Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO65
2005-01-10 08:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000065
SIPDIS
AIDAC
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA 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 FO J3/J4/POLAD
BRUSSELS FOR USEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE MV
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:
USAID/DART SITREP #4
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000065
SIPDIS
AIDAC
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA 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 FO J3/J4/POLAD
BRUSSELS FOR USEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE MV
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:
USAID/DART SITREP #4
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. As of January 7, according to the Center for
National Operations (CNO),the earthquake and tsunamis
killed 30,718 people in Sri Lanka. On January 7, U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and USAID
SIPDIS
Administrator Andrew Natsios, along with the U.S.
Ambassador and USAID/Colombo Health and Humanitarian
Affairs Officer (HHAO),visited Galle in southern Sri
Lanka. The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART) maintains close cooperation with the U.S.
military to coordinate relief flights and provide air
support to those non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
that request assistance with the transport of relief
supplies. Safe waste disposal remains an issue in
internally displaced person (IDP) camps. The
USAID/DART continues to work with the U.N. World
Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen the sentinel
surveillance system in Sri Lanka. The USAID/DART is
working with local partners to integrate psycho-social
issues into tsunami relief efforts. 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 7 at 1700 hours local time,
the earthquake and tsunamis killed 30,718 people,
injured 14,573 residents, displaced 515,234 persons,
completely damaged 91,749 houses, and partially
damaged 19,932 houses. Currently there are 4,939
persons missing. According to the CNO, there are 592
camps housing displaced persons.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Visit of Secretary of State Powell and USAID
Administrator Natsios
-------------- --------------
--------------
3. On January 7, U.S. Secretary of State Powell,
USAID Administrator Natsios, and the U.S. Ambassador
visited Galle in southern Sri Lanka. The USAID/HHAO
arranged the visit and led the tour of the affected
area. The group visited St. Aloysius College in
Galle, which was previously a school for 1500 boys and
girls and is now serving as a camp for IDPs. At
present, the college is housing 160 families whose
homes were completely destroyed by the earthquake.
--------------
Coordination with the U.S. Military
--------------
4. On January 7, the USAID/DART Military Liaison
Officers (MLO) coordinated 29 flights with the U.S.
Marine Corps (USMC) that carried 2,000 water
containers, 2 metric tons (MT) of plastic sheeting, 2
MT of hygiene kits, 2 MT of water tablets, and 16
passengers. One USMC medical team was also deployed
to Jaffna teaching hospital.
5. The MLOs also established a coordination interface
with the USMC Combined Support Force and Combined
Support Groups, led by Brigadier General Panter. A
USAID/DART MLO will serve as a liaison and will be
located in the Operations Cell of the Combined Support
Group.
--------------
NGO Coordination
--------------
6. On January 7, the USAID/DART and the USAID/Office
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Director
met with NGOs in an initial effort to develop
coordination and standardization regarding upcoming
water and sanitation and cash-for-work activities.
During this meeting, the USAID/OFDA Director stressed
that the U.S. military was eager to provide logistical
support to assist in relief activities and urged NGOs
to take advantage of this support. The USAID/OFDA
Director also raised the issue of psycho-social
support as an important activity and stressed that
programming should focus upon protection issues and
the issue of child trafficking. The group also
discussed the issue of cash-for-work, in particular
daily wages.
7. At a meeting of the Consortium of Humanitarian
Agencies (CHA),the USAID/DART Water and Sanitation
Officer (WSO) advised humanitarian agencies that the
U.S. military would be able to assist with the
transport of goods from Colombo to other districts,
and coordination for these activities will occur
through the USAID/DART.
--------------
Donor Coordination
--------------
8. On January 7, the USAID/DART attended a
coordination meeting chaired by the U.N. High
Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) that included the
United Kingdom's Department for International
Development (DFID),Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA),the European Community Humanitarian
Office (ECHO),and the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP). The group discussed the issue of transitional
housing and the efforts made by the Government of Sri
Lanka (GOSL) to ensure standardization of shelter for
victims, a timeframe for providing shelter, and
coverage issues. More information and a final
decision on transitional housing are forthcoming.
--------------
Water and Sanitation
--------------
9. On January 7, the USAID/DART WSO attended a water
and sanitation meeting and reported that most of the
districts have their own coordinating systems, and the
water boards are engaged in relief activities. The
U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) is currently the lead
U.N. agency in the water and sanitation sector.
10. According to the USAID/DART WSO, hygiene
education was discussed, and camp managers are
encouraged to promote hygiene education. The
USAID/DART WSO reported that the Ministry of Urban
Development and Water Supply and the Ministry of
Health (MOH) must coordinate and promote the same
message, and a workgroup was formed, including NGOs,
UNICEF, and the MOH, to develop a promotional message.
Promotional materials were also provided to all
USAID/OFDA NGO partners working in the areas of health
education and hygiene promotion.
11. Safe waste disposal has become an issue in camps,
and waste management and solid waste removal must be
factored into activities. USAID/OFDA implementing
partners have been funded to rehabilitate wells and
water systems, and there is a cash-for-work program
for the cleaning of debris.
12. A World Bank assessment team will be arriving on
January 8 to assess the damage caused by the
earthquake and tsunamis. UNICEF is concerned that
smaller needs will not be met and will send officials
to accompany the assessment team.
13. On January 7, the USAID/DART WSO attended a
relief operations meeting at the CHA. During the
meeting, concerns were expressed regarding the
discrepancies in the numbers of dead and displaced
persons between NGOs and official GOSL numbers. No
conclusion was reached regarding this issue.
--------------
Health
--------------
14. On January 8, the USAID/DART Team Leader and
USAID/DART WSO met with two WHO representatives to
discuss supporting and strengthening the existing
communicable disease sentinel surveillance system that
exists in Sri Lanka. The WHO representatives
expressed their satisfaction with WHO's long and
fruitful collaboration with USAID/OFDA in the area of
sentinel surveillances systems starting with the
Orissa Super Cyclone in October 1999. The WHO
representatives stated that while the sentinel
surveillance system was initiated to monitor emergency
phases, the systems have continued to affect the long-
term success of the health system in Gujarat. The
USAID/DART will continue to work with WHO and
collaborate and coordinate as the surveillance system
is structured in Sri Lanka. The USAID/DART team will
also assist WHO with additional technical expertise
and will share air assets for WHO's monitoring trips.
15. According to the CNO, specific health needs for
camps will be presented in the next few days. The
biggest concern is sanitation and the prevention of
communicable diseases. The USAID/DART is coordinating
with NGO partners and funding projects to address
sanitation needs in Trincomalee, Mullaittiv, Jaffna,
and Ampara.
--------------
Protection
--------------
16. USAID/OFDA is working with local partners to
implement an informal meeting to discuss psycho-social
relief issues and human trafficking response
approaches. The meeting will discuss simple,
practical approaches to integrate these issues into
on-going efforts and discuss who is doing what,
outstanding needs, and mechanisms for working
together. [Note. This meeting took place on January
9, and more information will be forthcoming. End
Note.]
--------------
Security
--------------
17. The issue of security was discussed at the CHA,
and law and order remains an issue of potential
concern in the areas that were affected by the
earthquake and tsunamis. A task force has been formed
to address the issue of security. Landmines are also
a concern, and UNICEF is preparing a map with areas
that contain landmines. UNICEF reports that there
have been no instances of injuries or death from
unintentional detonations of landmines.
LUNSTEAD
SIPDIS
AIDAC
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE
DCHA/OFDA 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 FO J3/J4/POLAD
BRUSSELS FOR USEC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE MV
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:
USAID/DART SITREP #4
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. As of January 7, according to the Center for
National Operations (CNO),the earthquake and tsunamis
killed 30,718 people in Sri Lanka. On January 7, U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell and USAID
SIPDIS
Administrator Andrew Natsios, along with the U.S.
Ambassador and USAID/Colombo Health and Humanitarian
Affairs Officer (HHAO),visited Galle in southern Sri
Lanka. The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART) maintains close cooperation with the U.S.
military to coordinate relief flights and provide air
support to those non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
that request assistance with the transport of relief
supplies. Safe waste disposal remains an issue in
internally displaced person (IDP) camps. The
USAID/DART continues to work with the U.N. World
Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen the sentinel
surveillance system in Sri Lanka. The USAID/DART is
working with local partners to integrate psycho-social
issues into tsunami relief efforts. 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 7 at 1700 hours local time,
the earthquake and tsunamis killed 30,718 people,
injured 14,573 residents, displaced 515,234 persons,
completely damaged 91,749 houses, and partially
damaged 19,932 houses. Currently there are 4,939
persons missing. According to the CNO, there are 592
camps housing displaced persons.
-------------- --------------
--------------
Visit of Secretary of State Powell and USAID
Administrator Natsios
-------------- --------------
--------------
3. On January 7, U.S. Secretary of State Powell,
USAID Administrator Natsios, and the U.S. Ambassador
visited Galle in southern Sri Lanka. The USAID/HHAO
arranged the visit and led the tour of the affected
area. The group visited St. Aloysius College in
Galle, which was previously a school for 1500 boys and
girls and is now serving as a camp for IDPs. At
present, the college is housing 160 families whose
homes were completely destroyed by the earthquake.
--------------
Coordination with the U.S. Military
--------------
4. On January 7, the USAID/DART Military Liaison
Officers (MLO) coordinated 29 flights with the U.S.
Marine Corps (USMC) that carried 2,000 water
containers, 2 metric tons (MT) of plastic sheeting, 2
MT of hygiene kits, 2 MT of water tablets, and 16
passengers. One USMC medical team was also deployed
to Jaffna teaching hospital.
5. The MLOs also established a coordination interface
with the USMC Combined Support Force and Combined
Support Groups, led by Brigadier General Panter. A
USAID/DART MLO will serve as a liaison and will be
located in the Operations Cell of the Combined Support
Group.
--------------
NGO Coordination
--------------
6. On January 7, the USAID/DART and the USAID/Office
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Director
met with NGOs in an initial effort to develop
coordination and standardization regarding upcoming
water and sanitation and cash-for-work activities.
During this meeting, the USAID/OFDA Director stressed
that the U.S. military was eager to provide logistical
support to assist in relief activities and urged NGOs
to take advantage of this support. The USAID/OFDA
Director also raised the issue of psycho-social
support as an important activity and stressed that
programming should focus upon protection issues and
the issue of child trafficking. The group also
discussed the issue of cash-for-work, in particular
daily wages.
7. At a meeting of the Consortium of Humanitarian
Agencies (CHA),the USAID/DART Water and Sanitation
Officer (WSO) advised humanitarian agencies that the
U.S. military would be able to assist with the
transport of goods from Colombo to other districts,
and coordination for these activities will occur
through the USAID/DART.
--------------
Donor Coordination
--------------
8. On January 7, the USAID/DART attended a
coordination meeting chaired by the U.N. High
Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) that included the
United Kingdom's Department for International
Development (DFID),Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA),the European Community Humanitarian
Office (ECHO),and the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP). The group discussed the issue of transitional
housing and the efforts made by the Government of Sri
Lanka (GOSL) to ensure standardization of shelter for
victims, a timeframe for providing shelter, and
coverage issues. More information and a final
decision on transitional housing are forthcoming.
--------------
Water and Sanitation
--------------
9. On January 7, the USAID/DART WSO attended a water
and sanitation meeting and reported that most of the
districts have their own coordinating systems, and the
water boards are engaged in relief activities. The
U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) is currently the lead
U.N. agency in the water and sanitation sector.
10. According to the USAID/DART WSO, hygiene
education was discussed, and camp managers are
encouraged to promote hygiene education. The
USAID/DART WSO reported that the Ministry of Urban
Development and Water Supply and the Ministry of
Health (MOH) must coordinate and promote the same
message, and a workgroup was formed, including NGOs,
UNICEF, and the MOH, to develop a promotional message.
Promotional materials were also provided to all
USAID/OFDA NGO partners working in the areas of health
education and hygiene promotion.
11. Safe waste disposal has become an issue in camps,
and waste management and solid waste removal must be
factored into activities. USAID/OFDA implementing
partners have been funded to rehabilitate wells and
water systems, and there is a cash-for-work program
for the cleaning of debris.
12. A World Bank assessment team will be arriving on
January 8 to assess the damage caused by the
earthquake and tsunamis. UNICEF is concerned that
smaller needs will not be met and will send officials
to accompany the assessment team.
13. On January 7, the USAID/DART WSO attended a
relief operations meeting at the CHA. During the
meeting, concerns were expressed regarding the
discrepancies in the numbers of dead and displaced
persons between NGOs and official GOSL numbers. No
conclusion was reached regarding this issue.
--------------
Health
--------------
14. On January 8, the USAID/DART Team Leader and
USAID/DART WSO met with two WHO representatives to
discuss supporting and strengthening the existing
communicable disease sentinel surveillance system that
exists in Sri Lanka. The WHO representatives
expressed their satisfaction with WHO's long and
fruitful collaboration with USAID/OFDA in the area of
sentinel surveillances systems starting with the
Orissa Super Cyclone in October 1999. The WHO
representatives stated that while the sentinel
surveillance system was initiated to monitor emergency
phases, the systems have continued to affect the long-
term success of the health system in Gujarat. The
USAID/DART will continue to work with WHO and
collaborate and coordinate as the surveillance system
is structured in Sri Lanka. The USAID/DART team will
also assist WHO with additional technical expertise
and will share air assets for WHO's monitoring trips.
15. According to the CNO, specific health needs for
camps will be presented in the next few days. The
biggest concern is sanitation and the prevention of
communicable diseases. The USAID/DART is coordinating
with NGO partners and funding projects to address
sanitation needs in Trincomalee, Mullaittiv, Jaffna,
and Ampara.
--------------
Protection
--------------
16. USAID/OFDA is working with local partners to
implement an informal meeting to discuss psycho-social
relief issues and human trafficking response
approaches. The meeting will discuss simple,
practical approaches to integrate these issues into
on-going efforts and discuss who is doing what,
outstanding needs, and mechanisms for working
together. [Note. This meeting took place on January
9, and more information will be forthcoming. End
Note.]
--------------
Security
--------------
17. The issue of security was discussed at the CHA,
and law and order remains an issue of potential
concern in the areas that were affected by the
earthquake and tsunamis. A task force has been formed
to address the issue of security. Landmines are also
a concern, and UNICEF is preparing a map with areas
that contain landmines. UNICEF reports that there
have been no instances of injuries or death from
unintentional detonations of landmines.
LUNSTEAD