Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO224
2005-01-28 05:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS: USAID/DART

Tags:  EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

280513Z Jan 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000224 

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
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS: USAID/DART
SITREP #11


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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000224

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
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS: USAID/DART
SITREP #11


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


1. As of January 25, according to the Center for National
Operations (CNO),the earthquake and tsunamis had killed
30,957 people in Sri Lanka. USAID/Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) implementing partner Community
Habitat Finance International (CHF) is constructing 3,500
transitional shelters in 3 divisions of Galle and Matara
districts over the next 6 months. The transfer of authority
for water distributions in Galle from the U.S. Military to
the Galle Water Board continues as planned, with the
complete transfer expected to take place on January 28. The
U.N. World Food Program (WFP) is conducting needs
assessments in Sri Lanka. End summary.

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


2. The CNO, which is responsible for the overall
coordination of the relief effort in Sri Lanka, reports that
as of January 25 at 1600 hours local time, the earthquake
and tsunamis had killed 30,957 people, injured 15,196
residents, displaced 502,456 persons, completely damaged
78,407 houses, and partially damaged 41,097 houses.
Currently there are 5,644 persons missing. According to the
CNO, there are 320 camps housing displaced persons. [Note:
The significant increase in the number of displaced persons
is due to the fact that previous CNO's figures did not
include complete numbers for displaced persons in Galle
District. The numbers of displaced persons for Ampara
District have not been included in the total number of
displaced persons, so it is anticipated that this number may
also increase. End Note.]



3. The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) also
reports that the Sri Lankan Police and local Government
Agents use two differing systems to report numbers of dead,
missing, and displaced persons, and this has led to a
discrepancy in numbers.




-------------- --------------
Community Habitat Finance International: Working to Rebuild
Homes and Communities in Galle and Matara districts
-------------- --------------


4. According to USAID/OFDA implementing partner CHF, more
than 55 families displaced by the December earthquake and
tsunamis have been residing in close quarters for over one

SIPDIS
month at the Kurup Kanda Temple in Hikkaduwa. One fisherman
in the camp advised CHF that quote tensions are running high
with everyone still living in tents and now we are ready to
move into a more permanent house so that we can return to
our work end quote.


5. CHF will provide residents of this site and other sites
in Galle and Matara districts with sturdy, transitional
housing units, in an effort to restore some sense of
normalcy back into people's lives. In mid-January, CHF
built the first transitional shelter prototype at Kurup
Kanda Temple. In existence for less than a week, the
prototype is already serving as a multi-purpose center for
mobile health clinics, as a distribution site for food and
emergency relief supplies, and as a clearing site for
incoming donations to the Kurup Kanda Temple camp.


6. CHF reported that internally displaced persons (IDPs) at
the camp have provided positive feedback about the shelter
unit, which provides more than 200 square feet of space per
family, which exceeds international Sphere standards for
emergency housing. One resident who has been staying in the
camp since the tsunami struck stated quote I like the
shelter because it provides a clean floor for my baby to
play on - it is safer than the tent and more of a home for
my family end quote.


7. Designed locally by the CHF/Sri Lanka team, the shelter
units are constructed with low-cost, reusable materials.
Families will have the ability to adapt the standard design
to their own needs, by adding interior dividing units and
semi-permanent walls. Once families construct permanent
homes, the shelters can be disassembled and the materials re-
used or sold.


8. Interactive training sessions will introduce members of
the community to construction techniques. Materials
including steel tubes, corrugated aluminum roofing, and
cement for the shelter base will be distributed to families
in several stages over the coming weeks. While most
families will construct their own shelters, some of the more
vulnerable families, such as female-headed households and
those with elderly residents, will be provided with
construction assistance.


9. CHF will construct 3,500 transitional shelters in 3
divisions of Galle and Matara districts over the coming 6
months. With its local non-governmental organization (NGO)
partner, the Arthacharya Foundation, CHF will also implement
quick-impact projects in tandem with shelter construction,
to positively affect the physical and social infrastructure
of communities in tsunami-affected areas. Projects will
include activities such as: latrine construction, provision
of water pumps, construction of childrens' play areas, clean-
up projects, solid waste management and support for
livelihood activities.

--------------
Situation in Galle
--------------


10. On January 24, a USAID/DART Military Liaison Officer
(MLO) visited Galle to coordinate activities with the U.S.
Military. The USAID/DART MLO reported that an NGO, the
Maltese Order, has donated 5 additional trucks to the Galle
Water Board, which now has access to an additional 9 trucks,
for a total of 14. The German NGO, Technisches Hilfswerk
(THW) has inspected and sanitized the trucks. The Indian
Military is completing repairs to the main water line that
runs north of Galle town. The transfer of authority for
water distributions in Galle from the U.S. Military to the
Galle Water Board continues as planned, with the complete
transfer expected to take place on January 28.


11. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is coordinating latrine
construction at schools that will be undertaken by
USAID/OFDA implementing partners the U.N. Children's Fund
(UNICEF) and World Vision.


12. According to the USAID/DART MLO, IDPs must currently
obtain three signatures from authorized officials to leave
an IDP camp in order to maintain their eligibility for
ration cards. Some questions are being raised about the
equity of this control system. [Note: The USAID/DART MLO
will follow-up on this issue. End Note.]


13. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
continues work on a USAID/OFDA-funded cash-for-work debris
removal project north of Galle. On January 25, the project
employed 1,000 persons to clear and separate debris on
private and public lands. The Road Development Authority is
performing continual road clearing both north and south of
Galle city. As of January 25, there are 40 camps in the
Galle area, and the number of camps is reducing daily.

--------------
Food
--------------


14. According to the CNO, adequate stocks of food are
available at the district level. The Ministry of Relief,
Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation and Ministry of Social
Welfare continue to transport basic commodities to the
districts. The USAID/DART reported that WFP is fully
resourced to supply food to 750,000 beneficiaries until June

30. WFP is currently undertaking a needs assessment, and
there may be changes in targeting based upon this
assessment. WFP, in conjunction with UNICEF, is also
carrying out a rapid nutritional status assessment of
children. Starting January 25, WFP is initiating a
supplementary feeding program for expectant and nursing
mothers and children under 10 years of age. The CNO stated
that the types of protein in the diet of IDPs needs to be
improved, and WFP is examining alternative sources of
protein.

--------------
Protection
--------------


15. The CNO reports that the issue of unaccompanied
children remains a concern, and the registration of
unaccompanied and separated children continues at the
district level. The CNO is currently attempting to register
those children who were not registered during the first
phase of registration and are not living in the camps. The
CNO stated that a few cases of sexual abuse in IDP camps
were reported, but not officially. The CNO has requested
that the Police Department set up a unit at the National
Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to investigate these
complaints. The Womens' and Childrens' Bureau of the police
is also responding to complaints. The CNO has also issued
instructions to relevant GOSL authorities to take action to
register all orphans and prevent the trafficking of
children. [Note: USAID/OFDA has provided USD 350,000 to
the American Center for International Labor for
psychological and social support, including anti-trafficking
and USD 500,000 to UNICEF for child protection and
psychological and social activities. End Note.]

-------------- --------------
Praise for USAID/OFDA's Efforts in the Micro-finance
Sector
-------------- --------------


16. On January 25, the USAID/Colombo Mission Director
attended a meeting at the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's
Office that included heads of District Chambers of
Commerce, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises,
donors, and GOSL officials. The Sri Lankan Prime
Minister is extremely interested in micro, small, and
medium enterprises and would like to revive this
sector. However, many small and micro businesses are
unable to obtain credit since they have no collateral.
The Prime Minister upon hearing about USAID/OFDA's
programs in this sector congratulated the USAID/Colombo
Mission Director on the USAID/OFDA funded cash-for-work
and livelihoods projects currently underway.


17. The Prime Minister and meeting participants were
extremely impressed that USAID/OFDA programs in this
area were currently operating on-the-ground and aiding
survivors of the earthquake and tsunamis. The fact
that USAID/OFDA's programs combine relief, shelter,
livelihoods, and microfinance has made an impact on how
quickly assistance can be rendered after a disaster.
On January 27, USAID/OFDA contributed an additional USD
6 million to Nathan Associates who are working to help
families, communities, and small businesses regain
their lost livelihoods through micro-credit schemes and
other targeted assistance. This additional funding will
exponentially expand activities to address the battered
small and medium enterprise sector in affected areas.

--------------
USAID/DART Staffing
--------------


18. As of January 27, there are 12 members of the
USAID/DART in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Of the 12 USAID/DART
members, one individual is in Galle and another team member
is in Male', Maldives.

ENTWISTLE