US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO3

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
STATE FOR SA 
 
BANGKOK FOR OFDA TOM DOLAN 
 
GENEVA FOR UNOCHA AND IFRC NANCE KYLOH 
 
ROME PASS FODAG 
 
USAID FOR DCHA GREG GOTTLIEB, DCHA/OFDA MICHAEL MARX 
AND ROB THAYER, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI, ANE/AA BERNADETTE 
BUNDY 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, CE, Tsunami 
SUBJECT:  TFX001 - SRI LANKA TSUNAMI FINDINGS OF 
USAID/OFDA RAPID ASSESSMENT MISSION ALONG COASTAL 
DISTRICTS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. SUMMARY:  USAID/DART ASSESSMENT TEAMS HAVE 
COMPLETED ASSESSMENTS OF DAMAGE IN GALLE AND 
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICTS OF SRI LANKA, IN COORDINATION 
WITH A UNOCHA-FACILITATED ASSESSMENT IN NINE TSUNAMI 
AFFECTED DISTRICTS CIRCLING THE COAST.  IN BOTH 
DISTRICTS, ASSESSMENT TEAMS OBSERVED SIGNIFICANT 
DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF STRUCTURES ALONG THE COAST 
AND UP TO 1-KILOMETER INLAND.  SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT 
REPORTS AS OF 12/31/04, 1900 HRS OVER 3724 REGISTERED 
DEATHS AND 44582 PEOPLE DISPLACED IN GALLE DISTRICT. 
HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT REPORTS OVER 4500 REGISTERED 
DEATHS AND 32897 PEOPLE DISPLACED.  DISPLACED 
POPULATIONS ARE CURRENTLY STAYING IN OVER 250 RELIEF 
CENTERS IN THE TWO DISTRICTS.  LOCALLY ORGANIZED 
DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS ARE MEETING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS 
OF THE AFFECTED POPULATED FOR FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICAL 
SUPPLIES; THOUGH THE GREATEST REPORTED UNMET NEEDS ARE 
LACK OF SHELTERING MATERIALS AND GROSSLY INSUFFICIENT 
SANITATION FACILITIES.  URGENT ACTION IS REQUIRED TO 
ESTABLISH BASIC SANITATION SERVICES IN THE HUNDREDS OF 
RELIEF CENTERS IN ORDER TO PREVENT DISEASE OUTBREAKS. 
END SUMMARY 
 
 
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GALLE DISTRICT FINDINGS 
----------------------- 
 
2. AT THE TIME OF ASSESSMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN 
GALLE DISTRICT HAD NOT UNDERTAKEN A COMPREHENSIVE 
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF STRUCTURES.  HOWEVER, THOUSANDS 
OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, AND 
PRIVATE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED OR 
SUFFERED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.   THE GALLE TOWN 
MATERNITY HOSPITAL WAS GUTTED BY THE TSUNAMI WAVES AND 
HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR OPERATIONS.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS REPORT OVER 42000 PEOPLE (ESTIMATED 8400 
FAMILIES) HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY DISTRUCTION OF THEIR 
HOMES AND ARE CURRENTLY RESIDENT IN 160 LOCAL RELIEF 
CENTERS (PRIMARILY TEMPLES, MOSQUES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS 
AND OTHER FACILITIES). THE TRANSPORTATION 
INFRASTRUCTURE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE, WITH COMPLETE 
BRIDGE DISRUPTION IN THREE LOCATIONS AND TOTAL 
DESTRUCTION OF THE RAILROAD LINES ALONG MORE THAN 50 
KILOMETERS.  A FULLY LOADED PASSENGER TRAIN WAS STRUCK 
BY THE TSUNAMI WAVES NEAR HIKKADUWA TOWN, THROWING THE 
TRAIN OVER 100 METERS FROM THE TRACK AND KILLING OVER 
800 PASSENGERS.  MOST OF THE LOCAL GALLE COASTAL 
POPULATION ARE FISHERMEN, AND THEY HAVE SUFFERED 
SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC LOSS OF FISHING BOATS, NETS AND 
OTHER MATERIALS.  HUNDREDS OF BOATS AND TRAWLERS CAN 
BE OBSERVED ON THE LAND, MANY WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE, 
BUT OTHERS TOTALLY DESTROYED. 
 
3. A SIGNIFICANT OUTPOURING OF LOCALLY ORGANIZED AID 
SUPPLIES IS CURRENTLY REACHING AFFECTED PEOPLE IN 
GALLE DISTRICT, THOUGH THERE IS GENERAL LACK OF 
ORGANIZATION LEADING TO DUPLICATION AND GAPS OF 
COVERAGE.  THE ASSESSMENT TEAM OBSERVED NUMEROUS LOCAL 
AGENCIES AND SRI LANKAN CITIZENS COLLECTING AND 
DISTRIBUTING CLOTHING, WATER, NON-STANDARDIZED FOOD 
PARCELS, AND MEDICINES TO PEOPLE ALONG THE COASTAL 
HIGHWAY AND AT RELIEF CENTERS.  THERE ARE ALSO 
NUMEROUS LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TEAMS DRIVING 
AROUND THE DISTRICT STOPPING AT RELIEF CENTERS 
PROVIDING MEDICINES AND ASSISTANCE.  ACCORDING TO THE 
DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICIALS, THERE IS SUFFICIENT MEDICAL 
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLY OF MEDICINES TO COVER THE NEEDS 
OF BOTH EMERGENCY AND CHRONIC PATIENTS AT THIS TIME. 
 
4. THE LOCAL GALLE GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO BE EXTREMELY 
HARD AT WORK TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS, THOUGH THEY DO 
NOT SEEM TO BE CAPABLE OF ENFORCING A STRUCTURE TO 
COORDINATE ALL THE VARIOUS AID RESOURCES AND INTERESTS 
THAT ARE FLOODING IN.  DURING THE USAID ASSESSMENT 
VISIT, THE SENIOR GOVERNMENT AGENT AND OTHER HIGH 
LEVEL OFFICIALS WERE TAKING CONSIDERABLE TIME ARGUING 
OVER MICRO-LEVEL DECISIONS, RATHER THAN DELEGATING 
SUCH MATTERS. 
 
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HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT FINDINGS 
---------------------------- 
 
5. IN HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT, ALL FOUR DIVISIONS WITH 
COASTAL BORDERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THE 
TSUNAMI.  INITIAL REPORTS TAKEN FROM THE FOUR 
 
SIPDIS 
DIVISIONS (HAMBANTOTA, AMBALANTOTA, TISSAMAHARAMA, AND 
TANGALLA) ESTIMATE THAT OVER 6000 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN 
DESTROYED AFFECTING MORE THAN 80,000 PEOPLE (17,000 
FAMILIES).  THE AREA HARDEST HIT IN THE DISTRICT WAS 
HAMBANTOTA TOWN DUE IN LARGE PART TO ITS PROXIMITY TO 
THE COAST AND ITS LOW ELEVATION, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION 
OF WHICH LIES NEAR SEA LEVEL.  MANY OF THE DEATHS IN 
THE TOWN RESULTED FROM THE TSUNAMI ENGULFING A LARGE 
CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE NEAR THE TOWN'S COAST WHERE AN 
ESTIMATED 2500 PEOPLE HAD GATHERED FOR THE SUNDAY 
MARKET.  OVER 28,000 DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY 
LIVING IN 38 RELIEF CENTERS ESTABLISHED IN TEMPLES, 
SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND MOSQUES, AND OTHER CLEARED AREAS 
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. 
 
6. THE COASTAL HIGHWAY CONNECTING THE SOUTHERN PORTION 
OF THE DISTRICT SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE.  HOWEVER, 
VEHICLE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE AFFECTED AREAS IS 
LIMITED DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE DIRT PACKED FEEDER ROADS 
RUNNING TO THE COAST.  THE VAST MAJORITY OF VILLAGES 
AND TOWNS ALONG THE COAST WERE ENGAGED IN SOME FORM OF 
FISHING ACTIVITY AS THEIR MAIN LIVELIHOOD, MANY OF 
WHOM LIVED ON A SUBSISTENCE BASIS.  LOSS OF BOATS, 
NETS, AND OTHER FISHING EQUIPMENT DUE TO THE DISASTER 
WAS SEVERE LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SELF- 
SUSTAINING MEANS. 
 
7. DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONFINED NATURE OF THE 
DISASTER (AVERAGE OF 1 KM ALONG THE COAST), THOUSANDS 
OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE COASTAL ZONE AS WELL AS MANY 
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN 
RETRIEVAL, CLEAN-UP AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS, AND HAVE 
DONATED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FOOD, CLOTHES, 
MEDICINES, AND OTHER NON-FOOD ITEMS.  ACCORDING TO 
DIVISION OFFICIALS, MOST OF THE DONATIONS ARE BEING 
MADE DIRECTLY TO AFFECTED DIVISIONS RATHER THAN GOING 
THROUGH A CENTRAL COORDINATION CENTER.  THE ASSESSMENT 
TEAM OBSERVED MANY DONATIONS BEING MADE FROM PRIVATE 
VEHICLES DIRECTLY TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE LINING UP ALONG 
THE COASTAL HIGHWAY.  DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT 
OUTPOURING OF PRIVATE SUPPORT, LACK OF COORDINATION 
HAS RESULTED IN SHORTAGES OF SERVICE AND SUPPLIES TO 
SOME RELIEF CENTERS. 
 
8. THE LARGE VOLUME OF ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE 
RELIEF EFFORT IN THE DISTRICT HAS SEVERELY STRESSED 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPACITIES.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS 
TO COMMUNICATE AND COORDINATE WITH THOSE ENGAGING IN 
RELIEF EFFORTS HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY A LACK OF 
RELIABLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND POOR TELEPHONE 
SERVICE TO HAMBANTOTA TOWN AND THE DISTRICT 
SECRETARY'S OFFICE.  THE DISTRICT'S ABILITY TO COPE 
 
SIPDIS 
WITH THE EXPECTED INFLUX OF INTERNATIONAL RELIEF 
WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT IN MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AND 
FACILITIES IS CAUSE FOR SOME CONCERN. 
 
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COMMONALITY OF NEEDS IN AFFECTED AREAS 
-------------------------------------- 
 
9. IT IS CLEAR FROM REPORTS AND OBSERVATION THAT TENS 
OF THOUSANDS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SITUATED ALONG THE 
COAST UP TO ONE KILOMETER INLAND, PRIMARILY OF BRICK 
AND MORTAR CONSTRUCTION, HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED 
OR SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND ARE NOT LIVEABLE. 
THOUSANDS OF OTHER HOMES HAVE SUFFERED MINOR TO 
MODERATE DAMAGE.  NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT FACILITIES HAVE 
RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE.  GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LOCAL 
POPULATION HAS BEEN PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RECOVERY OF 
BODIES AND CLEARANCE OF MAJOR DEBRIS IN THE DAYS 
FOLLOWING THE TSUNAMI.  MOST DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE 
CURRENTLY MAKING EFFORTS TO ASSESS THEIR DAMAGE, CLEAN 
UP, AND RESTORE THEIR RESIDENCES WHERE POSSIBLE. 
THOSE WHO SUFFERED TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THEIR HOMES 
ARE CURRENTLY STAYING AT LOCAL RELIEF CENTERS, 
PRIMARILY PLACES OF WORSHIP AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. 
AT THESE CENTERS, THEY ARE RECEIVING AN OUTPOURING OF 
ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF 
FOOD, WATER, CLOTHING, MEDICINES, SANITARY SUPPLIES 
AND OTHER ITEMS.  THIS AID IS MEETING MUCH OF THE 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS, HOWEVER THIS AID IS SO FAR NOT 
CONSISTANTLY APPLIED AND IS NOT BEING COORDINATED, SO 
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE DUPLICATION IN SOME EASILY 
ACCESSIBLE AREAS, AND GAPS IN COVERAGE IN OTHERS.  IN 
GENERAL, IT IS OBSERVED BY THE ASSESSMENT TEAMS THAT 
THESE RELIEF CENTERS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE TOILETS, 
WASHING AREAS, AND OTHER SANITATION SYSTEMS TO MEET 
THE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION AND TO PREVENT 
THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. 
 
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HEALTH SECTOR 
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10.  IN THE TWO DISTRICTS VISITED BY THE ASSESSMENT 
TEAMS, IT WAS REPORTED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT 
CURRENT EMERGENCY AND CHRONIC HEALTH NEEDS ARE BEING 
MET BY EXISTING AND VOLUNTEER MEDICAL PERSONAL.  THERE 
HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLE DONATIONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES, 
WHICH MAY IN FACT HAVE ALREADY REACHED THE LEVEL OF 
OVERSUPPLY.  DOCTORS ARE NOT YET REPORTING CASES OF 
DIAHHREAL DISEASE, THOUGH THERE ARE REPORTED CASES OF 
CHEST AND OTHER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.  MANY PEOPLE 
WHO SURVIVED THE TSUNAMI SUFFERED CUTS AND OTHER 
LACERATIONS, WHICH HAVE INFECTION POTENTIAL DUE TO THE 
GENERAL UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AROUND.  DOCTORS 
EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF 
MALARIA AND DENGUE FEVER, WHICH ARE ENDEMIC IN SRI 
LANKA, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF DIAHHREAL 
DISEASE, ARI, AND CHICKEN POX OUTBREAKS. 
 
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WATER/SANITATION SECTOR 
----------------------- 
 
11. ALL ALONG THE COASTLINE THERE ARE POCKETS OF 
STAGNANT WATER WHICH WAS NOT EVACUATED BACK TO THE SEA 
DURING THE TSUNAMI.  SOME OF THESE WATER POCKETS HAVE 
HAD HUMAN CORPSES AND DEAD ANIMALS.  MOST OF THE 
COASTAL POPULATION HAVE WELLS FOR DRINKING WATER, 100% 
OF WHICH HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH SEA WATER WITHIN 
THE AFFECTED ZONE.  WELLS INLAND HAVE NOT BEEN 
CONTAMINATED AND ARE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING 
WATER CURRENTLY.  LOCAL WATER OFFICIALS REPORT THAT 
THERE ARE SUFFICIENT SOURCES OF WATER IN THE GROUND 
AQUIFER AND IN RESERVOIRS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE 
AFFECTED AND NON-AFFECTED POPULATIONS, THOUGH SOME OF 
THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY WATER PIPES HAVE BEEN 
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
 
12. DRINKING WATER IS CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED BY THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH WATER TRUCKS, THOUGH ONE 
OFFICIAL QUOTED THAT THE EXISTING RESOURCE OF TRUCKS 
AND TANKS IS ONLY 0NE-TENTH OF THE REQUIREMENT.  OTHER 
WATER DISTRIBUTION IS BEING CONDUCTED BY PRIVATE 
AGENCIES AND CITIZENS, THOUGH ON AN AD HOC BASIS.  IT 
IS APPARENT THAT SYSTEMATIC WATER DISTRIBUTION IS A 
REQUIREMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED 
POPULATION FOR THE COMING 2-3 MONTHS. 
 
13. THE SANITATION SITUATION IN MOST OF THE RELIEF 
CENTERS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.  MOST OF THE CENTERS, 
WHICH ARE HOSTING 300 TO OVER 1000 PEOPLE NIGHTLY, 
HAVE ONLY 1-3 TOILETS.  MOST PEOPLE ARE REPORTED USING 
OPEN LAND OR FOREST FOR DEFECATION.  ADDITIONALLY, 
MOST OF THE CENTERS DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN CAMP OR 
PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND AS SUCH HAVE NOT 
ESTABLISHED SEPERATED AREAS FOR COOKING, CLEANING, AND 
SLEEPING. 
 
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FOOD SECTOR 
----------- 
 
14. ALONG THE COASTAL STRIP, THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT 
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF PLANTING AND 
HARVESTING - THESE ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED FURTHER 
INLAND.  AS SUCH, PEOPLE HAVE NOT LOST LOCALLY 
AVAILABLE PRODUCTION.  HOWEVER, LOCAL FOOD STORES HAVE 
ALSO BEEN DAMAGED AND DESTROYED.  THE SURVIVING 
POPULATION IS CURRENTLY DEPENDING UPON FOOD PROVIDED 
BY NEAR COASTAL RESIDENTS WHO WERE NOT AFFECTED AND BY 
FOOD DONATIONS FROM AGENCIES AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES. 
THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS IT HAS BEGUN FOOD DISTRIBUTION 
AND THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM HAS DISTRIBUTED EXISTING 
STOCKS FROM ITS MAIN WAREHOUSE TO DISTRICT 
GOVERNMENTS.  AS OF THE TIME OF REPORTING, THIS FOOD 
HAD NOT REACHED THE AFFECTED POPULATION ASSESSED. 
LOCAL AFFECTED PEOPLE REPORT THAT FOOD SUPPLIES ARE 
EXTREMELY LIMITED, PERHAPS COVERING ONLY THE NEXT FEW 
DAYS. 
 
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LIVELIHOODS 
----------- 
 
15.  THE LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF THE 
COASTAL RESIDENTS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTED. 
MUCH OF THE FISHING FLEET HAS BEEN DAMAGED OR 
DESTROYED, ALONG WITH NETS AND OTHER MATERIALS. 
NEARLY ALL THE TOURIST HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER 
SERVICES HAVE RECEIVED DAMAGE, AND NEARLY 100% OF 
FOREIGN TOURISTS HAVE BY NOW LEFT THE COASTAL AREAS. 
MOST HOTELS WILL BE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR 
REPAIRS, MEANING THAT MANY SERVICE INDUSTRY PEOPLE NOT 
DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN RECONSTRUCTION WILL BE WITHOUT 
EMPLOYMENT. 
 
--------------------- 
INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE 
--------------------- 
 
16. IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE TO DOMESTIC RESIDENCES, 
THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE HAS RECEIVED 
MAJOR DAMAGE.  SERVICES WHICH ARE TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY 
DISRUPTED CURRENTLY INCLUDE: LANDLINE 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ALONG THE COAST, ELECTRICITY 
SERVICES, GOODS DELIVERY, MAIL AND POSTAL SERVICES, 
GARBAGE PICKUP AND DISPOSAL, AND LOCAL BUS 
TRANSPORTATION.  RAIL TRANSPORTATION IS STOPPED AND 
WILL REQUIRE TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION BEFORE OPERATIONS 
MAY RESUME. 
 
17.  ALTHOUGH A FULL INVENTORY OF PUBLIC SECTOR DAMAGE 
WAS NOT AVAILABLE, THERE ARE REPORTS OF MANY COASTAL 
SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND 
OTHER NON-DAMAGED SCHOOLS ARE SERVING AS RELIEF 
CENTERS.  REPORTS INDICATE MANY PUBLIC SECTOR 
OFFICIALS ALSO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TSUNAMI.  THESE 
INDICATE THAT IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT SCHOOL WILL NOT 
RESUME FOR COASTAL CHILDREN AS SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 5, 
2005. 
 
---------------------------- 
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
---------------------------- 
 
18.  FROM THE COMPARISON OF NOTES FROM BOTH ASSESSMENT 
TEAMS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER TEAMS 
VISITING OTHER COASTAL AREAS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE 
IS SIGNIFICANT COMMONALITY ABOUT THE NATURE, SCALE, 
AND DEGREE OF HUMAN IMPACT AND PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION 
ALONG THE COAST OF SRI LANKA.  THE MOST SIGNIFICANT 
POINTS TO BE DRAWN ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION ARE AS 
FOLLOWS: 
 
A. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED FROM 
THEIR HOMES DUE TO PARTIAL OR TOTAL DESTRUCTION AND 
THE VAST MAJORITY ARE STAYING AT LOCAL RELIEF CENTERS 
(TEMPLES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, ETC). 
 
B. THERE IS AN OUTPOURING OF LOCAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR 
SPONSORED RELIEF ASSISTANCE WHICH IS MEETING THE 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED FOR FOOD, WATER, AND 
MEDICINE. 
 
C. UNMET NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION INCLUDE 
SHELTERING MATERIALS, WATER SUPPLY CONTAINERS, 
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND MOSQUITO NETS. 
 
D. THE SANITATION SERVICES OF NEARLY ALL RELIEF 
CENTERS ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE, AND LACK OF PROPER 
SANITATION MAY LIKELY CONTRIBUTE TO POTENTIAL 
OUTBREAKS OF DIAHHREA, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, AND 
OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 
 
E. THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA AT BOTH NATIONAL AND 
LOCAL LEVELS APPEARS TO BE STRETCHED TO THE BREAKING 
POINT TO COPE WITH BOTH THE SCALE OF THE DISASTER AND 
THE INFLUX OF RELIEF AGENCIES AND SUPPLIES. 
 
F.  INTERMEDIATE AND LONGER TERMS SOLUTIONS TO THE 
SITUATION OF DISPLACEMENT MUST INVOLVE REBUILDING OF 
KEY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, RECONSTRUCTION OF HOMES AND 
DWELLINGS, WATER QUALITY SERVICES TO PUMP OUT 
SALINATED WELLS, AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE TO KEY 
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FISHING. 
 
G. GIVEN THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF SO MANY COASTAL 
RESIDENTS WHO SUFFERED LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND 
HOMES, AS WELL AS SURVIVAL EXPERIENCES, IT IS 
RECOMMENDED TO HAVE PSYCHO-SOCIAL GRIEF AND TRAUMA 
COUNSELING SERVICES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. 
 
LUNSTEAD