SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 COLOMBO 000317

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 DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR WILLIAM
GARVELINK
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 #14 - ASSESSMENTS TO EASTERN
AND SOUTHERN PROVINCES

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SUMMARY
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1. From January 31 to February 3, the USAID
Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART)
deployed teams to tsunami-affected districts to
visit USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) programs. The purpose
of these trips was to monitor the progress of
USAID/OFDA implementing partners, to assess
whether existing programs are meeting current
needs, and to evaluate coordination among non-
governmental organizations (NGOs),the
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL),and local
government officials. The USAID/DART Water and
Sanitation Officer (WSO) traveled to the eastern
districts of Ampara and Batticaloa, while the
USAID/DART Field Officer (FO) and the Director
of USAID/Sri Lanka's U.S.-Asia Environmental
Partnership Program (US-AEP) traveled to the
southern districts of Galle, Matara, and
Hambantota.


2. The USAID/DART concluded that the lack of
clarity regarding buffer zones along coastal
areas is delaying efforts to implement shelter
programs. The USAID/DART also noted that
organization, coordination, and communication
remain challenges for emergency response
activities at the national, district, and sub-
district levels. End summary.

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Key Observations of USAID/DART Visits to Eastern
and Southern provinces
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3. According to the USAID/DART, the primary
challenges to an effective response are in the
implementation of shelter programs and the
overall organization and coordination of
response efforts. The sector requiring the most
urgent attention is shelter for several reasons.
The camps, while providing emergency temporary
shelter, are inadequate for sustained
habitation. Although the number of camps is
decreasing daily, the GOSL's delay in
establishing guidelines for return and
resettlement is hindering the provision of
adequate transitional shelter.


4. Water and sanitation programs are also tied
to the resolution of the shelter question.
While conditions appear to be adequate in most
camps and settled areas, some organizations are
reluctant to invest in latrine rehabilitation in
coastal areas that might be in the buffer zones,
despite the fact that people are already
returning to those areas.


5. Organization, coordination, and
communication remain challenges at the national,
district, and sub-district levels. The lack of
coordination means that the affected population
in many cases remains without adequate
assistance and without critical information
necessary to make informed decisions. Although
the resources to provide appropriate quantities
of assistance appear to be available, targeting
the most underserved populations and those who
are increasingly leaving the transit camps are
becoming more critical issues.

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USAID/DART Visit to Ampara District
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6. On January 31, the USAID/DART WSO traveled
to Ampara District in eastern Sri Lanka and met
with implementing partners USAID's Office of
Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI),the
International Organization for Migration (IOM),
Sri Lankan Red Cross Society (SLRC),the U.N.
Children's Fund (UNICEF),Christian Children's
Fund (CCF),Mercy Corps, and CARE. The biggest
challenges facing implementing partners are
resettlement of internally displaced persons
(IDPs) and coordination and competition among
NGOs.


7. USAID/OFDA implementing partners coordinated
and agreed on a daily wage for cash-for-work
programs based on local practices. Partners
noted that some relief agencies are paying up to
three times this amount in their programs. There
is concern among farmers that they will not be
able to compete for labor as the rice harvest
approaches.


8. According to the USAID/DART WSO, partners
reported that there appears to be no mechanism
in place to bring the concerns of affected
populations to the government. Although local
authorities at the village level visit affected
populations, concerns are not addressed at
higher levels of government authority.


9. According to the USAID/DART WSO, the U.N.
Children's Fund (UNICEF),Action Contre la Faim
(ACF),GOAL, and Oxfam coordinated and shared
information on water and sanitation activities
in Ampara during the initial phase of the relief
effort. With approximately 25 NGOs now
reportedly working in the water and sanitation
sector, coordination has become more difficult.
Instances of lack of coordination among NGOs,
UNICEF, and local authorities have been
reported, resulting in duplication of services
and an increase in potential gaps.


10. On the technical side, implementing
partners noted concern that the overpumping of
wells is resulting in their increased salinity
and potential damage to the aquifers. The U.N.
World Health Organization (WHO) and NGOs with
experience in this area, in coordination with
the Water Board, are developing guidelines for
well pumping. These guidelines will be
available for general distribution.


11. The USAID/DART WSO also met with a local
government official in Ampara District, who
noted that existing governmental information-
sharing and coordination systems were weak,
leading to the distortion of information and to
gaps in the coordination of policy and
activities. According to the government
official, future challenges include the
identification of suitable land for resettlement
and of labor to build the large number of homes
necessary.


12. The USAID/DART WSO reported that at a
shelter meeting in Ampara NGOs expressed
frustration about the lack of clarity regarding
reconstruction in coastal areas, or buffer
zones. Although NGOs have indicated readiness
to build shelters, inconsistent messages from
different governmental authorities about the
buffer zones are causing confusion and delaying
the identification of land for housing.
[Comment: In late January, the GOSL issued
guidelines stipulating a 100-meter buffer zone
for construction along the western and southern
coastal areas and a 200-meter zone for the
eastern and northern coastal zones. However,
confusion remains regarding the implementation
and enforcement of these buffer zones. End
comment.]


13. On February 2, the USAID/DART WSO visited
two IDP camps in the Kalmunai Division in Ampara
District that are currently not served by
USAID/OFDA partners. One of the camps houses
fishermen who are living in tents. Residents at
the camp complained about the composition of the
food rations, noting that they were used to fish
and meat and that rice and dhal were not
satisfying. The IDPs noted that food assistance
was their largest need despite receiving the
standard GOSL food assistance package and
requested cash-for-work programs to repair and
replace their boats and equipment. In the
second IDP camp, approximately 90 Tamil families
live in a school that appeared to be in session
at the time of the USAID/DART visit. Land for
the relocation of the IDPs has been identified,
tents are being distributed, and the families
expect to move with the assistance of the
Canadian military. The USAID/DART WSO observed
a poster on a school wall informing tsunami-
affected populations of the GOSL assistance
package and stated that the residents at this
camp are well informed of their entitlements;
many residents have received this assistance.
However, residents claimed that food rations
were not always sufficient in quantity and that
a collection was necessary to purchase
additional food. IDPs requested cash-for-work
programs and reported that a weaving mill had
been destroyed by the tsunami, resulting in the
loss of income for women. The USAID/DART will
follow up with implementing partners in Ampara
District to establish cash-for-work programs for
residents of these camps.

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Current Situation in Batticaloa District
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14. On February 2, the USAID/DART WSO traveled
to Batticaloa District and met with USAID/OFDA
implementing partners, including Catholic Relief
Services (CRS),IOM, and Mercy Corps' local
partner Foundation for Coexistence (FCE).
Partners stated that the lack of communication
and coordination at the different governmental
levels is hindering the provision of
humanitarian assistance.


15. IOM is providing transitional housing for
552 families in three divisions of Batticaloa
and is involved in livelihood projects focused
on women, farmers, and fishermen. In addition,
IOM has eight field offices in IDP camps where
residents can receive assistance and information
and express their concerns. According to IOM,
an estimated 75 percent of the affected
population in Batticaloa is not aware of the
GOSL assistance package provided to tsunami-
affected people. IOM also noted an unequal
distribution of relief supplies between IDPs
living in camps and those living in individual
houses.


16. The USAID/DART WSO attended the shelter
coordination meeting, where NGOs expressed
concerned about local government authorities
strongly encouraging IDPs to relocate from camps
and schools without providing these populations
sufficient information on their options. The
shelter policy working group in
Batticaloa-comprised of a small number of U.N.
agencies and NGOs-has drafted a document with
recommendations to the GOSL, including the need
to ensure that adequate time is allowed for full
information to be disseminated and for people to
make an informed choice. During the meeting,
NGOs selected a lead NGO for each of the
affected divisions to coordinate with local
authorities and with relief agencies in the
shelter sector. The Urban Development Authority
(UDA) announced plans to assist district
government authorities in identifying sites for
permanent relocation. UDA can design layouts if
needed but noted that the process could be
expedited if NGOs already have a design.

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USAID Visit to Galle District
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17. On January 31, the USAID/DART FO and the
Director of US-AEP traveled to the southern
districts of Galle, Matara, and Hambantota.
According to local government authorities, as of
January 31, there were 36 official IDP camps in
Galle District. Although the number of camps is
consistently dropping, it is unclear where
people are moving.


18. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(USAID/OTI) continues to work in a USAID/OFDA-
funded cash-for-work debris removal project
north of Galle. As of January 31, the project
employed on a rotational basis an average of
1,200 people for three days to clean and sort
debris into re-usable, recyclable, and waste
materials. The target of the program is to
employ 6,000 people during 20 days of work.

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Situation in Matara District
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19. According to the USAID team, local
government authorities in Matara reported that
the GOSL is conducting a survey of land and
housing needs with the aim of allocating GOSL
land or acquiring private land for settlements.
According to the survey, approximately 200 of
the 1,592 affected residents do not want to
leave their land and the rest have agreed to
relocate. [Note: It is unclear what information
was provided to the area's residents when the
survey was done. End note.] In addition, 2,000
houses in the district were reported to be fully
damaged; this figure is lower than 2,600
reported by the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR). Local government authorities
indicated that all the land for temporary
shelter settlements has been identified; this
contradicts the understanding of UNHCR and
USAID/OFDA implementing partner CHF
International.


20. On February 3, the USAID team met with
implementing partner Save the Children/U.K.
(SC/UK) in Matara. SC/UK has distributed
plastic sheeting, but reports receiving vague
guidance on shelter from local authorities.
SC/UK is working with IOM to distribute plastic
sheeting in an IDP camp located at a school
site. The camp was initially expected to be
opened for three months, but SC/UK believes that
the camp will likely be there longer. SC/UK
noted that no official government information
was available to affected populations. SC/UK
reported that GOSL coupons for food rations have
only recently begun to be distributed in Matara.

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USAID Visit to Hambantota District
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21. On February 2, the USAID team visited
Hambantota District and met with implementing
partners. Due to local government authorities'
lack of clarity about transitional shelter
policies, GOAL estimates that it may have to
scale back on its planned target for
transitional shelter units.


22. The USAID team attended a shelter
coordination meeting organized by Hambantota's
Government Agent (GA) on February 2. Meeting
attendees discussed appropriate designs for
permanent solutions to housing problems. Some
of the organizations in attendance emphasized
the need to look at housing solutions more
inclusively with particular attention on
livelihoods and social structures that could be
disrupted due to relocations. A local
government official emphasized that the
district's policy is that no one should return
to live within 100 meters of the coast and that
a 300-meter buffer zone would be enforced in
some unspecified areas. The government
officials reported that the UDA would be
carrying out a survey to determine what land
could be safely occupied close to the coast.
The officials conceded that transitional
shelters would be needed until permanent
solutions are available but were unable to
specify where those shelters could be built.
The government representative from the Prime
Minister's Office committed to producing a one-
page information sheet for NGOs that would
outline the procedures for temporary and
permanent shelter in Hambantota.

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USAID/OFDA Cash-for-Work Activities in Matara
and Hambantota districts
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23. USAID/OFDA implementing partner GOAL is
engaged in a cash-for-work program focusing on
damaged infrastructure in both districts. GOAL
identifies community leaders, such as teachers,
who select 30 affected people to clean debris
and repair roads for 10 days on a rotational
basis. The program currently employs between
600 to 700 people daily for 10 days. Some of
the projects are carried out in coordination
with the Road Development Authority.


24. The USAID team reports that CCF is
beginning to implement cash-for-work programs in
Matara and Hambantota. CCF plans to work with
German Technical Cooperation (GTZ),who has
requested training for partners. CCF would help
with stipends for apprentices learning new
skills.


25. Sarvodaya is conducting cash-for-work
activities in Hambantota as well as Galle and
Ampara districts. Sarvodaya's activities
include clean up of debris, repairs of schools
and infrastructure, latrine construction, water
and sanitation.

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Comment
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26. Until such time as there is clarity from
the GOSL on land use issues, such as the coastal
buffer zones, and an understanding on the part
of the GAs about issues surrounding the use of
tents, transitional shelter, and the
construction of permanent housing, there will
continue to be confusion and delays in finding
shelter solutions for IDPs. On several
occasions, the USAID/DART has suggested to
central GOSL officials that a meeting with GAs
from the affected districts be convened to
discuss land use, shelter, and coordination
issues. End comment.

LUNSTEAD