain off the town of Batticaloa on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. The ships have had work parties ashore, helping provide shelter for those whose homes were destroyed. A Royal Navy team has also worked to make wells safe to drink from again, clearing debris from the shafts, pumping out salt water contamination left behind by the tsunami, then testing the water rigorously to ensure it is potable. The Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn MP, visited Batticaloa and the RN teams on 8 January. Royal Air Force aircraft continue to deliver humanitarian aid and support equipment to Indonesia. Over 300 tonnes of equipment and aid has now been flown into the disaster area by the RAF C-17 and Tristar aircraft, with further cargoes on the way.	January 9, 2005
United Kingdom	HMS CHATHAM remains in company with RFA DILIGENCE, anchored on the east coast of Sri Lanka near the devastated town of Batticaloa. Boats crews from both ships have been busy ferrying working parties ashore, using a safe channel from the open sea into the lagoon, established following a survey conducted by CHATHAM’s embarked Hydrographic Officer and Navigator, 2 days ago. Despite deteriorating weather and increased sea states, which has made transportation of teams ashore precarious, the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary crews have persevered and continued to carry out the good work they have started. HMS CHATHAM’s Lynx helicopter has been busy supplying medical stores and aid to the village of Kallar, which remains cut off by flooding. HMS CHATHAM landed three work teams today and the Fleet Support Unit, based on RFA DILIGENCE also landed a team. The boat maintenance team, working with the FSU members, continued to repair fishing boats and launched several today, allowing the owners to return to their livelihood. Some members of this party also continued to assist at the waterside Covent, St Teresa’s, and with general clearance operations in shore side properties. A very good relationship has been struck up with the sisters in the convent and they have allowed their grounds to be used as a forward supply base and muster point for personnel. A second party moved around the lagoon to the seaward side where the most severe effects of the tsunami were experienced. The aim was to continue with house clearance operations but the added and more important task was restoration of the wells in the area. All of the wells had been contaminated with sea water and debris, leaving the community without fresh water. Equipped with buckets, spades and a diesel-powered pump, the team drained and cleared numerous private wells, allowing the locals access to fresh water without reliance on water supplies brought in. Working with the locals, they would clear the area around the well, allowing easier access for the team and getting the locals to begin to fend for themselves. The team then proceeded to a church and began to clear a larger communal well, which will continue tomorrow. A second day undertaking house clearance operations may seem a rather trivial task; however the local population has been deeply traumatised and appeared directionless and unable to help themselves. The team found that once they started clearing rubble the locals started to assist and work alongside the sailors. The third party helped construct a tented village for up to 250 families, with tents donated by a UK based charity. The team found that spirits were higher in the new community of tents and there was even time for a friendly game of cricket, between the Royal Navy and locals. Fortunately for the sailors, the language barrier enabled the disappointing score to remain in doubt.	January 8, 2005
Norway	International Development Minister Hilde F. Johnson has so far made a total of NOK 50 million available for humanitarian assistance to the areas affected by the disaster. The money will be channelled through the UN system, the Red Cross system and NGOs, and will be used to purchase basic necessities, medicines, food, clean water and shelter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making the specific allocations in close consultation with the UN (OCHA), NGOs and Norwegian embassies in the region. OCHA will be flying Norwegian relief supplies from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Brindisi to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and the Norwegian Red Cross is sending a separate consignment of water containers, tents and medical supplies to Sri Lanka. Funds are also being channeled through the Norwegian development aid organisations working in Sri Lanka. Owing to our involvement in the peace process in Sri Lanka, and our contacts with Tamil organisations, we are also in a position to contribute to the local relief efforts in the LTTE controlled areas in the north and east of the country.	December 28, 2004
	Additional information available at Relief Web

And, as a summary of the work done by the United States military:
The Government of India initially refused relief assistance. On January 21, 2005, the government announced that it would accept reconstruction assistance. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands were and remain a sensitive military zone. The Indian government has limited assistance to the islands because of that. Burma / Myanmar remains a politically isolated country. Little is known about the degree of death and destruction there, though, as noted in the preceding table, the Chinese did provide relief aid. The same is true for Somalia's status. Because of the anarchy in that country, accurate figures on the aftermath of the tsunami are not available. Relief attempts have been sporadic at best, and generally through the United Nations which has access to some parts of the country.

RECONSTRUCTION AND LONG TERM ASSISTANCE

This is the area that has recently come under scrutiny. National governments have a long history of making pledges when the television lights are on and then not funding them, or only partially funding them. The other side of the coin is that reconstruction is only just beginning in many place that were struck by the tsunami. It's only been six months. Plans are still being made, and approved. Here are some examples of what is going on:

COUNTRY	AID	DATE
Canada	Canada's commitment over the next five years comprises $265 million for humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance – including an estimated $150 million to match the generous contributions to eligible organizations by individual and groups of Canadians by January 11 – and $160 million for ongoing reconstruction assistance from 2005-09 to the affected region.	January 10, 2005
China	Since China is a natural disaster-prone country, we have suffered tremendous loss of life and property as well as great mental agony. We have also received generous assistance from the international community. This time, as a friendly neighbor of the afflicted countries, we have been filled with anxiety and sympathy for their plight. A foreign disaster relief operation, the largest ever in China's history, was immediately launched. China pledged RMB 21.63 million (equivalent to 2.6 million US Dollar) of assistance on the very next day. Later on, in view of further developments, the Chinese Government committed to contributing another RMB 500 million (equivalent to 60.5 million US Dollar) and would like to give positive consideration to relieving and reducing the due governmental debts of the hardest-hit countries. The Chinese government has decided to write off all due governmental debts of Sri Lanka. Individual donations by the general public in China have exceeded RMB 100 million( equivalent to 12.1 million US Dollar). In the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), more than 500 million HK dollars (equivalent to 62.5 million US Dollar) have been raised and the Macao SAR has sent a rescue team to the disaster-hit area. By 7 January, the total amount of government and individual donations exceeded RMB 1.1 billion (equivalent to 133 million US Dollar) and the latter is still growing. In addition, the Chinese Government has dispatched medical and rescue teams to the affected areas at the shortest notice and several batches of relief supplies have already arrived in the relevant countries.	January 11, 2005
European Commision	The European Commission has earmarked €350 million for post-tsunami reconstruction. This includes the Tsunami Indicative Programme (€323 million spread over two years) and €27 million under regional and Rapid Reaction Mechanism funds. €12 million was immediately released to kick-start the longer-term reconstruction work. The long term programme will focus on repairing housing and social amenities, and restarting livelihoods so that individuals and their families can get back to leading normal lives. It will also fund the repair of large infrastructures such as roads. While humanitarian aid is provided through Non-Governmental Organisations, UN agencies and the Red Cross, long term aid is also channelled through, or in co-operation with, national or local authorities.	June 30, 2005
Australia	Australia has already provided over $75 million in relief and rehabilitation assistance for tsunami affected countries, in particular Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Over a five year period we will spend almost $2 billion in Indonesia alone on reconstruction and development projects. In Aceh we are restoring and upgrading health and hospital services, getting the education system operational again so that children can return to school, and enabling local governments to deliver services to their own communities because these are all vital to enable devastated areas to rebuild and bring normalcy back to their lives. In addition we have committed to important reconstruction projects such as the main hospital in Banda Aceh which services the province of four million people, the Banda Aceh Port, and the rebuilding of schools, offices and other facilities.	June 26, 2005
United States	The U.S. Congress has appropriated $656 million for the Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The fund reflects the contributions of multiple USG agencies and will be used to allocate resources among USG agencies. Please Note: Of this amount, $25 million is allocated to undertake a coordinated program to prevent and control the spread of the Avian influenza virus. ...Indonesia: USAID will support reconstruction of up to 240 kilometers of road and 110 bridges to re-open the Banda Aceh - Meulaboh road, a vital transport link. Concurrent with detailed design work for the entire road, the USG will undertake design and construction along three sections of the road and repair three bridges to reopen the first 80 kilometers of the road from Banda Aceh and ensure passage during the rainy season. Sri Lanka: The damage to the fishing fleet and the harbor installations in the coastal fishing communities of Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Kod Bay was serious and widespread. Ocean going vessels were beached, moorings torn asunder, and shore facilities for handling the catch were damaged beyond repair. The importance of these installations to the economy of the region and by extension, the nation, has made recovery of fishing capacity a singular priority. USAID will support technical assistance ranging from infrastructure rehabilitation to improved post-harvest processing and marketing. This includes: Replacing a damaged bridge spanning the mouth of Arugam Bay to facilitate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of four coastal communities. Improving the drinking water supply for the Pottuvil-Ulla and Panama areas and improving the wastewater and solid waste management for the Pottuvil-Ulla area. Building two state-of-the-art vocational schools and replacing approximately eight vocational schools damaged in the tsunami. Repairing the harbor installations and improving facilities for the fishing fleet in the coastal communities of Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Puranawella. Coastal and marine resources management will also be provided in order to restore livelihoods and set the fisheries sector on a path to sustainable economic growth.	June 23, 2005
World Bank	These grants, funded by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) , will be implemented through civil society organizations during 2005-2007, and target the six southern provinces of Thailand. They include: Response to the Tsunami Affected Communities in Southern Thailand, focused on working with community groups to strengthen their abilities to provide support and leadership in traumatized communities, and support sustainable management of the coastal and marine ecosystem. Sub-grants will be provided to communities to fund specific and unique needs not met from other sources, and identified by the community themselves – these activities can include those that address specific needs of the community resulting from the crisis such as trauma counseling, facilities for disabled victims, support for widows and orphans; activities to replace or rebuilt social, cultural, economic assets lost in the disaster; and activities that help to restore the coastal and marine ecosystem. Post-Emergency Response to the Effects of the Tsunami on Vulnerable Populations in Southern Thailand to assist vulnerable populations (migrant workers, ethnic minorities, the disabled, elderly, orphans and vulnerable children, extremely poor households, injecting drug users and other potentially marginalized groups) and help them recover economic means of survival, access services which they are eligible for, and cope with psychological trauma. This component will cover the cost of training for people working with affected communities to help them provide support and counseling to traumatized children and adults. Participants in the training will include facilitators, community leaders, teachers, health workers, government staff, and NGO staff. A third project, to provide legal aide services for poor and vulnerable survivors of the tsunami to help them rebuild their lives, is also being developed.	June 21, 2005
World Bank	The World Bank's damage assessment in Sri Lanka found about 90,000 homes fully or partially destroyed by last December's tsunami. To help kick start the rebuilding process, the Bank allocated an initial $40 million for permanent housing support cash grants. So far, more than 11,500 households have received the first installment of Rs50, 000 (about US$500) to get the rebuilding going. Money, whether it's from the Bank or other donors, is expected to flow quite smoothly to the 34,000 or so houses outside the buffer zone set-back from the sea. But the situation is more complex for the remaining 56,000 houses inside the buffer zone. ...Their small home and business was fatefully inside the buffer zone - the no-go area for rebuilding. The Government of Sri Lanka declared the zone off-limits to any new structures in order to protect citizens from future disasters and to protect the coastal zone.	June 2, 2005
UNICEF	UNICEF is building two hundred temporary primary schools in the areas of Aceh worst affected by the tsunami. The buildings would cost $US 2.3 million, or about $11,500 each and were designed to be used while permanent classrooms were being constructed.  UNICEF will spend an additional $90 million to repair or rebuild 500 permanent primary schools over the next three years years. The aim is to have many of the temporary schools completed by the start of the new Indonesian school year on July 18. All will be completed in 72 days.	May 26, 2005
Australia	The partnership reflects the increasingly close relationship between our two countries and our desire to work together to help Indonesia recover from the tremendous human and economic damage it has sustained as a result of the tsunami of 26 December. It is a program of long-term, sustained cooperation and capacity building. It is focused on economic reconstruction and development. The Australian Government will contribute $1 billion over five years to the partnership. These funds will be additional to the Australia's existing development cooperation programme and will bring Australia’s commitment to Indonesia to a total of $1.8 billion over five years. While there will naturally be a clear focus on the areas devastated by the Tsunami, all areas of Indonesia will be eligible for assistance under the partnership. The $1 billion of new money will consist of equal parts of grant assistance and highly concessional financing. The grant aid will be directed at areas of priority need in Indonesia. It can be expected to encompass small-scale reconstruction to re-establish social and economic infrastructure in affected areas, human resource development and rehabilitation. It will also include a large scholarship programme, providing support and training in areas such as engineering, health care, public administration and governance.  The concessional financing component can be expected to be directed to reconstruction and rehabilitation of major infrastructure in the first instance. It will provide $500 million interest free for up to 40 years with no repayment of principal for ten years.	January 5, 2005
Turkey	Turkey has contributed US $ 700, 000 to the President’s Fund for Disaster Relief, exclusively for post tsunami relief and humanitarian work. According to a Foreign Ministry communiqué a letter to this effect was handed over by the Ambassador of Turkey resident in New Delhi, Hasan Gogus to Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Monday April 11. This contribution is in addition to the housing project initiated by the Turkish government in Matara. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid the foundation stone for the project during his visit here in February. This housing project will include a community center, kindergarten, shopping complex, including other amenities and is to be completed within seven months. A new housing project will be constructed in Kalmunai, in Eastern Sri Lanka by the Turkish government. A MoU was signed between the government of Turkey and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Housing and Construction, Industry Eastern Province.	April 12, 2005
Germany	German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Friday pledged long-term reconstruction aid to tsunami-ravaged Aceh but pressed Indonesia and separatist rebels to end their decades-long conflict. "We are ready for a long-term involvement. What we need now is a transition from emergency aid to reconstruction. We are ready to engage ourselves in reconstruction for a period of five years," he said during a brief visit here. Germany has committed to give 500 million euros (640 million dollars) in aid over the next three to five years to tsunami-hit nations, making it one of the world's top donors in the global relief and reconstruction effort, he said.	February 11, 2005
United States	Thirty "Crisis Corps" volunteers sent by the United States Peace Corps will arrive in Sri Lanka over the next two weeks to help tsunami-affected Sri Lankans rebuild their lives, homes and communities. The volunteers, all former Peace Corps Volunteers in different countries, are professionals with technical expertise in areas ranging from international organizational development and coordination, management and administration, to civil engineering. Crisis Corps volunteers will work in conjunction with partner organizations in established projects in sites along the coast including Trincomalee, Ampara, Hambantota, Matara, Galle and Kalutara.	July 5, 2005
FAO	To date, the FAO has $53 million of approved funding for its tsunami response and has deployed more than 70 international and regional experts to help affected countries with needs assessments, coordination, planning and delivery of early recovery and longer-term reconstruction assistance. Contributors to FAO’s programme include the European Community, Italy, Norway, Japan, Belgium, Finland, Spain, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Zambia and the United States. The FAO is providing direct assistance via governmental and non-governmental intermediaries to fishers and farmers through the delivery of repair kits and engine parts for fishing boats, fishing nets and other gears, seeds and farm tools, motorized paddy cultivators, and repair of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, as well as guidance, training and equipment to deal with salt water damage to farm land. In order to provide income and livelihood opportunities to communities and allow resumption of food production, the FAO is supporting cash-for-work programmes to rehabilitate paddy fields covered with debris. FAO’s forestry programme for tsunami rehabilitation, including assessment of wood demand and supply for reconstruction of houses and other infrastructure, has produced positive results concerning government action to protect natural forest and wildlife reserves and address the danger of accelerated illegal logging and deforestation. The FAO is also developing a programme to facilitate district- and village-level land-use planning to identify the opportunities for forest rehabilitation, reforestation and agroforestry to provide for coastal protection and livelihood needs of local populations. Furthermore, the FAO has provided essential support to line ministries and development banks in the preparation of their initial reconstruction plans. In Indonesia, the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias last week asked the FAO to provide advisers in fisheries, agriculture and forestry to assist the Government in the more detailed planning of its recovery activities.	June 23, 2005
Finland	Finland pledges a total of 50 million euros to assist the affected countries. Out of this sum 20 million euros is directed to humanitarian aid, and 30 million euros to reconstruction over the years 2005-2007 and directed mainly to Indonesia and Sri Lanka. ...Finnish assistance to reconstruction will be channeled mainly through such multilateral reconstruction funds. The effectiveness of the reconstruction effort must be assured by paying specific attention to the coordination of operations between individual funds established. Once the needs for reconstruction assistance have been assessed, Finland will consider also the channeling of bilateral reconstruction assistance to the tsunami-affected areas, Sri Lanka and Indonesia in particular. On the basis of our preliminary findings, bilateral assistance founded on Finnish expertise could prove particularly useful in reconstruction efforts in water and sanitation, as well as in the environmental sector. Finland is ready to contribute through the United Nations Environment Programme to post-disaster environmental assessment in the region, including risk reduction. Reconstruction should help recover also the fragile coastal ecosystems. Finland is also working in order to contribute to the development of an early warning system for natural catastrophes. With respect to Indonesia, Finland is ready to freeze annual repayments relating to bilateral development credit, which totals approximately 4.8 million euros.	January 11, 2005

Long term reconstruction in Sri Lanka is limited by the government's proposal to create a buffer zone on the coast, essentially moving 65% of the original inhabitants away from their former homes.

A key issue remains the lack of clarity regarding the imposition of prohibitions on permanent constructions within a buffer zone of 100 meters from the coast at high tide in the south-west and 200 meters in the north-east. To date there has been no law enacted that can make this prohibition legally enforceable. The Coast Conservation Department of the Ministry of Fisheries says it is as yet to complete the coastal surveys commenced after the tsunami. There are very apparent tensions between the different government agencies having authority over post-tsunami reconstruction in the coastal areas of the island: the Ministry of Tourism, the Coast Conservation Agency and the Urban Development Authority. ReliefWeb

The government has, for the time being, reached an agreement with the Tamil guerrillas, the LTTE, that should allow aid to be distributed in the hardest hit areas which are under Tamil control.

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AID FROM NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

The vast majority of the assistance for both emergency relief and reconstruction is being disbursed through non-governmental organizations [NGO's]. These groups have raised billions of dollars on their own, from individuals, groups and companies world-wide. They also receive governmental funding via contracts and agreements. Much of the money in the preceding section is being disbursed in this manner. When a governmental agency says that it is building 100 houses, what they mean is that they have contracted with an NGO to see that 100 houses are built.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Red Cross:

Initial American Red Cross relief efforts focused on getting aid into the hands of tsunami survivor s after their homes, communities and livelihoods were lost. In the first six months, the American Red Cross:

• Immediately mobilized relief supplies and disaster relief experts to provide disaster assessment, water and sanitation rehabilitation, emergency food distribution, relief supply coordination, disease prevention, disaster mental health training and family reunification activities.
  
  
• Rushed emergency food assistance to more than 1.6 million people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives through a partnership with the World Food Program.
  
  
• Provided safe drinking water and sanitation to tsunami survivors by supplying water storage units in Maldives , and offering guidance for long term water supply and household sanitation programs in Indonesia , Sri Lanka and Thailand.
  
  
• Provided relief supplies to 400,000 tsunami survivors. This aid included family tents, sleeping mats, cooking sets, hygiene kits and much more.
  
  
• Vaccinated nearly 1.1 million children in Indonesia against measles in conjunction with United Nations agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent outbreaks of disease.
  
  
• Trained local disaster mental health volunteers - including teachers, community leaders and clerics - who assisted more than 100,000 grieving survivors.

CARE:

As of May 16, CARE had raised $51 million from the American public, including individuals, corporations and foundations. Worldwide, including funds raised in the U.S., CARE as a global organization has raised just over $150 million.

...Despite complex challenges in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, CARE is making progress in the shift from emergency response to rehabilitation. CARE helped about 500,000 survivors with food, water, shelter, sanitation and health care five affected countries during the weeks following the disaster. Six months later, communities continue to chart successes toward rebuilding while struggling with a range of obstacles that limit the speed of full recovery.

In Sri Lanka, hundreds of families have been moved from tents into solid temporary houses, and more homes are under construction to accommodate people awaiting permanent housing. In Thailand, small fishing boat operators have been equipped to earn a living again. In India, more than 1,000 people were trained to provide trauma counseling and support to thousands of survivors. In Somalia, food and water distributions are stabilizing villages until wells can be built and agriculture resumed. And in Indonesia, clean water, sanitation and health services are improving lives for people still living in emergency camps. Many still face aftershocks and a range of regulatory issues that slow the rebuilding.

...In Somalia, as in other tsunami-ravaged countries, CARE responded to the needs of people directly hit by the deadly waves and to those in nearby communities. To meet the needs of people in Puntland (the country’s hardest hit area) CARE distributed food to all households in selected communities, whether the families were supported by the fishing industry or by herding. This was necessary because, after the tsunami, coastal communities could no longer afford to purchase animal products from the pastoralists in nearby areas. In addition, CARE addressed the acute water shortage by trucking in water for nearly 6,000 households in 40 communities.

Lutheran World Relief:

During the first six months of our post-tsunami efforts, LWR has spent about $3 million on items and services for approximately 300,000 survivors such as food, clothing, bedding, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils, tarpaulins, drinking water, sanitation, basic medical aid, health kits, kerosene stoves, construction of temporary houses, boats, engines and fishing nets, and training volunteers to become community counselors. We also delivered approximately $1 million worth of material resources from our warehouses: 3,900 quilts, 15,000 health kits, 10,250 school kits, and 15,300 layettes.

Mercy Corps:

Mercy Corps was on the ground in Banda Aceh within 24 hours of the earthquake and the emergency response team there is playing a major role as one of the leading humanitarian agencies in the region.  Mercy Corps staff in the area numbers more than 24 and will continue to grow in the coming days and weeks.

Items being distributed this week include water purification tablets, plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, cooking supplies, hygiene and sanitation supplies, blankets, and clothing.  The UN World Food Program chose Mercy Corps to be distribute it’s food aid in the region, which includes 70 metric tons of rice and protein biscuits.  

Mercy Corps sent two 28-meter boat loads of supplies out of Jakarta and Padang today headed for Meulaboh, a village on the west coast of Sumatra that is 80% destroyed.  Along the way the boats will stop at remote islands that have not received any external aid to date.  In addition, Mercy Corps’ Indonesia Country Director and staff flew a plane today loaded with more supplies to Meulaboh, which will serve as a central location for more distribution of aid to remote villages and islands.

Salvation Army:

Indonesia: Salvation Army (TSA) teams, escorted by the military, have moved deeply into the ravaged coastal areas. The 14 member medical team is providing most needed assistance. Getting the team to various camps around Meulaboh is a challenge, a visit to the Kuala Bhee camp taking 2.5 hours in the back of an army truck.

India: Relief distributions continue but plans are being made for reconstruction. TSA expects to reestablish two villages in the Kanyakumari district. Fishing boats and nets are needed to restore the fishing industry.

Sri Lanka: TSA expects to build 1,000 houses in the region of Galle. US Caterpillar Inc is making heavy lifting available. Few organizations are operating in Jaffna, a Tamil-held community in the north. TSA is providing cooking utensils and temporary shelter.

Save The Children:

Besides child protection, the report also details the results of Save the Children’s efforts in education, shelter and water sanitation, health, food and livelihoods in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. In Indonesia , for example, the agency has:

• Distributed nearly 8,000 tons of food to more than 292,000 survivors.
• Distributed 27,000 household kits of basic supplies for cooking and shelter.
• Delivered more than 1,000 school kits benefiting more than 50,000 children.
• Distributed 2,000 medical kits and 100 midwife kits to clinics, benefiting more than 4,000 people and supplemental food kits for 17,000 mothers and babies
• Vaccinated more than 3,100 children against measles.
• Set up a "cash for work" program in 155 sites to provide short-term income through jobs for more than 17,800 people.

Church World Service:

Church World Service is providing family shelter kits, emergency medical supplies, food, water, cooking utensils, CWS Blankets, Health, and School Kits, and other essentials to survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami--over $1,000,000 in supplies thus far--in affected parts of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. CWS rapid response teams deployed from Indonesia and Pakistan are assisting with distribution and ongoing needs assessment. CWS has also provided rapid response grants to help meet emergency needs in Indonesia and India.

This is but a sample of the emergency aid that was sent to the region. One of the NGO's reported that it was working with 534 different organizations in its relief efforts. There was a tremendous amount of macro as well as micro acts of emergency assistance, by all involved.

RECONSTRUCTION AND LONG TERM ASSISTANCE

Red Cross:

The American Red Cross tsunami recovery plan of action concentrates on three core
categories:
1. Community Health and Disease Control
2. Disaster Preparedness
3. Community Restoration and Rebuilding

CARE:

CARE USA and CARE International* Funds Earmarked for Tsunami Response By Country, in $ thousands
Organization	India	Indonesia	Somalia	Sri Lanka	Thailand	Support**	Funds earmarked as of 05/16/05		Funds raised as of 05/16/05
CARE USA	5,766	25,278	1,500	12,539	2,959	900	48,942		51,101
CARE International*	15,918	76,654	8,333	38,552	6,179	1,250	146,886		150,481

CARE International* Funds Earmarked for Tsunami Response By Year, in $ thousands
Year	Funds earmarked as of 05/16/05
2005	55,677
2006	53,592
2007	29,162
2008	8,455
Total	146,886

Lutheran World Relief:

LWR will establish offices in both Indonesia and Sri Lanka to manage the rehabilitation efforts in those countries and to accompany local partners as they implement the projects that LWR will support. Such an office already existed in India , a country where LWR has a 50-year history. For a long-term effort such as the tsunami response, this physical presence is important, Wetsig said. “We want our partners to know us, our values, and we want to to know theirs . . . it really takes having someone on the ground to build that kind of relationship.”

Some of the projects that LWR will work on during the rehabilitation phase include building and repairing damaged homes and schools; provision of books and school supplies to children; repairing damaged fishing boats and providing new boats to fisherfolk whose boats were destroyed; provision of trauma counseling for survivors; providing income-generating possibilities to women through small loans; and providing training on disaster risk management, advocacy and gender equity issues.

Mercy Corps:

In 64 villages in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, Mercy Corps is cleaning wells, distributing tools and shelter materials, providing potable-water systems and developing programs that restore common assets such as village offices and meeting places. Much of this work is through cash-for-work programs, which continue to pay more than 17,500 local workers a fair daily wage to help clear roads and farms, clean up debris and repair critical infrastructure. The cash-for-work program has cleared more than 50 miles of roads in Banda Aceh alone.

... To restore local social institutions and bolster community coping mechanisms, Mercy Corps is providing a range of material support to schools, youth sports organizations, midwives and religious institutions. The agency has equipped 32 temporary schools, serving approximately 5,700 students, with furniture and equipment.

In addition, Mercy Corps and its partners are distributing school supplies to over 16,000 junior high and high school students. For example, in Banda Aceh, four communities have been supplied with soccer, volleyball, badminton and table-tennis equipment. Nearly 2,000 students at 30 boarding schools are receiving funds for room and board, school supplies and clothes. Mercy Corps showcased artisans and community pride by helping organize the Aceh Heritage Fair in early June.

Salvation Army:

$11.3m of the approximate $15m now documented as received from the USA public are committed to 10 long term Salvation Army projects valued at approximately $26m. Further commitments to these or yet to be developed projects are anticipated. The Salvation Army’s commitment of private funds and resources to these countries, a commitment that started more than 80 years ago, is expected to continue indefinitely.

INDIA

Working directly with communities from the onset, The Salvation Army addressed one of the most immediate, identified needs by providing food to 4,525 families (some 24,000 people) in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the islands of Andaman and Nicobar. As other needs were identified items such as clothing, household and hygiene items, bedding, cook stoves, farm and masonry/carpentry tools, as well as fishing nets/implements were distributed. Counseling and medical teams also provided interventions for many. School books, recreation and other activities for children were supplied. Six long term projects valued at $13m are in various stages of development/implementation. These projects target shelter, microfinance (redevelopment of livelihoods, credit), and community capacity building (post trauma counseling and disaster preparedness).

INDONESIA

Salvation Army ‘Compassion in Action’ teams were helping internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Banda Aceh within hours of the tsunami. Their health assistance continues and is given without discrimination to all in need: IDPs, volunteers, military soldiers, and others. Currently a team is providing medical assistance in Lapang 2 camps to 503 families (2,770 persons) waiting to be relocated in barracks while houses are being built. Major (Dr) Khaerul, head of the health and medical section of the National Indonesian Military office in Meulaboh, Western Aceh Region, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province says, “The Salvation Army team is my best health team.” Current rehabilitation and reconstruction projects planned for Aceh/Meuloboh and Nias Island are valued at $11m. These projects target shelter and community reconstruction (500 - 2,000 houses, 3 primary schools and 2 health centers), mobile clinic services (1,500 beneficiaries) and community capacity building (post trauma counseling and training in disaster preparedness).

SRI LANKA

Immediately after the tsunami The Salvation Army began to deliver emergency relief to victims. The following items were included in these early distributions: 300 cases food items; 250 cases condensed milk; 1,000 packets milk powder; 1,500 blankets; mats, bedding and some baby formula. Within days the early efforts and resources of these few, first responders were augmented and distributions (including clothes, biscuits, flashlights, shoes, mosquito nets, kerosene lamps, school uniforms, student backpacks, school supplies, funds for restoration and repair of fifty small business rope-making machines and replacement of craftsmen tools and equipment, travel bags, bicycles, kitchen and personal items) targeted more people and more needs. Thirty tents were raised to provide temporary housing and early reconstruction projects included the building of a workshop/storage facility and seven temporary houses. One of two longer term projects currently being developed targeted Gullagoda (Galle District), but may now target Ampara. Targeted in the other project are Kalutara and Matara. These projects, valued at approximately $7m, will provide for the reconstruction of over 1,000 houses, help restore livelihoods, and build the capacity of communities (post trauma counseling and training in disaster preparedness).

Save The Children:

We have a five-year plan to work with local partners to help rebuild schools, homes and health centers. We are actively training teachers and midwives to help replace key personnel killed by the tsunami, and we are expanding our cash-for work and micro-loan programs to help create new livelihoods for tsunami victims who have no income to support themselves,

Financial Summary
Total Spent (December-April 2005)              $35,266,556
Total Budgeted (May-December 2005)         $59,605,894
Total Projected 2006-2009                         $115,391,468
Total Budgeted for Programme Activities     $210,263,918
Strategic Reserve (not yet allocated)              $34,916,488
Grand Total of Tsunami Funding                  $245,180,406

Church World Service:

CWS teams report that water and sanitation facility installations provide cash-for-work programs now, but while those projects are vital now, they are temporary. "Mainly," says Derr, "people are still looking for work to replace the jobs they once maintained yet may have forever lost."

CWS Indonesia team members work in a rotation that takes them to remote villages, across unrepaired roads. It is an effort that takes time but continues to serve disaster victims, some of whom, the team reports, are still in need of food supplies.

The details of just one week's efforts are a microcosm of the impact of the work, the step-by-step focus, and persistent levels of need:

• Eight villages assessed for livelihood programs.
• Relief kits distributed to 377 people in one location and to nearly 1,500 in another.
• Water and sanitation projects reviewed in two locations in Banda Aceh, 25
• locations in Meulaboh; assessments made in six others; future interventions scheduled in two locations in Nias.
• In Meubolah, supplementary feeding for 70 mothers and 98 children in one camp.

Waiting to rebuild their lives, the displaced population also waits to rebuild its homes. Residents in Gunung Sitoli, the capital of Nias, have been asked by the Indonesian government not to construct permanent structures pending a redesign of the city. The government has said that any new structures will be taken down. The Nias District Reconstruction Agency will focus first on the needs of education, transportation, and health sectors.

Recently in Medan, donor countries met for a summit on the Nias reconstruction. UN agencies, several embassies, foreign consulates, foreign and local non-governmental agencies, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and others met to allocate funds and to coordinate which agencies would do what. Now, agencies are looking to partner with other agencies whose proposals match their own, so that rehabilitation can get underway.

Thus far, Church World Service has received cash and in-kind contributions totalling more than $16.5 million for tsunami response efforts across the region. Some $12 million - amost three-fourths of the contributions received - has been utilized in providing aid or transferred to the field for on-going relief and recovery efforts.

Planning is the key at this the six month mark. The countries in the region have decisions to make and plans to draw up. Much of the work has been done in this respect, but there is more to be done. In some ways, it is a nice surprise for these governments. They get to plan, for a change, how to make changes and to build bigger, better and stronger. The deaths and devastation of December 26, 2004, have provided a potential benefit to the region that may change its future in a remarkable and positive manner.

One tiny example is a fisherman from the region. He gets a new boat and a new motor. This could never have happened without the disaster. With his new boat and new motor, he can be a better provider for his family, and even, perhaps, catch enough to sell to build an economic future for his children that did not exist before the waves came.

Another example might be any of the sewing machine projects springing up throughout the area. NGO's are providing hundreds of women with sewing machines, allowing them a chance at economic freedom they would not have received in the past.

Over and over we are seeing this begin. New houses where shacks once stood. Redesigned cities. Rebuilt or new roads. Modernized airports. This region is having five billion dollars plus in aid pumped into it in the next five years, and the impact of that funding and the results of that funding cannot be predicted. I think it will mean an economic boom, more money for the people of the region, better education and through all that, more freedom.

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COMPLICATIONS

There are complications, of course. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Somalia all have military issues in the areas affected by the tsunami. Myanmar / Burma would like to remain a hermit nation. India has plans for the islands in the Indian Ocean that the tsunami struck, including a new naval base. And, the poor, little Maldives are just barely above water to begin with.

Add to that Sri Lanka's desire to exercise some control, for good or ill, over its coast and create a buffer zone. Cities in Indonesia are to be redesigned so their inhabitants cannot begin to rebuild. Corruption accusations are flying everywhere. Bureaucrats in India were sacked. Sri Lanka is charging customs duties on aid shipments beginning in April, costing millions to the NGO's, if they pay, or stranding the aid on the docks.

Much of the governmental aid need to be appropriated and then distributed. It's plan dependent, and budget dependent. Most of the money the NGO's have from their donors is cash or in-kind and already available. They just have to decide how to spend it.

Everyone wants to limit the opportunities for corruption and fraud, and that means that some money may not be disbursed for several years. You wouldn't give your children their college funds when they started high school and expect them to have any money left in four years. That a major reason some governments are holding back on pledged money. The other reason is that they do plan to skip out on their pledge. It happens. Budgetary reasons, internal politics, other emergencies, it happens. If your government's pledge is import to you, you'll have to keep after them, keep track of what they do and when. It is your money they're spending, so take a little responsibility for how it's used. Or not used. Okay?

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