US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO147

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000147 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
STATE FOR TSUNAMI TASK FORCE 1 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, 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 FOR J3/J4/POLAD 
USEU PASS USEC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, AEMR, PREL, PGOV, CE, MV, Maldives, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS: 
USAID/DART SITREP #2 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  According to the Maldives National Disaster 
Management Center (NDMC), as of January 18, the 
earthquake and tsunamis killed 82 people and 26 
residents are missing.  A key priority is to re-equip 
and repair health centers.  The U.S. Military's primary 
objective in Maldives is to provide potable water to 
Laamu and Dhaalu Atolls, benefiting approximately 
14,500 people.  Psycho-social support is being provided 
on 62 islands in 14 atolls.  The USAID/Disaster 
Assistance Response Team (DART) reported that there are 
currently 6,678 people displaced in Maldives, and 
infrastructure damage assessments have been completed 
on 68 islands.  The World Bank, in conjunction with 
other organizations, conducted an assessment and 
concluded that the earthquake and tsunamis caused the 
greatest damage in the tourism, housing, and fishing 
sectors in Maldives.  End summary. 
 
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Death Tolls 
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2.  According to the NDMC, as of January 18, the 
earthquake and tsunamis killed 82 people and 26 
residents are missing. 
 
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Current Situation and Needs 
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3.  The USAID/DART Field Officer (FO) in Male', 
Maldives (FO) reported that rehabilitation and 
reconstruction is underway, and the priority is on 
targeting assistance.  General relief distributions are 
not required.  The USAID/DART FO noted that at the 
present, the key issue is to re-equip the health 
sector, including infrastructure repairs and the 
acquisition of equipment.  The Government of the 
Republic of Maldives' (GORM) long-standing strategy to 
consolidate the population of Maldives on a more 
limited number of islands must be harmonized with a 
quote safe islands end quote analysis.  This quote safe 
islands end quote initiative will include the 
relocation of people and construction of mitigation 
infrastructure. 
 
 
4.  The USAID/DART FO stated that despite difficulties, 
shipments of relief supplies are being transported; 
however, greater inter-sectoral coordination is 
necessary to plan transport and ensure maximum 
efficiency. 
 
5.  The Ministry of Social Security is providing cash 
grants to people who sustained damage to their 
properties based upon three tiers:  whether their 
houses were completely destroyed and there was loss of 
all property; partially destroyed and loss of all 
property; or sustained minimal damage, with loss of 
most essential items. 
 
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Coordination with U.S. Military 
--------------------------------- 
 
6.  The USAID/DART FO has been coordinating extensively 
with the U.S. Military to facilitate the U.S. 
Military's mission in Maldives.  The primary objective 
of the U.S. Military mission is to provide potable 
water to the following atolls/islands that were 
prioritized by the GORM:  Isdhoo, Kalaidhoo, Gan, 
Fonadhoo, Mundoo, Dhanbidhoo, and Maabaidhoo in Laamu 
Atoll, as well as, Kudahuvadhoo, Gemendhoo, Vaanee, 
Rinbudhoo, Maaenboodhoo, and Hulhudheli in Dhaalu 
Atoll.  The U.S. Military's mission will serve 
approximately 14,500 people. 
 
7.  According to the USAID/DART FO, two marine pre- 
positioning vessels are estimated to arrive in Maldives 
on January 20.  The vessels will travel directly to 
Laamu Atoll and will not come to Male'.  The USAID/DART 
FO reported that in the water and sanitation sector, 
water storage on the islands is a bigger problem than 
water production. 
 
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Health 
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8.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) has prepared a list of 
health centers that require equipment and repairs.  The 
USAID/DART FO reported that there are no significant 
health problems, and a disease surveillance system is 
in place to monitor the outbreaks of communicable 
diseases and respond to emergency health needs. 
 
9.  The International Federation of Red Cross and Red 
Crescent Societies (IFRC), American Red Cross, and 
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are providing 
psycho-social support on 62 islands in 14 atolls.  The 
U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) will be providing 
additional personnel to work on the psycho-social 
issue.  The Ministry of Education has also requested 
training for teachers in psycho-social support. 
 
10.  The USAID/DART FO reported that corpses are 
washing ashore in Maldives from Sri Lanka, and this has 
raised concerns in the Maldivian population about the 
safety of fish consumption.  WHO, in conjunction with 
the MOH, is working on an information campaign to 
counteract this misperception about the safety of fish 
consumption. 
 
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Shelter 
---------------------- 
 
11.  The USAID/DART FO met with a member of the World 
Bank assessment team.  The World Bank's focus in 
Maldives is short-term needs, housing construction, and 
the continuation/acceleration/expansion of a quote safe 
islands end quote initiative. 
 
12.  The USAID/DART FO reported that there are 
currently 6,678 people displaced in Maldives, down from 
15,000 displaced residents post-tsunami.  To date, 
infrastructure damage assessments have been completed 
on 68 islands.  The USAID/DART FO reported that 
geologic studies are required as settling of the ground 
is occurring. 
 
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Communications and Electricity 
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13.  The USAID/DART FO reported that two islands are 
currently without communications.  In the electricity 
sector, 11 Royal Navy engineers are partnering with the 
Maldivian State Electric Company to repair 16 
generators on several islands that were damaged by the 
earthquake and tsunamis.  The IFRC has supplied 17 
generators, and 14 have been dispatched to the islands. 
IFRC will also provide seven additional generators. 
 
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Education 
----------------- 
 
14.  According to the USAID/DART FO, the earthquake and 
tsunamis destroyed 20 percent of 322 primary schools. 
 
SIPDIS 
Repairs are currently underway in seven schools.  The 
USAID/DART FO noted that 80 percent of teachers are 
expected to be available for the beginning of the 
school year on January 25, and textbook distribution is 
expected to be completed by January 23. 
 
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Joint World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), 
U.N., and Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
(JBIC) 
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15.  The WB, ADB, U.N., and JBIC recently conducted a 
joint mission to assess the damage caused by the 
tsunami and evaluate recovery needs.  According to the 
 
SIPDIS 
assessment, total damages are estimated to range from 
USD 345 million dollars to USD 385 million, close to 55 
percent of gross domestic product.  The assessment team 
estimated that direct damage is USD 244 million, and 
the remaining amount is indirect damage.  The biggest 
losses were in the tourism, housing, and fishing 
sectors.  Employment in Maldives has been adversely 
affected by the low tourism occupancy rates, and the 
loss of fishing vessels, equipment, and agricultural 
lands. 
 
16.  According to the preliminary assessment, the 
earthquake and tsunamis completely destroyed 1,700 
houses and partially damaged 3,000 houses. 
 
LUNSTEAD