MALDIVES - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000147

SIPDIS


STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
TSUNAMI RESPONSE MANAGEMENT TEAM

SIPDIS
DCHA/FFP FOR LAUREN LANDIS
DCHA BUREAU FOR ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR ROGER WINTER
ANE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD
BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER
GENEVA FOR USAID KYLOH
ROME PASS FODAG
NSC FOR MELINE
CDR USPACOM FOR J3/J4/POLAD
USEU PASS USEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:
USAID/DART SITREP #2

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. According to the MALDIVES National Disaster
Management Center (NDMC),as of January 18, the
earthquake and tsunamis killed 82 people and 26
residents are missing. A key priority is to re-equip
and repair health centers. The U.S. Military's primary
objective in MALDIVES is to provide potable water to
Laamu and Dhaalu Atolls, benefiting approximately
14,500 people. Psycho-social support is being provided
on 62 islands in 14 atolls. The USAID/Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) reported that there are
currently 6,678 people displaced in MALDIVES, and
infrastructure damage assessments have been completed
on 68 islands. The World Bank, in conjunction with
other organizations, conducted an assessment and
concluded that the earthquake and tsunamis caused the
greatest damage in the tourism, housing, and fishing
sectors in MALDIVES. End summary.

--------------
Death Tolls
--------------


2. According to the NDMC, as of January 18, the
earthquake and tsunamis killed 82 people and 26
residents are missing.

--------------
Current Situation and Needs
--------------


3. The USAID/DART Field Officer (FO) in Male',
MALDIVES (FO) reported that rehabilitation and
reconstruction is underway, and the priority is on
targeting assistance. General relief distributions are
not required. The USAID/DART FO noted that at the
present, the key issue is to re-equip the health
sector, including infrastructure repairs and the
acquisition of equipment. The Government of the
Republic of MALDIVES' (GORM) long-standing strategy to
consolidate the population of MALDIVES on a more
limited number of islands must be harmonized with a
quote safe islands end quote analysis. This quote safe
islands end quote initiative will include the
relocation of people and construction of mitigation
infrastructure.



4. The USAID/DART FO stated that despite difficulties,
shipments of relief supplies are being transported;
however, greater inter-sectoral coordination is
necessary to plan transport and ensure maximum
efficiency.


5. The Ministry of Social Security is providing cash
grants to people who sustained damage to their
properties based upon three tiers: whether their
houses were completely destroyed and there was loss of
all property; partially destroyed and loss of all
property; or sustained minimal damage, with loss of
most essential items.

--------------
Coordination with U.S. Military
--------------


6. The USAID/DART FO has been coordinating extensively
with the U.S. Military to facilitate the U.S.
Military's mission in MALDIVES. The primary objective
of the U.S. Military mission is to provide potable
water to the following atolls/islands that were
prioritized by the GORM: Isdhoo, Kalaidhoo, Gan,
Fonadhoo, Mundoo, Dhanbidhoo, and Maabaidhoo in Laamu
Atoll, as well as, Kudahuvadhoo, Gemendhoo, Vaanee,
Rinbudhoo, Maaenboodhoo, and Hulhudheli in Dhaalu
Atoll. The U.S. Military's mission will serve
approximately 14,500 people.


7. According to the USAID/DART FO, two marine pre-
positioning vessels are estimated to arrive in MALDIVES
on January 20. The vessels will travel directly to
Laamu Atoll and will not come to Male'. The USAID/DART
FO reported that in the water and sanitation sector,
water storage on the islands is a bigger problem than
water production.

--------------
Health
--------------


8. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has prepared a list of
health centers that require equipment and repairs. The
USAID/DART FO reported that there are no significant
health problems, and a disease surveillance system is
in place to monitor the outbreaks of communicable
diseases and respond to emergency health needs.


9. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC),American Red Cross, and
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are providing
psycho-social support on 62 islands in 14 atolls. The
U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) will be providing
additional personnel to work on the psycho-social
issue. The Ministry of Education has also requested
training for teachers in psycho-social support.


10. The USAID/DART FO reported that corpses are
washing ashore in MALDIVES from Sri Lanka, and this has
raised concerns in the Maldivian population about the
safety of fish consumption. WHO, in conjunction with
the MOH, is working on an information campaign to
counteract this misperception about the safety of fish
consumption.

--------------
Shelter
--------------


11. The USAID/DART FO met with a member of the World
Bank assessment team. The World Bank's focus in
MALDIVES is short-term needs, housing construction, and
the continuation/acceleration/expansion of a quote safe
islands end quote initiative.


12. The USAID/DART FO reported that there are
currently 6,678 people displaced in MALDIVES, down from
15,000 displaced residents post-tsunami. To date,
infrastructure damage assessments have been completed
on 68 islands. The USAID/DART FO reported that
geologic studies are required as settling of the ground
is occurring.

--------------
Communications and Electricity
--------------


13. The USAID/DART FO reported that two islands are
currently without communications. In the electricity
sector, 11 Royal Navy engineers are partnering with the
Maldivian State Electric Company to repair 16
generators on several islands that were damaged by the
earthquake and tsunamis. The IFRC has supplied 17
generators, and 14 have been dispatched to the islands.
IFRC will also provide seven additional generators.

--------------
Education
--------------


14. According to the USAID/DART FO, the earthquake and
tsunamis destroyed 20 percent of 322 primary schools.

SIPDIS
Repairs are currently underway in seven schools. The
USAID/DART FO noted that 80 percent of teachers are
expected to be available for the beginning of the
school year on January 25, and textbook distribution is
expected to be completed by January 23.

-------------- --------------
--------------
Joint World Bank (WB),Asian Development Bank (ADB),
U.N., and Japan Bank for International Cooperation
(JBIC)
-------------- --------------
--------------


15. The WB, ADB, U.N., and JBIC recently conducted a
joint mission to assess the damage caused by the
tsunami and evaluate recovery needs. According to the

SIPDIS
assessment, total damages are estimated to range from
USD 345 million dollars to USD 385 million, close to 55
percent of gross domestic product. The assessment team
estimated that direct damage is USD 244 million, and
the remaining amount is indirect damage. The biggest
losses were in the tourism, housing, and fishing
sectors. Employment in MALDIVES has been adversely
affected by the low tourism occupancy rates, and the
loss of fishing vessels, equipment, and agricultural
lands.


16. According to the preliminary assessment, the
earthquake and tsunamis completely destroyed 1,700
houses and partially damaged 3,000 houses.

LUNSTEAD