Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO252
2005-02-01 10:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:

Tags:  EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 000252 

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 #12

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 000252

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 #12

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


1. From January 21 to 26, the USAID/Disaster
Assistance Response Team (DART) Water and
Sanitation Officer (WSO) traveled to
Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota,
Matara, and Galle districts to meet with
implementing partners and visit internally
displaced person (IDP)camps. The USAID/DART WSO
observed that there is in some instances weak
coordination between Government of Sri Lanka
(GOSL) officials and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and among NGOs working in a
district or sector. The USAID/DART WSO stated
that the lack of clarity regarding where IDPs
will be allowed to rebuild their homes is
reportedly delaying efforts to build
transitional shelters. The USAID/DART WSO
observed a lack of sanitation facilities
throughout the assessment, and in many places
the number of latrines did not meet
International Sphere Standards (at least one
toilet per 20 persons). End Summary.

--------------
Current Situation in Trincomalee
-------------- -


2. On January 21, the USAID/DART WSO traveled
to Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka and met with
a water and sanitation official and the Mutur
office representative of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The water
and sanitation official stated that coordination
was lacking and hampering the relief activities
in Trincomalee. IDPs affected by the earthquake
and tsunamis are awaiting information from GOSL
officials regarding where they will be
relocated; however, a plan had not yet been made
public.


3. The GOSL and the Sri Lankan Army are
responsible for tankering water to camps where
ICRC is working. ICRC, in conjunction with the
Sri Lankan Red Cross (SLRC),is opening a mobile
health clinic scheduled to begin service during
the week of January 31.


4. The USAID/DART WSO also met with the U.N.
Children's Fund (UNICEF) who has worked with NGO
World University Service Canada (WUSC) to clean
approximately 25 wells. UNICEF has developed a
system of prioritizing wells to be cleaned and a
method of pumping the wells to minimize damage
to the aquifer. WUSC will hold a technical
meeting to share this information with NGOs
during the week of January 31. There are
currently only three water quality testing labs
in the Trincomalee District, located at the
National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB)
in Kantale, Action Against Hunger (ACF) in
Mutur, and Oxfam in Trincomalee.


5. UNICEF has ordered 36 chlorine test kits for
the public health inspectors (PHI),and there
are currently 42 PHIs working in Trincomalee
District, but not all PHIs participate in field
work. The PHIs will receive training when the
chlorine kits arrive at the end of January.
Fecal coliform testing is still needed, and the
USAID/DART WSO suggested that UNICEF should work
with ACF and Oxfam to conduct fecal coliform
testing until well cleaning and disinfection had
been completed. UNICEF has purchased 450 squat
plates and 75-1,000 liter water storage tanks
and has been involved with latrine design. The
USAID/DART WSO reported that public latrines are
full and additional pumper trucks are needed.
Two additional units have been ordered and are
scheduled to arrive in late February. [Note:
The USAID/DART WSO will follow up on the
provision of extra trucks for Trincomalee
District with the Ministry of Urban Development
and Water Supply (MUDWS) in Colombo. End Note.]


6. The USAID/DART WSO also met with an ACF
water and sanitation engineer and discussed
latrine use. The ACF engineer stated that
greatest concern is hygiene, and latrines have
been constructed but are not being used. ACF
has health education and hygiene promotion
programs which will be reinforced to encourage
hygiene practices. [Note: USAID/OFDA has
provided USD 403,763 to ACF for water and
sanitation activities and emergency relief
supplies in Trincomalee, Mullaittivu, and Jaffna
districts. End Note.]


7. The USAID/DART WSO stated that at a water
and sanitation meeting in Trincomalee, NGOs
decided that one NGO should be responsible for
each affected division's coordination,
reporting, and monitoring. This lead NGO is not
responsible for conducting all activities, but
will ensure that safe drinking water and
latrines are provided, waste disposal is
adequate, and that PHIs and health promotion
activities are coordinated. The NGOs were
appointed to cover activities in the following
areas: Mutur and Seruvila/ACF,
Echilampathu/ICRC, Kinniya/Oxfam, Town &
Gravets/UNICEF, Kuchchaveli North/Zoa Refugee
Care, and Kuchchaveli South/Danish Refugee
Council (DRC).

--------------
USAID/DART Visit to Trincomalee IDP Centers
--------------


8. On January 22, the USAID/DART WSO visited
the Alaska Garden IDP camp housing 150 families
near Trincomalee town. The Alaska Garden camp
is located in a school and plastic sheeting had
been provided for shelter, but the area had been
flooded by recent rains, and much standing water
was observed. In the camp, 12 latrines are
available for use, and the urban council employs
2 people to clean the latrines daily. The
USAID/DART WSO observed that although the
facilities were clean, a child was observed
using the adjacent field for defecation. [Note:
USAID/DART WSO believes that residents of the
camp may not be accustomed to using latrines.
End Note.] Water is available in a U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) tanker, and no
chlorine residual was detected. The USAID/DART
WSO reported that the GOSL has not offered any
housing options to the IDPs in the camp.


9. The USAID/DART WSO visited an IDP camp in
West Mutur located in the Habeeb Nadar School.
According to the USAID/DART WSO, 108 families or
702 people live at the camp. The GOSL provides
food rations to the camp, and IDPs cook their
own food. The USAID/DART WSO observed that an
open dug well is used to provide water for
washing. The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides
drinking water in two 1,000 liter tanks that are
filled twice a day (5.7 liters per person per
day),and chlorine residual was detected.


10. The USAID/DART WSO reported that eight
latrines are available at the camp in West
Mutur, and this is below International Sphere
Standards (1 toilet per 87 people and
International Sphere Standards are 1 toilet per
20 people). The USAID/DART WSO observed that
the liquid level was approximately eight inches
from the top of the latrine open pit.


11. The USAID/DART WSO reported that the IDPs
in this camp have been told that they must leave
the school by January 25. During the visit the
Italian NGO Intersos was delivering kitchen
sets, and the Intersos representative stated
that they were working to provide transitional
shelters for the IDPs, but they had not yet
determined what type of shelter would be
provided. Land had been provided by the mosque,
and the location was said to be acceptable to
the IDPs. Government land had been identified
for temporary housing but was not acceptable as
people wanted to be near the coast.


12. The camp representative indicated that
medical services were adequate, and teams came
in approximately every other day to provide
health care.

--------------
CRS' Activities in Batticaloa
--------------


13. On January 23, the USAID/DART WSO traveled
from Habarana to Batticaloa and met with the
base manager for the Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) shelter program. USAID/Office of U.S.
Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) implementing
partner CRS is responsible for providing shelter
in 2 of the 10 affected divisions of Batticaloa
District (out of 14 divisions total). There are
16 transit camps in the 2 divisions of
Araympathy (primarily Hindu) and Katankudy
(primarily Muslim). The earthquake and tsunamis
affected approximately 10,000 families, and an
estimated 1,000 families are living in
transitional housing in the camp areas in
Batticaloa.


14. The USAID/DART WSO reported that no
shelters have been constructed yet, and it is
estimated that it will take approximately two
days for teams of five to six people to erect
one transitional shelter. Animators, or
trainers, will assist with relocation and
technical trainers will assist with
construction. Construction is expected to
employ cash-for-work laborers, particularly
carpenters. CRS will provide a standard set of
materials for transitional housing kits,
including the timber frames. The NWSDB and
UNICEF are responsible for activities in the
areas of water, sanitation, and garbage
disposal.


15. The USAID/DART WSO also visited an IDP camp
at Puthukudiyiruppu School in Batticaloa.
Approximately 165 families are currently living
at the camp, down from an initial 700 families.
There are three 1,000 liter tanks with drinking
water and one dug well for washing. UNICEF
coordinated water tankering with the NWSDB, and
residual chlorine was detected. There are eight
toilets available, and they are clean and in
good condition; however, the USAID/DART WSO was
told that people are defecating outdoors. The
SLRC staff is conducting a health
education/hygiene promotion program as many
people have not previously used latrines.


16. The USAID/DART reported that residents at
the camp in Puthukudiyiruppu School will be
moved to the Ayuredic Hospital which is located
within two km of the school. Land behind the
hospital has been designated for temporary and
transitional shelters, and 65 shelters were
planned for this area. Latrines are planned for
every four to five families, and water will be
tankered.


17. The USAID/DART WSO also visited Selvangar
East where there are approximately 128 families
or 425 people and Araympathy East which houses
approximately 76 families. These camps are
located adjacent to one another, and shelter
consists of a variety of tents and plastic
sheeting. There are 24 latrines under
construction at the camp, (one latrine per 40
people which is below International Sphere
Standards),but none were available at the time
of the USAID/DART WSO's visit. The USAID/DART
WSO stated that IDPs are using the nearby field
for defecation. The USAID/DART WSO observed
five to six watering points, and UNICEF is
coordinating water tankering. The USAID/DART
WSO noted that washing areas will be located
near existing wells which had not been cleaned
or disinfected but were covered.

-------------- ---
GOAL's Activities in Hambantota District
-------------- ---


18. On January 24, the USAID/DART WSO met with
USAID/OFDA implementing partner GOAL in
Ambalantota in Hambantota District. GOAL is
working in four divisions in Hambantota District
and will construct 1,000 shelters. The shelters
are estimated to last for two to three years,
and consist of a wood frame construction with
corrugated metal roofing, USAID/OFDA plastic
sheeting, and concrete footings to anchor the
structure. GOAL estimated that four teams of
four people will be available to construct
shelters once land and families are identified.
GOAL stated that it will take each team a half
day to build one shelter. The USAID/DART WSO
reported that families who receive these
shelters are asked to assist with site clearing
and the construction.


19. The USAID/DART WSO stated that GOAL also
has active cash-for-work and quick impact
projects in Hambantota District and is
considering additional projects. These
additional activities include a Kalamatiya
fisheries cooperative to repair fishing boats,
cleaning canals in areas that are prone to
flooding, and working in a rice research center
to employ rice farmers. The damage to the rice
crop has left many rice farmers unemployed, and
it was estimated that it will take approximately
six months for the conditions in the rice
paddies to return to a state that will support
the growth of rice. GOAL has also distributed
several sewing machines, and workers are being
paid to sew mosquito nets which are distributed
to those affected by the earthquake and
tsunamis.

SIPDIS


20. The USAID/DART WSO visited the site of a
GOAL cash-for-work program that had been
implemented at Pulinathalaramaya and Gangaramaya
Temples in Malpetawa. Under this cash-for-work
program, workers were paid 350 rupees per day to
remove sand and debris.

-------------- ---
--------------
Christian Children's Fund Activities in Matara
District
-------------- ---
--------------


21. On January 25, the USAID/DART WSO met with
USAID/OFDA implementing partner Christian
Children's Fund (CCF) in Matara District. The
USAID/DART WSO reported that due to the large
number of organizations working in Matara
District, coordination has been challenging.
CCF is working in Wehella, Papithegama South,
and Weligama in Matara District. CCF has
identified the following needs that it plans to
meet through its programs: the cleaning and
rehabilitation of schools and preschools,
plumbing, latrine rehabilitation, garbage/solid
waste removal, and the provision of safe
drinking water from community taps to homes.
CCF is also considering supplying water
containers for families that do not have piped
water.

LUNSTEAD