OCHA Situation Report No. 35
Earthquake and Tsunami
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Somalia
8 April 2005


Main Highlights

In Indonesia, UNDP and UN-HABITAT have replaced UNHCR as the chair of
the Shelter Sector Working Groups in Banda Aceh and Jakarta. In Sri
Lanka, Save the Children conducted a workshop on protection issues,
including conflict resolution and child protection. In the Maldives,
following an increase in the number of measles cases, a vaccination team
was dispatched to the islands of Alif Fenfush and Maamigili. In Somalia,
a local NGO will supply water to respond to severe water shortages in
Dangorayo and Jariban districts.

Financial Highlights As of 8 April, of the USD 870 million pledged to
the Flash Appeal by official donors on or after 11 January, USD 570
million has been contributed ("paid," "disbursed").  A further USD 207
million has been committed.  (570 + 207 = 777, meaning that 89% of
official Flash Appeal pledges have been converted into commitments or
contributions.)  Private donors have contributed an additional USD 74
million, and UN agencies have allocated USD 1 million from their own
resources.  The rest remain uncommitted official pledges.

On 11 November 2004, the UN Secretary-General launched 14 Consolidated
Appeals to address the needs of 26 million people.  To date, only 9% of
the required USD 1.7 billion has been committed.

REGIONAL

On 6 April in Geneva, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland issued
the Mid-Term Review of the Flash Appeal for the Indian Ocean Earthquake
and Tsunami.


Indonesia

I. SITUATION

On 30 March, BAKORNAS, the national coordination body for natural
disasters, reported the total number of dead as 126,602 in Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam Province (NAD) and 130 in North Sumatra. The number of
displaced people stands at 514,150 in NAD and 19,620 in North Sumatra.
There are concerns about possible duplication of displaced persons in
the registration process due to their high mobility.

The 100th day commemoration of those who died in the tsunami was marked
on 4 April with the Takziyah and Muazabah religious ceremonies. ICMC
distributed small Yasin books (prayer for the deceased).

II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

The Head of the District Health Office (DHO) in Calang requested NGOs
active in the health sector to complete a health sector gap analysis and
planning survey. WHO is assisting with data compilation and will report
back to the DHO and NGOs. The District Health Office, WHO and NGOs are
also exploring ways to improve the environmental health conditions
around the hospital, where stagnant water poses a health risk to
patients.

>From 29 to 31 March, IOM medical staff facilitated a training exercise
entitled "Early Detection, Management and Referral of Mental Health
Patients" that provided technical support to 31 women leaders of the
Ministry of Health and the psychiatric hospital Rumah Sakit Jiwa in
Banda Aceh. This is the fourth psychosocial training project, which has
trained a total of 124 health staff.

OCHA is holding discussions with the government concerning a proposed
workshop on lessons learned from the tsunami response to take place in
early May. The workshop would include UN agencies and government
officials who have been involved in the relief effort.  A preparatory
meeting is scheduled for 8 April.

III. MAIN CHALLENGES

UNDP and UN-HABITAT have replaced UNHCR as the chair of the Shelter
Sector Working Groups in Banda Aceh and Jakarta. New terms of reference
will be drawn up as the focus of the Working Group shifts from emergency
shelter to temporary and permanent shelter in the tsunami-affected
areas.

IOM signed agreements for the construction of approximately 11,000
semi-permanent housing units to provide an interim solution to the
housing crisis in NAD. More than 510,000 people lost their homes as a
result of the tsunami. IOM, the Provincial Government and the Research
Institute for Human Settlements of the Indonesian Ministry of Public
Works in Bandung, West Java have collaborated to build these structures.
IOM's project will employ approximately 500 local residents.

Although the epicentre of the 28 March earthquake was off the coast of
North Sumatra Province, several temporary shelters in NAD nearing
completion withstood the quake, which registered 8.7 on the Richter
scale. The 36 m2, cement and wood-framed semi-permanent structures,
which include water and electricity, may be partitioned into two rooms
and can house up to seven people. They can be quickly adapted to suit
alternate uses such as medical clinics and schools.

IV. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

Two new satellite employment centres are planned in Lhokseumawe and
Calang. Approximately 3,000 people in Meulaboh and 10,000 people in
Banda Aceh have registered with the satellite centres. Job placements
are up to more than 400. The centres plan to register at least 75,000
skilled people for the database by the end of May 2005.

On 14 April, a training of trainers session on the production of
building materials made from concrete (blocks, tiles, etc.) will be held
for women, who traditionally make clay bricks within family businesses.
With the extra skills training, women will be in a position to supply
building materials for the reconstruction effort and secure an income.
The production of concrete blocks was chosen because a) they are easily
produced as no kiln is needed, b) they are environmentally friendly as
no trees have to be chopped down for firewood, c) they are lighter than
clay bricks, and d) many different types of cement products can be made
using the same procedure.

The Bupati (Head of the District) in Calang has requested agencies to
assist in land clearance of the future site of a port, fishermen's
harbour and tourist centre through cash for work programmes. Over 10,000
people are now being employed in the schemes. While most existing cash
for work schemes focus on land clearance, the Bupati expressed his hope
that future programme could encompass professions such as carpentry,
tailoring, and other artisan trades.

V. USEFUL WEBSITES

Government:

www.bakornaspbp.go.id (National Coordination Board for Natural Disaster
Management)

www.depsos.go.id (Department of Social Affairs)

www.depkes.go.id (Department of Health)

www.lin.go.id (National Information Board-Ministry of Information and
Communication)

www.info-ri.com (Information-Republic Indonesia)


Other:

www. coe-dmha.org/tsunami.htm (daily chronology of key events)

www.apan-info.net - tsunami page (Pacific Command)

www.humanitarianinfo.org - Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC)

www.unjlc.org


Sri Lanka

I. SITUATION

The remains of 16 tsunami victims, still unidentified after extensive
forensic testing, but believed to be foreigners, were buried in a
Colombo cemetery on 1 April. The remains of 53 other foreign
unidentified tsunami victims remain in mobile refrigeration units in the
city.

The International Development Association (IDA), of the World Bank, and
the Government of Sri Lanka signed an agreement on 1 March for the USD
150 million Tsunami Emergency Recovery Project (TERP). A total of USD 75
million has already been allocated for reconstruction programs in
health, education infrastructure, roads and housing under the TERP-Phase
One, which was signed in February. The remaining USD 75 million provided
under the TERP Phase Two will be utilized for the construction of
houses, improvement of infrastructure and the rebuilding of livelihoods
in the form of grants (USD 30 million) and concessional loans (USD 45
million).

II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

A workshop on livelihoods and employment generation was held by the
Taskforce for Rebuilding the Nation with the support of ILO, UNDP and
the World Bank in Galle District last week. Among the participants were
relevant district government departments (District Planning, Fisheries,
and Road Development) and representatives from UN agencies, NGOs, and
the banking and commercial business sector.

UNICEF and Save the Children have compiled data on child protection in
Matara District. Save the Children conducted a workshop last week with
22 camp managers on protection issues, including conflict resolution and
child protection.

III. MAIN CHALLENGES

In Batticaloa the Government Agent has revived the Infrastructure
Taskforce, which is now working with a newly established debris clearing
group. It is estimated that 80 percent of debris remains uncleared in
Batticaloa and is becoming an environmental concern. The Sri Lankan
Armed Forces began clearing operations in the Batticaloa lagoon on 1
April. The operation is expected to last two weeks.

World Vision reported a Hepatitis A outbreak in one of the camps in
Cheddipalayam, Batticaloa District, which UN agencies attribute to poor
sanitation. The outbreak was brought under control, and various agencies
and NGOs are following up by looking into waste disposal in the camps,
and other communities, throughout the district.

IV. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

As part of the government's cash for work programme, Christian
Children's Fund is employing approximately 400 people in Matara District
at a rate of 400 rupees (USD 4) per day. In another cash for work
programme GOAL, an Irish NGO, is employing approximately 350 labourers
in various shelter, drainage and road rehabilitation projects.

V. USEFUL WEBSITES

Humanitarian Information Centre:  www.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
www.ochaonline.org

Sri Lankan Department of Census and Statistics:
www.statistics.gov.lk/Tsunami/index.htm

Government of Sri Lanka: www.priu.gov.lk

Recoverlanka: www.recoverlanka.net

Geolanka: www.geolanka.net

Sri Lankan Taskforce for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN):
www.tafren.gov.lk

For access to additional informative web links:
http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka/infocentre/links/links.asp


Maldives

I. SITUATION

UNDP is moving ahead with its disaster recovery plan. The Recovery
Manager arrived on 21 March, and the full recovery team is now being
assembled. A UN Country Team retreat is scheduled for 7 April to discuss
the overall UN recovery strategy.

II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

Following the increase in the number of cases of measles in the country,
the Government, with the support of UNICEF, dispatched a vaccination
team to the islands of Alif Fenfush and Maamigili. The medical team
vaccinated 200 children between 9 months and 5 years of age on these two
islands. According to the Department of Public Health, there are no new
measles cases reported on any other island.

The Department of Public Health is closely monitoring reported cases of
"rash & fever" (measles/rubella). No other outbreaks have been reported.

The Ministry of Health and WHO will organize a meeting on water and
sanitation to discuss the results of a UNEP environmental assessment
that discovered high levels of nitrate (NO3) in some water samples. UNEP
is expected to release its assessment report soon.  Representatives from
UNEP, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Ministry of Environment and Construction and
other partners will participate.

UNICEF is conducting educational workshops, creative arts programmes and
individual counselling sessions for people affected by the tsunami. As
of 3 April, a total of 1,031 adults and children have participated in
these psychosocial programmes:  171 parents, 76 teachers, 60 health care
workers, 185 boys and 249 girls aged 12 ? 18 years. Creative arts
sessions for young children under 12 years of age have been attended by
290 children. Individual counselling and follow-up sessions have also
been conducted.

UN agencies met with relevant government counterparts on 4 April to
review allegations and reports of child abuse, gender-based violence and
discrimination in the wake of the tsunami and means to address these
concerns in future. Representatives were present from the Ministry of
Gender, the police, the Unit for the Rights of the Child, OCHA, UNICEF
and UNPFA.

Ongoing reconstruction and repair of houses is taking place on six
islands, and will be extended to 59 islands in May. On 27 islands,
surveyors contracted by UNDP are performing technical assessments for
infrastructure repair of jetties, warehouses, lighthouses and harbours.
UNDP field offices in affected atolls are being established to
facilitate implementation scheduled to begin in early April. The
government signed the project document on infrastructure on 29 March.

UNDP has appointed zonal implementation groups to guarantee appropriate
follow up of these implementation plans. By mid-April construction and
environmental guidelines should be ready for use.  Community dialogue
should be initiated on affected islands, including the establishment of
formal links with atoll chiefs. Community action plans are expected to
be ready for implementation by early May.

III. USEFUL WEBSITES

United Nations Maldives Disaster Relief Taskforce: http://202.1.199.67

Maldives National Disaster Management Centre:
http://www.tsunamimaldives.mv


Somalia

I. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

In cooperation with the government's Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster
Management Agency (HADMA), OCHA facilitated a visit for the President
and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to the coastal areas affected by the
tsunami. The visit, which began on 5 April, also includes
representatives from UNICEF, WFP and the media (BBC and Reuters).

Regarding the OCHA-established Humanitarian Response Fund, the Advisory
Board approved a project proposal from Veterinaires Sans Frontieres ?
Suisse for water trucking.  The project will provide water to 4,000
beneficiaries in Bender Beyla and Iskushuban districts.

Poor road conditions remain a challenge for access to the
tsunami-affected areas.  During the month of March, WFP delivered around
500 MT of food to 5,685 beneficiaries in the districts of Iskushuban,
Beyla, Hafun, Jarriban and Eyl.  UNICEF distributed non-food items in
Hafun including 2,000 blankets, 420 fishing nets, 1,800 mosquito nets,
50 tents, 300 Hijab clothes for women, and 400 water gourds. A mission
comprised of HADMA, OCHA, UNICEF, and local officials visited Hafun to
observe the distribution.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) committed USD 50,000 to the tsunami
relief efforts.  The money will be donated to a local NGO, Dakonia, for
water trucking activities to respond to severe water shortages in
Dangorayo and Jariban districts. IDB has also agreed to provide funding
for medium-term livelihood recovery programmes. The government is
currently identifying proposals in this regard.

II. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

Through cash for work projects, ILO is rehabilitating the main road from
Jariban to Garacad and the most damaged parts of the road from Garowe to
Eyl. ILO is also planning to start the rehabilitation of a road from
Iskushuban to Hafun, which is the most damaged and inaccessible route.
These activities will help facilitate access to affected areas and
provide resource transfers to the affected communities until the next
fishing season, which commences in October.

Updates on contributions to this disaster may be found on the Financial
Tracking Service (http://www.reliefweb.int/fts; or, click "Financial
Tracking" at the top of the ReliefWeb page for this disaster). Donors
are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of
corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA
Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA
Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically on
the above-mentioned FTS website.

Together with further information on other ongoing emergencies, this
situation report is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int.

Aid agencies are encouraged to use the Virtual On-Site Operations
Coordination Centre (OSOCC) at http://www.reliefweb.int to share
information on assistance and coordinate activities.

For more information:

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23/06 28
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
   Ms. Marie Spaak / Ms. Hannah Entwisle
     Direct Tel. 41-22-917 1728/1155

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elisabeth Byrs, direct Tel. ++41-22-917 26 53
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917 367 51 26
   NYC - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43


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