Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO3
2005-01-01 13:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

TFX001 - SRI LANKA TSUNAMI FINDINGS OF

Tags:  EAID AEMR CE 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000003 

SIPDIS

AIDAC

STATE FOR SA

BANGKOK FOR OFDA TOM DOLAN

GENEVA FOR UNOCHA AND IFRC NANCE KYLOH

ROME PASS FODAG

USAID FOR DCHA GREG GOTTLIEB, DCHA/OFDA MICHAEL MARX
AND ROB THAYER, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, ANE/AA BERNADETTE
BUNDY

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR CE
SUBJECT: TFX001 - SRI LANKA TSUNAMI FINDINGS OF
USAID/OFDA RAPID ASSESSMENT MISSION ALONG COASTAL
DISTRICTS

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000003

SIPDIS

AIDAC

STATE FOR SA

BANGKOK FOR OFDA TOM DOLAN

GENEVA FOR UNOCHA AND IFRC NANCE KYLOH

ROME PASS FODAG

USAID FOR DCHA GREG GOTTLIEB, DCHA/OFDA MICHAEL MARX
AND ROB THAYER, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, ANE/AA BERNADETTE
BUNDY

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR CE
SUBJECT: TFX001 - SRI LANKA TSUNAMI FINDINGS OF
USAID/OFDA RAPID ASSESSMENT MISSION ALONG COASTAL
DISTRICTS

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


1. SUMMARY: USAID/DART ASSESSMENT TEAMS HAVE
COMPLETED ASSESSMENTS OF DAMAGE IN GALLE AND
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICTS OF SRI LANKA, IN COORDINATION
WITH A UNOCHA-FACILITATED ASSESSMENT IN NINE TSUNAMI
AFFECTED DISTRICTS CIRCLING THE COAST. IN BOTH
DISTRICTS, ASSESSMENT TEAMS OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF STRUCTURES ALONG THE COAST
AND UP TO 1-KILOMETER INLAND. SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT
REPORTS AS OF 12/31/04, 1900 HRS OVER 3724 REGISTERED
DEATHS AND 44582 PEOPLE DISPLACED IN GALLE DISTRICT.
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT REPORTS OVER 4500 REGISTERED
DEATHS AND 32897 PEOPLE DISPLACED. DISPLACED
POPULATIONS ARE CURRENTLY STAYING IN OVER 250 RELIEF
CENTERS IN THE TWO DISTRICTS. LOCALLY ORGANIZED
DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS ARE MEETING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS
OF THE AFFECTED POPULATED FOR FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICAL
SUPPLIES; THOUGH THE GREATEST REPORTED UNMET NEEDS ARE
LACK OF SHELTERING MATERIALS AND GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT
SANITATION FACILITIES. URGENT ACTION IS REQUIRED TO
ESTABLISH BASIC SANITATION SERVICES IN THE HUNDREDS OF
RELIEF CENTERS IN ORDER TO PREVENT DISEASE OUTBREAKS.
END SUMMARY


--------------
GALLE DISTRICT FINDINGS
--------------


2. AT THE TIME OF ASSESSMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN
GALLE DISTRICT HAD NOT UNDERTAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES. HOWEVER, THOUSANDS
OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, AND
PRIVATE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED OR
SUFFERED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE GALLE TOWN
MATERNITY HOSPITAL WAS GUTTED BY THE TSUNAMI WAVES AND
HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR OPERATIONS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS REPORT OVER 42000 PEOPLE (ESTIMATED 8400
FAMILIES) HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY DISTRUCTION OF THEIR
HOMES AND ARE CURRENTLY RESIDENT IN 160 LOCAL RELIEF
CENTERS (PRIMARILY TEMPLES, MOSQUES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS
AND OTHER FACILITIES). THE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE, WITH COMPLETE
BRIDGE DISRUPTION IN THREE LOCATIONS AND TOTAL
DESTRUCTION OF THE RAILROAD LINES ALONG MORE THAN 50
KILOMETERS. A FULLY LOADED PASSENGER TRAIN WAS STRUCK

BY THE TSUNAMI WAVES NEAR HIKKADUWA TOWN, THROWING THE
TRAIN OVER 100 METERS FROM THE TRACK AND KILLING OVER
800 PASSENGERS. MOST OF THE LOCAL GALLE COASTAL
POPULATION ARE FISHERMEN, AND THEY HAVE SUFFERED
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC LOSS OF FISHING BOATS, NETS AND
OTHER MATERIALS. HUNDREDS OF BOATS AND TRAWLERS CAN
BE OBSERVED ON THE LAND, MANY WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE,
BUT OTHERS TOTALLY DESTROYED.


3. A SIGNIFICANT OUTPOURING OF LOCALLY ORGANIZED AID
SUPPLIES IS CURRENTLY REACHING AFFECTED PEOPLE IN
GALLE DISTRICT, THOUGH THERE IS GENERAL LACK OF
ORGANIZATION LEADING TO DUPLICATION AND GAPS OF
COVERAGE. THE ASSESSMENT TEAM OBSERVED NUMEROUS LOCAL
AGENCIES AND SRI LANKAN CITIZENS COLLECTING AND
DISTRIBUTING CLOTHING, WATER, NON-STANDARDIZED FOOD
PARCELS, AND MEDICINES TO PEOPLE ALONG THE COASTAL
HIGHWAY AND AT RELIEF CENTERS. THERE ARE ALSO
NUMEROUS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TEAMS DRIVING
AROUND THE DISTRICT STOPPING AT RELIEF CENTERS
PROVIDING MEDICINES AND ASSISTANCE. ACCORDING TO THE
DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICIALS, THERE IS SUFFICIENT MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLY OF MEDICINES TO COVER THE NEEDS
OF BOTH EMERGENCY AND CHRONIC PATIENTS AT THIS TIME.


4. THE LOCAL GALLE GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO BE EXTREMELY
HARD AT WORK TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS, THOUGH THEY DO
NOT SEEM TO BE CAPABLE OF ENFORCING A STRUCTURE TO
COORDINATE ALL THE VARIOUS AID RESOURCES AND INTERESTS
THAT ARE FLOODING IN. DURING THE USAID ASSESSMENT
VISIT, THE SENIOR GOVERNMENT AGENT AND OTHER HIGH
LEVEL OFFICIALS WERE TAKING CONSIDERABLE TIME ARGUING
OVER MICRO-LEVEL DECISIONS, RATHER THAN DELEGATING
SUCH MATTERS.

--------------
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT FINDINGS
--------------


5. IN HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT, ALL FOUR DIVISIONS WITH
COASTAL BORDERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE
TSUNAMI. INITIAL REPORTS TAKEN FROM THE FOUR

SIPDIS
DIVISIONS (HAMBANTOTA, AMBALANTOTA, TISSAMAHARAMA, AND
TANGALLA) ESTIMATE THAT OVER 6000 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN
DESTROYED AFFECTING MORE THAN 80,000 PEOPLE (17,000
FAMILIES). THE AREA HARDEST HIT IN THE DISTRICT WAS
HAMBANTOTA TOWN DUE IN LARGE PART TO ITS PROXIMITY TO
THE COAST AND ITS LOW ELEVATION, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION
OF WHICH LIES NEAR SEA LEVEL. MANY OF THE DEATHS IN
THE TOWN RESULTED FROM THE TSUNAMI ENGULFING A LARGE
CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE NEAR THE TOWN'S COAST WHERE AN
ESTIMATED 2500 PEOPLE HAD GATHERED FOR THE SUNDAY
MARKET. OVER 28,000 DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY
LIVING IN 38 RELIEF CENTERS ESTABLISHED IN TEMPLES,
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND MOSQUES, AND OTHER CLEARED AREAS
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.


6. THE COASTAL HIGHWAY CONNECTING THE SOUTHERN PORTION
OF THE DISTRICT SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE. HOWEVER,
VEHICLE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE AFFECTED AREAS IS
LIMITED DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE DIRT PACKED FEEDER ROADS
RUNNING TO THE COAST. THE VAST MAJORITY OF VILLAGES
AND TOWNS ALONG THE COAST WERE ENGAGED IN SOME FORM OF
FISHING ACTIVITY AS THEIR MAIN LIVELIHOOD, MANY OF
WHOM LIVED ON A SUBSISTENCE BASIS. LOSS OF BOATS,
NETS, AND OTHER FISHING EQUIPMENT DUE TO THE DISASTER
WAS SEVERE LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SELF-
SUSTAINING MEANS.


7. DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONFINED NATURE OF THE
DISASTER (AVERAGE OF 1 KM ALONG THE COAST),THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE COASTAL ZONE AS WELL AS MANY
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
RETRIEVAL, CLEAN-UP AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS, AND HAVE
DONATED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FOOD, CLOTHES,
MEDICINES, AND OTHER NON-FOOD ITEMS. ACCORDING TO
DIVISION OFFICIALS, MOST OF THE DONATIONS ARE BEING
MADE DIRECTLY TO AFFECTED DIVISIONS RATHER THAN GOING
THROUGH A CENTRAL COORDINATION CENTER. THE ASSESSMENT
TEAM OBSERVED MANY DONATIONS BEING MADE FROM PRIVATE
VEHICLES DIRECTLY TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE LINING UP ALONG
THE COASTAL HIGHWAY. DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT
OUTPOURING OF PRIVATE SUPPORT, LACK OF COORDINATION
HAS RESULTED IN SHORTAGES OF SERVICE AND SUPPLIES TO
SOME RELIEF CENTERS.


8. THE LARGE VOLUME OF ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE
RELIEF EFFORT IN THE DISTRICT HAS SEVERELY STRESSED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPACITIES. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS
TO COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE WITH THOSE ENGAGING IN
RELIEF EFFORTS HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY A LACK OF
RELIABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND POOR TELEPHONE
SERVICE TO HAMBANTOTA TOWN AND THE DISTRICT
SECRETARY'S OFFICE. THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO COPE

SIPDIS
WITH THE EXPECTED INFLUX OF INTERNATIONAL RELIEF
WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT IN MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AND
FACILITIES IS CAUSE FOR SOME CONCERN.

--------------
COMMONALITY OF NEEDS IN AFFECTED AREAS
--------------


9. IT IS CLEAR FROM REPORTS AND OBSERVATION THAT TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SITUATED ALONG THE
COAST UP TO ONE KILOMETER INLAND, PRIMARILY OF BRICK
AND MORTAR CONSTRUCTION, HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED
OR SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND ARE NOT LIVEABLE.
THOUSANDS OF OTHER HOMES HAVE SUFFERED MINOR TO
MODERATE DAMAGE. NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT FACILITIES HAVE
RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LOCAL
POPULATION HAS BEEN PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RECOVERY OF
BODIES AND CLEARANCE OF MAJOR DEBRIS IN THE DAYS
FOLLOWING THE TSUNAMI. MOST DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE
CURRENTLY MAKING EFFORTS TO ASSESS THEIR DAMAGE, CLEAN
UP, AND RESTORE THEIR RESIDENCES WHERE POSSIBLE.
THOSE WHO SUFFERED TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOMES
ARE CURRENTLY STAYING AT LOCAL RELIEF CENTERS,
PRIMARILY PLACES OF WORSHIP AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
AT THESE CENTERS, THEY ARE RECEIVING AN OUTPOURING OF
ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF
FOOD, WATER, CLOTHING, MEDICINES, SANITARY SUPPLIES
AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS AID IS MEETING MUCH OF THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS, HOWEVER THIS AID IS SO FAR NOT
CONSISTANTLY APPLIED AND IS NOT BEING COORDINATED, SO
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE DUPLICATION IN SOME EASILY
ACCESSIBLE AREAS, AND GAPS IN COVERAGE IN OTHERS. IN
GENERAL, IT IS OBSERVED BY THE ASSESSMENT TEAMS THAT
THESE RELIEF CENTERS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE TOILETS,
WASHING AREAS, AND OTHER SANITATION SYSTEMS TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION AND TO PREVENT
THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.

--------------
HEALTH SECTOR
--------------

10. IN THE TWO DISTRICTS VISITED BY THE ASSESSMENT
TEAMS, IT WAS REPORTED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT
CURRENT EMERGENCY AND CHRONIC HEALTH NEEDS ARE BEING
MET BY EXISTING AND VOLUNTEER MEDICAL PERSONAL. THERE
HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLE DONATIONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES,
WHICH MAY IN FACT HAVE ALREADY REACHED THE LEVEL OF
OVERSUPPLY. DOCTORS ARE NOT YET REPORTING CASES OF
DIAHHREAL DISEASE, THOUGH THERE ARE REPORTED CASES OF
CHEST AND OTHER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS. MANY PEOPLE
WHO SURVIVED THE TSUNAMI SUFFERED CUTS AND OTHER
LACERATIONS, WHICH HAVE INFECTION POTENTIAL DUE TO THE
GENERAL UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AROUND. DOCTORS
EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF
MALARIA AND DENGUE FEVER, WHICH ARE ENDEMIC IN SRI
LANKA, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF DIAHHREAL
DISEASE, ARI, AND CHICKEN POX OUTBREAKS.

--------------
WATER/SANITATION SECTOR
--------------


11. ALL ALONG THE COASTLINE THERE ARE POCKETS OF
STAGNANT WATER WHICH WAS NOT EVACUATED BACK TO THE SEA
DURING THE TSUNAMI. SOME OF THESE WATER POCKETS HAVE
HAD HUMAN CORPSES AND DEAD ANIMALS. MOST OF THE
COASTAL POPULATION HAVE WELLS FOR DRINKING WATER, 100%
OF WHICH HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH SEA WATER WITHIN
THE AFFECTED ZONE. WELLS INLAND HAVE NOT BEEN
CONTAMINATED AND ARE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING
WATER CURRENTLY. LOCAL WATER OFFICIALS REPORT THAT
THERE ARE SUFFICIENT SOURCES OF WATER IN THE GROUND
AQUIFER AND IN RESERVOIRS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE
AFFECTED AND NON-AFFECTED POPULATIONS, THOUGH SOME OF
THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY WATER PIPES HAVE BEEN
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.


12. DRINKING WATER IS CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED BY THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH WATER TRUCKS, THOUGH ONE
OFFICIAL QUOTED THAT THE EXISTING RESOURCE OF TRUCKS
AND TANKS IS ONLY 0NE-TENTH OF THE REQUIREMENT. OTHER
WATER DISTRIBUTION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY PRIVATE
AGENCIES AND CITIZENS, THOUGH ON AN AD HOC BASIS. IT
IS APPARENT THAT SYSTEMATIC WATER DISTRIBUTION IS A
REQUIREMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED
POPULATION FOR THE COMING 2-3 MONTHS.


13. THE SANITATION SITUATION IN MOST OF THE RELIEF
CENTERS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. MOST OF THE CENTERS,
WHICH ARE HOSTING 300 TO OVER 1000 PEOPLE NIGHTLY,
HAVE ONLY 1-3 TOILETS. MOST PEOPLE ARE REPORTED USING
OPEN LAND OR FOREST FOR DEFECATION. ADDITIONALLY,
MOST OF THE CENTERS DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN CAMP OR
PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND AS SUCH HAVE NOT
ESTABLISHED SEPERATED AREAS FOR COOKING, CLEANING, AND
SLEEPING.

--------------
FOOD SECTOR
--------------


14. ALONG THE COASTAL STRIP, THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF PLANTING AND
HARVESTING - THESE ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED FURTHER
INLAND. AS SUCH, PEOPLE HAVE NOT LOST LOCALLY
AVAILABLE PRODUCTION. HOWEVER, LOCAL FOOD STORES HAVE
ALSO BEEN DAMAGED AND DESTROYED. THE SURVIVING
POPULATION IS CURRENTLY DEPENDING UPON FOOD PROVIDED
BY NEAR COASTAL RESIDENTS WHO WERE NOT AFFECTED AND BY
FOOD DONATIONS FROM AGENCIES AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES.
THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS IT HAS BEGUN FOOD DISTRIBUTION
AND THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM HAS DISTRIBUTED EXISTING
STOCKS FROM ITS MAIN WAREHOUSE TO DISTRICT
GOVERNMENTS. AS OF THE TIME OF REPORTING, THIS FOOD
HAD NOT REACHED THE AFFECTED POPULATION ASSESSED.
LOCAL AFFECTED PEOPLE REPORT THAT FOOD SUPPLIES ARE
EXTREMELY LIMITED, PERHAPS COVERING ONLY THE NEXT FEW
DAYS.

--------------
LIVELIHOODS
--------------


15. THE LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF THE
COASTAL RESIDENTS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTED.
MUCH OF THE FISHING FLEET HAS BEEN DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED, ALONG WITH NETS AND OTHER MATERIALS.
NEARLY ALL THE TOURIST HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER
SERVICES HAVE RECEIVED DAMAGE, AND NEARLY 100% OF
FOREIGN TOURISTS HAVE BY NOW LEFT THE COASTAL AREAS.
MOST HOTELS WILL BE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR
REPAIRS, MEANING THAT MANY SERVICE INDUSTRY PEOPLE NOT
DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN RECONSTRUCTION WILL BE WITHOUT
EMPLOYMENT.

--------------
INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE
--------------


16. IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE TO DOMESTIC RESIDENCES,
THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS RECEIVED
MAJOR DAMAGE. SERVICES WHICH ARE TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY
DISRUPTED CURRENTLY INCLUDE: LANDLINE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ALONG THE COAST, ELECTRICITY
SERVICES, GOODS DELIVERY, MAIL AND POSTAL SERVICES,
GARBAGE PICKUP AND DISPOSAL, AND LOCAL BUS
TRANSPORTATION. RAIL TRANSPORTATION IS STOPPED AND
WILL REQUIRE TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION BEFORE OPERATIONS
MAY RESUME.


17. ALTHOUGH A FULL INVENTORY OF PUBLIC SECTOR DAMAGE
WAS NOT AVAILABLE, THERE ARE REPORTS OF MANY COASTAL
SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND
OTHER NON-DAMAGED SCHOOLS ARE SERVING AS RELIEF
CENTERS. REPORTS INDICATE MANY PUBLIC SECTOR
OFFICIALS ALSO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TSUNAMI. THESE
INDICATE THAT IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT SCHOOL WILL NOT
RESUME FOR COASTAL CHILDREN AS SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 5,

2005.

--------------
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
--------------


18. FROM THE COMPARISON OF NOTES FROM BOTH ASSESSMENT
TEAMS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER TEAMS
VISITING OTHER COASTAL AREAS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE
IS SIGNIFICANT COMMONALITY ABOUT THE NATURE, SCALE,
AND DEGREE OF HUMAN IMPACT AND PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION
ALONG THE COAST OF SRI LANKA. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
POINTS TO BE DRAWN ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION ARE AS
FOLLOWS:


A. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED FROM
THEIR HOMES DUE TO PARTIAL OR TOTAL DESTRUCTION AND
THE VAST MAJORITY ARE STAYING AT LOCAL RELIEF CENTERS
(TEMPLES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ETC).


B. THERE IS AN OUTPOURING OF LOCAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR
SPONSORED RELIEF ASSISTANCE WHICH IS MEETING THE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED FOR FOOD, WATER, AND
MEDICINE.


C. UNMET NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION INCLUDE
SHELTERING MATERIALS, WATER SUPPLY CONTAINERS,
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND MOSQUITO NETS.


D. THE SANITATION SERVICES OF NEARLY ALL RELIEF
CENTERS ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE, AND LACK OF PROPER
SANITATION MAY LIKELY CONTRIBUTE TO POTENTIAL
OUTBREAKS OF DIAHHREA, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, AND
OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.


E. THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA AT BOTH NATIONAL AND
LOCAL LEVELS APPEARS TO BE STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING
POINT TO COPE WITH BOTH THE SCALE OF THE DISASTER AND
THE INFLUX OF RELIEF AGENCIES AND SUPPLIES.


F. INTERMEDIATE AND LONGER TERMS SOLUTIONS TO THE
SITUATION OF DISPLACEMENT MUST INVOLVE REBUILDING OF
KEY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, RECONSTRUCTION OF HOMES AND
DWELLINGS, WATER QUALITY SERVICES TO PUMP OUT
SALINATED WELLS, AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE TO KEY
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FISHING.


G. GIVEN THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF SO MANY COASTAL
RESIDENTS WHO SUFFERED LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND
HOMES, AS WELL AS SURVIVAL EXPERIENCES, IT IS
RECOMMENDED TO HAVE PSYCHO-SOCIAL GRIEF AND TRAUMA
COUNSELING SERVICES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

LUNSTEAD