OCHA Situation Report No. 36
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Somalia: Earthquake and Tsunami
15 April 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Main Highlights

In Indonesia, another earthquake and two volcanic eruptions have taken 
place this week.

In Sri Lanka, heavy rain flooded tents and campsites due to a lack of 
appropriate drainage.

In Maldives, work is beginning on the UN Recovery Strategy, which will 
fit into the National Recovery and Reconstruction Programme.

In Seychelles, according to an FAO assessment, the livelihoods of at 
least 1,500 families in the fishery and agricultural sectors are in 
jeopardy due to damage inflicted by the tsunami.

In Somalia, the OCHA/UNEP Joint Environmental Unit is working to verify 
reports of toxic waste sites and to determine specific areas of 
potential risk.


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Flash Appeal originally requested USD 977 million. Following the 
revisions in the Mid-Term Review, the total requested has risen to 
USD1.087 billion.  The Appeal stands 79% funded, counting commitments 
and paid contributions.  Donors have pledged a further USD 90 million 
specifically for the Flash Appeal, but this is not yet committed.

OCHA has worked with UN Country Teams to distribute the relatively small 
amount of un-earmarked funds received, so as to best fill funding gaps 
for priority activities.

For the tsunami overall (including outside the Flash Appeal), the total 
amount pledged, committed or contributed is USD 6.7 billion. (95 
governments and inter-governmental organisations ? US$ 5.8 billion; 
private individuals and institutions ? at least US$ 883 million.)


INDONESIA

I. SITUATION

In the last week, there has been another earthquake in Indonesia, 
followed by two volcanic eruptions. This also follows the Earthquake of 
28 March. Further information is available from the separate daily Field 
Reports covering the earthquake of 28 March.

Tangkuban Prahu (Java) ? Volcanic Activity, 13 April

Tangkuban Prahu Mountain near the city of Bandung on Java Island began 
volcanic activities during the night of 12 April. At 8:25 am on 13 
April, the status of the volcano was raised to alert. The mountain is in 
a popular tourist attraction with an access road leading almost all the 
way to its crater.

MountTalang (West Sumatra)  - Volcanic Eruption, 12 April

Mt. Talang, a 2,575 m high volcano, some 60 km from the provincial 
capital of Padang, erupted on 12 April, spewing volcanic ash on nearby 
areas, prompting the evacuation of some 26,000 people living on five 
villages around the volcano. The volcanic activity reportedly 
deteriorated after belching out smoke and ash. The Indonesian Red Cross 
deployed teams to assist in the evacuation process. The Department of 
Social Affairs is providing 15,000 people for 7 days with logistic 
support, food, drinking water, medical supplies, sarongs, rubber boats 
tents and generators. District and provincial government authorities 
have set up temporary shelters in tents, school buildings, market places 
and government offices. Urgent needs include facemasks and tents. 
However, no request for international assistance has been made so far.

Padang (West Sumatra) Earthquake, 10 April

A strong 6.7 aftershock was felt in Padang, on 10 April, triggering the 
evacuation of approximately 1,000 people. The epicentre was in the 
Indian Ocean, close to the Mentawai Islands off the coast of West 
Sumatra. The affected areas include Padan City, Padang Pariaman, West 
Pasaman, and Mentawasi. No significant damage was reported. The 
provincial government provided food items and medicine.  Another 5.3 
tremor hit the city on 13 April.

26 December ? Earthquake, Tsunami

On 26 March, BAKORNAS, the national coordination body for natural 
disasters, ceased issuing updates on the numbers of reported dead and 
missing as a result of the tsunami on 26 December. The total number of 
dead and buried, at 30 March, stands at 126,602 in Nanggroe Aceh 
Darussalam Province (NAD) and 130 in North Sumatra. 37,063 people are 
missing and 533,770 are displaced in 20 districts/cities.


II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

WFP's total planned beneficiary caseload for April is 720,000, including 
IDPs, host families and other vulnerable groups in Aceh and North 
Sumatra. To date, WFP has dispatched approximately 38,000 MT of food, of 
which some 1,000 MT have been sent to Nias and Simeulue. The agency has 
also chartered a new landing craft to access remote areas of Nias and 
Simeulue.

The school feeding programme that commenced in early April for an 
initial 16,000 beneficiaries is slowly being expanded and plans to reach 
340,000 people by August 2005. On 13 April, a School Feeding 
Introduction Workshop will be attended by school feeding coordinators 
from the District Education Departments of Aceh Besar, Banda Aceh, and 
Pidie, as well as three implementing partners: Al Ami, Muhammadiyyah, 
and Keumang. School feeding and general food distribution is planned to 
continue up to the end of December 2005.

The Draft Blueprint or Master Plan for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction 
of Aceh, Nias and North Sumatra outlines plans for the construction of 
permanent housing for IDPs and affected communities. In the meantime 
temporary shelter is being provided in the form of Temporary Living 
Centres (TLCs). IOM is in the process of constructing earthquake 
resistant housing in Tingkeum, Aceh Besar and has completed site 
preparation for 188 housing units in Cot Paya, NAD, and for 350 housing 
units in Lambada Lhok. Seven additional sites have been identified in 
the vicinity of Tingkeum and site assessments are planned.


III. MAIN CHALLENGES AND RESPONSE

The Head of the Provincial Education Office in NAD has outlined the 
government's immediate priorities for the education sector, as follows:

1) the physical reconstruction and rehabilitation of the education 
system,

2) the need to increase the quality of teaching as a foundation for 
quality education, and

3) increasing the capacity of education administrative and management 
systems.

UNICEF has signed an MoU with the National Ministry of Education to 
construct 300 schools in tsunami-affected areas, with total project 
costs estimated at USD90 million. The first session of joint 
teacher-training activities were completed on 9 April.

Water and sanitation assessments of TLCs and IDP camps have been 
conducted in Aceh Besar, Pidie and Beuren districts. Assessment of water 
tankering, de-sludging trucks and waste collection activities indicate 
that service levels are increasing but have not yet reached 100% 
coverage. UNICEF has also prepared tender documents for the construction 
of an interim landfill facility in Banda Aceh, which would receive solid 
waste collected from the city and temporary shelter sites. Interim and 
longer-term plans are being developed to restore the latrine/septic tank 
sludge disposal facility in Banda Aceh, which is critical to public 
health.

Education regarding natural disaster preparedness and response has been 
identified as a key need in NAD and North Sumatra. The coordination 
groups focusing on psychosocial issues in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh are 
preparing a leaflet on earthquake and tsunami information, preparedness 
and response, and will facilitate orientation activities for religious 
leaders to facilitate accurate distribution of natural disaster 
information to the community.


IV. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

The employment services maintain a gender focus with two on-going 
classes (computer skills and sewing) holding high female participation 
rates. Women now make up some 25% of the total number of people 
registered with the employment service. Starting from 14 April, a Train 
the Trainers session on the production of building materials will be 
held for women. Women in NAD traditionally make clay bricks within 
family businesses, with the extra skills training they will be in a 
position to supply building materials for the reconstruction effort and 
secure an income.


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

UN-HABITAT signed a private sector partnership agreement for USD500,000 
to help strengthen local authorities, the community and NGOs in the 
areas of health, poverty eradication, human rights, social integration 
and infrastructure.


II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

On 7 April UNHCR handed over a pilot project of 42 temporary houses to 
displaced families in Ampara District. The project is a precursor to the 
construction of 2,500 more shelters in Ampara District, to be erected at 
a rate of 500 per month. A further 1,500 temporary houses have been 
pledged by UNHCR if required. In Batticaloa District, 11,092 
semi-permanent shelters are scheduled for construction with a total of 
2,460 completed as of 6 April 2005.

In Kilinochchi, 75% of the displaced population now lives in 
transitional accommodation centres (TACs). Approximately 80% of the TAC 
shelters are completed in Vadamarachchi East, with 60% completed in 
Mullaitivu. However progress is slower in the rest of Jaffna District. 
The German NGO Malteser Hilfsdienst and UNICEF have made available at 
least 1,000 rain harvesting systems for use in permanent houses for 
tsunami survivors across the south.

The Business-for-Peace Alliance (BPA) -- a project supported by the 
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) -- organized a meeting in 
Batticaloa last week of private sector representatives and public sector 
officials to inform and guide member businesses that were among the 
worst affected by the tsunami. UNDP officials used the occasion to 
launch a Small and Medium Enterprise Credit Facilitation Project, 
initially among four of the regional chambers, to be extended 
island-wide in the future.

The renovation of a blood bank and an operation theatre at the District 
Hospital in Kilinochchi has begun. The hospital provided medical care to 
many tsunami-affected patients in December. ICRC is supporting the 
clinic with medical staff and UNICEF is providing equipment.

The Protection Task Force in Batticaloa has highlighted concern over the 
lack of cell phone and landline coverage in Vaharai, one of the most 
severely affected divisions in the district. This restricts 
communication with local authorities and beneficiaries and hampers the 
coordination of aid activities.

With increased fears of another tsunami, the NGO Solidar organized a 
seminar in Kilinochchi on the subject. The seminar targeted national and 
international staff working in Transitional TACs. An expert on early 
warning systems and tsunamis briefed the group.


III. MAIN CHALLENGES AND RESPONSE

In Trincomalee, unexpected rains during the past week resulted in poor 
conditions in tented camps. Rains flooded tents and campsites due to a 
lack of appropriate drainage. A few hundred families moved back into 
schools and further movements are expected if the rains continue. OXFAM 
and World Vision have begun distributing plastic sheeting, tinned foods, 
and water carriers. UN agencies and NGOs are meeting to discuss the 
distribution of non-food items given the possible increase in population 
movement if the rains continue.

Concern is being raised about the possibility of dengue fever given the 
wet conditions around camps. Action is being taken by the Deputy 
Provincial Director for Health Services in Galle to prevent dengue 
transmission.

The Batticaloa Shelter Task Force discussed the impact of recent rains 
and reported that many shelters were not waterproof. Community Habitat 
is continuing to upgrade and improve drainage for tent shelters in the 
worst affected camps from Hikkaduwa southward. Their quick impact 'Cash 
for Work' programme is currently employing 50 to 100 camp workers. 
Reports have also been received of transitional shelters being 
vandalized in Batticaloa. This is allegedly due to dissatisfied 
tsunami-affected people who feel that they should have been given 
priority for such housing.


IV. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

A lack of adequate land is hampering efforts to construct temporary 
shelters in Trincomalee District. There are allegations that the same 
plot of land has been assigned to different NGOs, and furthermore may 
have previously been allocated for other public services such as play 
grounds, schools and hospitals. UNHCR is working with the Divisional 
Secretariat Agent to find solutions to such land problems.

The Livelihoods Taskforce, comprised of government, UN agency and NGO 
representatives, established a working group on boat repair to identify 
agencies involved in boat and engine repair and bottlenecks, such as a 
lack of raw materials and skilled labour. The Taskforce will also design 
a system to ensure registration of all repaired boats with the 
Department of Fisheries, which is in the process of publishing a 
detailed list of damaged and destroyed fishing craft and fishing gear. 
Concerns have been raised that boat replacements are being constructed 
to pre-tsunami standards, which in most cases do not comply with 
international boat safety standards and may pose great safety risks.


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

Sir 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

The Minister of Planning informed that work was underway to ensure that 
all displaced and homeless people would be provided with permanent 
housing within the next two years. Currently, outside assistance has 
been secured to rebuild 2,455 homes. Approximately 13,000 people were 
left homeless as a result of the tsunami.

The Ministry of Fisheries has installed new Fish Aggregating Devices in 
9 parts of the country to replace devices that were severely damaged.


II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

In the past week and-a-half, UNDP has consolidated the Adopt-An-Island 
initiative and expanded its outreach to prospective donors. Eleven 
adoptions can be confirmed to date.

Seventy-three water tanks will be delivered to households in the Baa 
Atoll to harvest rainwater from the coming monsoon.

UNICEF and UNOPS representatives met with the Minister of Education last 
week to discuss a proposal for the reconstruction of 35 primary schools, 
21 pre-schools and a number of health centres. The expected kick-off of 
the project is end April or early May.

Participants from 5 islands completed the first training session for the 
operation and maintenance of desalination units. The second training 
session will take place towards the end of the week in Laamu atoll. Ten 
units provide water to approximately 18,000 beneficiaries. Nirosoft 
mobile boat mounted units have been deployed to provide water to several 
islands in Laamu and Thaa atolls where the breakdown of a desalination 
plant resulted in extreme water shortages.


III. MAIN CHALLENGES

Following allegations and reports of child abuse, gender-based violence 
and discrimination, representatives of UNICEF, UNFPA and OCHA discussed 
the incorporation of these issues into a training programme for managers 
of IDP camps and island office staff. Strategies will be further 
developed over the coming weeks.


IV. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

The UN Country Team has begun drafting a UN Recovery Strategy, which 
will fit into the National Recovery and Reconstruction Programme. An 
Infrastructure Specialist joined the Recovery Team on 10 April as part 
on ongoing efforts to strengthen capacity for prompt programme delivery.

At Oxfam's request OCHA took part in a meeting on 11 April to discuss 
irregularities in cash-for-work programmes. Lessons learned will be 
passed on to relevant UN agencies.


USEFUL WEBSITES

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

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


SEYCHELLES

I. SITUATION

According to the Ministry of Local Government, 952 families were 
displaced from their homes as a result of the tsunami. The majority of 
those displaced returned to their homes within days after the disaster. 
By the end of March 2005, 39 families whose dwellings were totally 
destroyed or partially damaged had not yet returned to their homes; many 
have temporarily resettled among relatives or are living in a community 
centre.

According to an FAO assessment, the livelihoods of at least 1,500 
families in the fishery and agricultural sectors are in jeopardy due to 
damage inflicted by the tsunami. Public infrastructure and facilities 
were also significantly damaged. Priorities for reconstruction and 
rehabilitation include two road bridges, 30 kilometres of roads, five 
electrical sub-stations, five schools, as well as water and sewer pipes.


II. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

In the districts affected by the disaster, authorities are still 
involved in small-scale rehabilitation activities with support from 
community-based emergency brigades. Such activities include cleaning 
drains and repairing retaining walls.

Based on assessments conducted during January and February, FAO and UNDP 
have revised their projects on livelihood support and rehabilitation and 
reconstruction of infrastructure, including roads and bridges, housing, 
public facilities and infrastructure presented in the Flash Appeal. 
These projects will complement government plans.


III. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

The Seychelles National Meteorological Service (SNMS) is finalising the 
preparation of a national action plan for establishing a national early 
warning system. The plan is based on a multi-hazard approach and is 
consistent with international strategies to develop a regional early 
warning system.  During recent months, the National Disaster Management 
Committee has taken steps to improve disaster preparedness and 
coordination. A Disaster Planning and Response Sub-Committee has been 
established to work on the preparation of a national disaster response 
plan (NDRP) over the course of the next four months. The work builds on 
findings from a support mission conducted by OCHA/UNEP.

As part of UN efforts to support national disaster management, UNDP/BCPR 
and OCHA conducted a joint mission from 21 and 24 March. The aim of this 
mission was to provide technical advice and recommendations on the 
process of establishing relevant early warning systems in the country 
and developing appropriate institutions for disaster risk management. A 
major output from this mission was the finalisation of a document to 
establish an early warning and disaster management project to be funded 
by UNDP.


SOMALIA

I. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

As of 10 April, UNHCR has distributed 4,760 blankets, 2,380 plastic 
sheets, 2,380 kitchen sets, 2,380 jerry cans, and 4,760 sleeping mats to 
2,380 families in the settlements of Hafun, Hurdia, Garaan, Foar, 
Barmadow, Bender Beyla, Eyl, Arris, Garacad and Kulub.


II. MAIN CHALLENGES

The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (Joint Unit) in Geneva continues to 
look into reported hazardous waste dumped along the Somalia coastline, 
which may have been negatively affected by the impact of the tsunami. 
The Joint Unit has worked closely with colleagues from UNDP, UNEP, WHO 
and other agencies to verify reports of toxic waste sites and try to 
determine specific areas of potential risk.  To date, no government or 
other source has been able to provide any information to confirm 
published reports or verify the presence of any specific waste risks. 
The Joint Unit remains on standby to deploy experts to Somalia in the 
event that sites are clearly identified, where specialized assessments 
and sampling could be carried out.


III. LINK BETWEEN EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

A joint technical assessment commenced on 30 March with two engineers 
from WFP and the government in Hafun to rehabilitate some 50 km between 
Fuar village and Hafun town. The project will be funded by WFP through 
the food-for-work programme.

Save the Children-UK (SC-UK) has started the implementation of its 
health and shelter programmes in Hafun.

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.

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. Rebecca Richards
     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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