Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO502
2005-03-09 10:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

USAID/OFDA DART TEAM MONITORING VISIT TO TSUNAMI-

Tags:  EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000502 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, MMERTENS
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
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 JMELINE
CDR USPACOM FOR J3/J4/POLAD
USEU PASS USEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE
SUBJECT: USAID/OFDA DART TEAM MONITORING VISIT TO TSUNAMI-
AFFECTED EAST AND SOUTH COASTS OF SRI LANKA

SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000502

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, MMERTENS
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER
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 JMELINE
CDR USPACOM FOR J3/J4/POLAD
USEU PASS USEC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE
SUBJECT: USAID/OFDA DART TEAM MONITORING VISIT TO TSUNAMI-
AFFECTED EAST AND SOUTH COASTS OF SRI LANKA

SUMMARY


1. MEMBERS OF THE USAID/OFDA DART TEAM VISITED THE HEAVILY
AFFECTED EAST AND SOUTH COASTS OF SRI LANKA MARCH 2-7 TO
MONITOR PROGRESS OF RELIEF ACTIVITIES AND ASSESS PROSPECTS
FOR CONTINUED RECOVERY. AVAILABLE FUNDS ARE SUFFICIENT TO
MEET RELIEF NEEDS IN THE DISTRICTS VISITED BUT
IMPLEMENTATION FALLS SHORT. CASH-FOR-WORK PROJECTS FUNDED BY
USAID/OFDA AND OTHER DONORS ARE HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL AND
HIGHLY VISIBLE IMPACT IN ALL OF THE WORST HIT COASTAL AREAS.
QUICK IMPACT PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY DAI ARE AMONG THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL AND COST-EFFECTIVE OFDA-FUNDED ACTIVITIES. THE
MAIN OBSTACLE TO RECOVERY ALONG THE TSUNAMI-AFFECTED
COASTLINE AT PRESENT IS UNCERTAINTY OVER GOSL RESTRICTIONS
ON REBUILDING IN THE COASTAL ZONE. EVENTUAL RETURN OF
DISPLACED PERSONS TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS MAY BE
INEVITABLE DESPITE CURRENT GOSL RESTRICTIONS. COORDINATION
OF ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT BUT IS NOW IMPROVING AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL. SURVIVORS ARE EMERGING FROM THE INITIAL TRAUMA
OF THE DISASTER AND, WITH MANY VILLAGES BENEFITING FROM
CLEAN-UP EFFORTS, ARE INCREASINGLY INCLINED TO RETURN AND
REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS.

DART MONITORING VISIT


2. TWO USAID/OFDA DART TEAM MEMBERS JOINED BY MISSION FSN
STAFF TRAVELED THE LENGTH OF THE TSUNAMI-AFFECTED COAST FROM
TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT SOUTH TO HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT MARCH 2-7
TO MONITOR PROGRESS OF USAID/OFDA-FUNDED RELIEF PROJECTS AND
ASSESS PROSPECTS FOR CONTINUED RECOVERY. THE TEAM MET WITH
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS, SPOKE WITH
AFFECTED FAMILIES, AND VISITED NUMEROUS OFDA-FUNDED PROJECT
SITES IN TRINCOMALEE, BATTICALOA, AMPARA, AND HAMBANTOTA
DISTRICTS. ABOUT 20,000 LIVES WERE LOST IN THESE FOUR

DISTRICTS, NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF CONFIRMED DEATHS NATIONWIDE.
BEYOND HAMBANTOTA THE TEAM CONTINUED TO COLOMBO ALONG THE
HEAVILY-AFFECTED SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST COASTLINE BUT DID NOT
CONDUCT SITE VISITS AS THIS AREA HAS BEEN WELL-MONITORED BY
MISSION AND DART STAFF. USAID/OFDA DISASTER ASSISTANCE TO
SRI LANKA FOR THE TSUNAMI TOTALS APPROXIMATELY USD 37
MILLION.

RELIEF PHASE: FULLY FUNDED BUT NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED


3. AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROJECTS
IS CLEARLY SUFFICIENT TO MEET RELIEF REQUIREMENTS IN THE
DISTRICTS VISITED, BUT IMPLEMENTATION STILL FALLS SHORT DUE
TO LOGISTICAL DELAYS (E.G. TIMBER FOR TRANSITIONAL SHELTER
IS BACK-ORDERED),COORDINATION DIFFICULTIES, AND CONTINUED
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE GOSL POLICY ON THE RETURN OF DISPLACED
PEOPLE TO THE COASTAL ZONE (SEE PARAGRAPH SIX). IN SHORT THE
RELIEF PHASE IS FULLY FUNDED BUT NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

IMPACT OF CASH-FOR-WORK


4. ONGOING CASH-FOR-WORK PROJECTS FUNDED BY USAID/OFDA AND
OTHER DONORS ARE HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL AND HIGHLY VISIBLE
IMPACT IN ALL OF THE WORST HIT AREAS OF THE EAST AND SOUTH
COASTS. REMOVAL OF DEBRIS, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF TRUCKLOADS
OF BRICK AND CONCRETE RUBBLE, COLLAPSED ROOFING, AND OTHER
REMAINS OF DWELLINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, HAS BEEN A CRITICAL
FIRST STEP ENABLING RENEWED ACCESS TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS,
ROADWAYS, MARKET AREAS, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. IN AREAS WHICH
HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF DEBRIS, RESIDENTS CAN BE SEEN RETURNING
TO SURVEY LOSSES, SALVAGE PROPERTY, OR ERECT MAKESHIFT
FENCES TO DEMARCATE LAND IN HOPES OF EVENTUALLY REBUILDING
ON IT.

DAI QUICK IMPACT PROJECTS


5. AMONG THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND COST-EFFECTIVE OFDA-FUNDED
PROJECTS ARE THOSE IMPLEMENTED BY DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES
INCORPORATED (DAI) THROUGH THE USAID/OTI SWIFT CONTRACT
MECHANISM. DAI HAS RAPIDLY IMPLEMENTED AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY
OF SMALL GRANTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR, CLEAN-UP, AND
LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY. IN MANY CASES USAID CONTRIBUTIONS OF
MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT, OR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ARE MATCHED WITH
THE VOLUNTEER LABOR OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR POLITICAL PARTIES.

MAJOR OBSTACLE TO RECOVERY


6. THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO RECOVERY ALONG THE TSUNAMI-AFFECTED
COASTLINE AT PRESENT IS CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT
PROSPECTS FOR RETURN OF DISPLACED TO THEIR LAND WITHIN THE
SO-CALLED "BUFFER ZONE" OR COASTAL CONSERVATION ZONE, WHICH
HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE GOSL AS EITHER 100 OR 200 METERS
FROM MEAN HIGH TIDE, DEPENDING ON THE DISTRICT. THIS
UNCERTAINTY IS HOLDING UP SHELTER CONSTRUCTION (TRANSITIONAL
AND PERMANENT) AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY, AS INVESTMENTS IN
LIVELIHOODS ASSETS ARE CONTINGENT ON PROXIMITY TO THE COAST
FOR FISHING FAMILIES AND OTHERS. IN THE DISTRICTS VISITED,
THE COASTAL ZONE POLICY WAS THE SUBJECT OF INCESSANT
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AMONG AFFECTED COMMUNITIES,
HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO
REPORTEDLY LONG FOR CLARITY FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN
COLOMBO. AMIDST ALL THE TALK AND GOSL PRONOUNCEMENTS IT WAS
THE PREDICTION OF THE CARE COORDINATOR IN AMPARA DISTRICT
THAT RESONATED WITH THE VISITING DART TEAM AND IS PERHAPS
THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO: THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT POSITION
WILL INEVITABLY HAVE TO GIVE WAY TO THE OVERWHELMING DESIRE
OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED FAMILIES TO RETURN TO THE
SITES OF THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES, EVEN WITHIN THE DEVASTATED
100 METER ZONE. SOME OF THESE FAMILIES ARE INDEED ALREADY
RETURNING.

COORDINATION


7. INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NGO PARTNERS IN THE EASTERN
DISTRICTS REPORT THAT COORDINATION HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY
IN RECENT WEEKS. COORDINATION OF SECTORAL ACTIVITIES IS
BEING PUSHED DOWN FROM THE DISTRICT LEVEL (DISTRICT AGENT)
TO THE SUB-DISTRICT LEVEL (DIVISION SECRETARIAT). IN THE
EARLY WEEKS COORDINATION MEETINGS HOSTED BY THE DISTRICT
AGENTS REPORTEDLY DREW AS MANY AS 200 PEOPLE, MAKING
EFFECTIVE COORDINATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THE UNPRECEDENTED
LEVELS OF PRIVATE FUNDS RAISED BY NGOS HAVE ALSO POSED
CHALLENGES FOR COORDINATION. LESS BEHOLDEN TO USAID AND
OTHER DONORS, AND UNDER PRESSURE TO SPEND QUICKLY, MANY NGOS
WERE LESS INCLINED TO COORDINATE EFFORTS. INTERNATIONAL NGOS
(INGO) RECEIVING USAID TSUNAMI FUNDING IN SRI LANKA REPORT
MATCHING THEIR USAID CONTRIBUTIONS FOUR OR FIVE FOLD WITH
PRIVATE DONATIONS.

LOCAL NGO CAPACITY


8. EARLY REPORTS THAT LOCAL NGOS (LNGO) WERE UNDER-FUNDED
OR IN SOME CASES EVEN IDLE WHILE MONEY POURED INTO
INTERNATIONAL NGO OPERATIONS APPEAR TO BE NO LONGER VALID.
ON THE CONTRARY, AT THIS POINT THE MAJOR LNGOS ARE GENERALLY
BELIEVED TO BE FUNDED TO THE LIMIT OF THEIR ABSORPTION
CAPACITY. SEWALANKA, SRI LANKA'S SECOND LARGEST, FOR
EXAMPLE, HAS STOPPED ACCEPTING TSUNAMI DONATIONS. ONE
UNFORTUNATE TREND HAS BEEN THE MIGRATION OF SOME OF THE BEST
LNGO STAFF TO BETTER PAYING INGOS.

THE INITIAL TRAUMA FADES


9. THE DART HEARD REPORTS FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES THAT THE
TRAUMA OF THE INITIAL PERIOD IS LESSENING TO THE POINT THAT
SURVIVORS ARE INCREASINGLY INCLINED TO RETURN (EVEN THOSE
WITHIN THE 100 METER ZONE) AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND
LIVELIHOODS. MANY AFFECTED VILLAGES, WHILE NOT YET REBUILT,
HAVE BEEN VISUALLY TRANSFORMED BY THE CLEAN-UP EFFORTS. THE
BUZZ OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND CLEAN-UP CREWS GIVES AN
IMPRESSION OF PROGRESS AND THAT A GRADUAL RETURN TO NORMALCY
IS POSSIBLE. CLEAN-UP EFFORTS ON THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST
COASTS HAVE GENERALLY PROGRESSED FURTHER THAN THEY HAVE IN
THE EAST.

LUNSTEAD