US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO224

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 COLOMBO 000224 
 
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, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA - EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMIS:  USAID/DART 
SITREP #11 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  As of January 25, according to the Center for National 
Operations (CNO), the earthquake and tsunamis had killed 
30,957 people in Sri Lanka.  USAID/Office of U.S. Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) implementing partner Community 
Habitat Finance International (CHF) is constructing 3,500 
transitional shelters in 3 divisions of Galle and Matara 
districts over the next 6 months.  The transfer of authority 
for water distributions in Galle from the U.S.  Military to 
the Galle Water Board continues as planned, with the 
complete transfer expected to take place on January 28.  The 
U.N. World Food Program (WFP) is conducting needs 
assessments in Sri Lanka.  End summary. 
 
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Death Tolls 
---------------------------- 
 
2.  The CNO, which is responsible for the overall 
coordination of the relief effort in Sri Lanka, reports that 
as of January 25 at 1600 hours local time, the earthquake 
and tsunamis had killed 30,957 people, injured 15,196 
residents, displaced 502,456 persons, completely damaged 
78,407 houses, and partially damaged 41,097 houses. 
Currently there are 5,644 persons missing.  According to the 
CNO, there are 320 camps housing displaced persons.  [Note: 
The significant increase in the number of displaced persons 
is due to the fact that previous CNO's figures did not 
include complete numbers for displaced persons in Galle 
District.  The numbers of displaced persons for Ampara 
District have not been included in the total number of 
displaced persons, so it is anticipated that this number may 
also increase.  End Note.] 
 
3.  The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) also 
reports that the Sri Lankan Police and local Government 
Agents use two differing systems to report numbers of dead, 
missing, and displaced persons, and this has led to a 
discrepancy in numbers. 
 
 
 
 
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Community Habitat Finance International:  Working to Rebuild 
Homes and Communities in Galle and Matara districts 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
4.   According to USAID/OFDA implementing partner CHF,  more 
than  55  families displaced by the December earthquake  and 
tsunamis  have been residing in close quarters for over  one 
 
SIPDIS 
month at the Kurup Kanda Temple in Hikkaduwa.  One fisherman 
in the camp advised CHF that quote tensions are running high 
with everyone still living in tents and now we are ready  to 
move  into  a more permanent house so that we can return  to 
our work end quote. 
 
5.   CHF will provide residents of this site and other sites 
in  Galle  and  Matara  districts with sturdy,  transitional 
housing  units,  in  an  effort to  restore  some  sense  of 
normalcy  back  into  people's lives.  In  mid-January,  CHF 
built  the  first  transitional shelter prototype  at  Kurup 
Kanda  Temple.   In  existence for less  than  a  week,  the 
prototype  is already serving as a multi-purpose center  for 
mobile  health clinics, as a distribution site for food  and 
emergency  relief  supplies, and  as  a  clearing  site  for 
incoming donations to the Kurup Kanda Temple camp. 
 
6.  CHF reported that internally displaced persons (IDPs) at 
the  camp have provided positive feedback about the  shelter 
unit, which provides more than 200 square feet of space  per 
family,  which  exceeds international Sphere  standards  for 
emergency housing.  One resident who has been staying in the 
camp  since  the  tsunami struck stated  quote  I  like  the 
shelter  because it provides a clean floor for  my  baby  to 
play  on - it is safer than the tent and more of a home  for 
my family end quote. 
 
7.   Designed locally by the CHF/Sri Lanka team, the shelter 
units  are  constructed with low-cost,  reusable  materials. 
Families will have the ability to adapt the standard  design 
to  their  own needs, by adding interior dividing units  and 
semi-permanent  walls.   Once families  construct  permanent 
homes, the shelters can be disassembled and the materials re- 
used or sold. 
 
8.   Interactive training sessions will introduce members of 
the   community   to  construction  techniques.    Materials 
including  steel  tubes, corrugated  aluminum  roofing,  and 
cement  for the shelter base will be distributed to families 
in  several  stages  over  the  coming  weeks.   While  most 
families will construct their own shelters, some of the more 
vulnerable  families, such as female-headed  households  and 
those   with  elderly  residents,  will  be  provided   with 
construction assistance. 
 
9.   CHF  will  construct 3,500 transitional shelters  in  3 
divisions  of Galle and Matara districts over the  coming  6 
months.  With its local non-governmental organization  (NGO) 
partner, the Arthacharya Foundation, CHF will also implement 
quick-impact  projects in tandem with shelter  construction, 
to  positively affect the physical and social infrastructure 
of  communities  in  tsunami-affected areas.  Projects  will 
include  activities such as: latrine construction, provision 
of water pumps, construction of childrens' play areas, clean- 
up   projects,  solid  waste  management  and  support   for 
livelihood activities. 
 
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Situation in Galle 
--------------------- 
 
10.  On January 24, a USAID/DART Military Liaison Officer 
(MLO) visited Galle to coordinate activities with the U.S. 
Military.  The USAID/DART MLO reported that an NGO, the 
Maltese Order, has donated 5 additional trucks to the Galle 
Water Board, which now has access to an additional 9 trucks, 
for a total of 14.  The German NGO, Technisches Hilfswerk 
(THW) has inspected and sanitized the trucks.  The Indian 
Military is completing repairs to the main water line that 
runs north of Galle town.  The transfer of authority for 
water distributions in Galle from the U.S.  Military to the 
Galle Water Board continues as planned, with the complete 
transfer expected to take place on January 28. 
 
11.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) is coordinating latrine 
construction at schools that will be undertaken by 
USAID/OFDA implementing partners the U.N. Children's Fund 
(UNICEF) and World Vision. 
 
12.  According to the USAID/DART MLO, IDPs must currently 
obtain three signatures from authorized officials to leave 
an IDP camp in order to maintain their eligibility for 
ration cards.  Some questions are being raised about the 
equity of this control system.  [Note:  The USAID/DART MLO 
will follow-up on this issue.  End Note.] 
 
13.  USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) 
continues work on a USAID/OFDA-funded cash-for-work debris 
removal project north of Galle.  On January 25, the project 
employed 1,000 persons to clear and separate debris on 
private and public lands.  The Road Development Authority is 
performing continual road clearing both north and south of 
Galle city.  As of January 25, there are 40 camps in the 
Galle area, and the number of camps is reducing daily. 
 
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Food 
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14.  According to the CNO, adequate stocks of food are 
available at the district level.  The Ministry of Relief, 
Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation and Ministry of Social 
Welfare continue to transport basic commodities to the 
districts.  The USAID/DART reported that WFP is fully 
resourced to supply food to 750,000 beneficiaries until June 
30.  WFP is currently undertaking a needs assessment, and 
there may be changes in targeting based upon this 
assessment.  WFP, in conjunction with UNICEF, is also 
carrying out a rapid nutritional status assessment of 
children.  Starting January 25, WFP is initiating a 
supplementary feeding program for expectant and nursing 
mothers and children under 10 years of age.  The CNO stated 
that the types of protein in the diet of IDPs needs to be 
improved, and WFP is examining alternative sources of 
protein. 
 
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Protection 
----------------------- 
 
15.  The CNO reports that the issue of unaccompanied 
children remains a concern, and the registration of 
unaccompanied and separated children continues at the 
district level.  The CNO is currently attempting to register 
those children who were not registered during the first 
phase of registration and are not living in the camps.  The 
CNO stated that a few cases of sexual abuse in IDP camps 
were reported, but not officially.  The CNO has requested 
that the Police Department set up a unit at the National 
Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to investigate these 
complaints.  The Womens' and Childrens' Bureau of the police 
is also responding to complaints.  The CNO has also issued 
instructions to relevant GOSL authorities to take action to 
register all orphans and prevent the trafficking of 
children.  [Note:  USAID/OFDA has provided USD 350,000 to 
the American Center for International Labor for 
psychological and social support, including anti-trafficking 
and USD 500,000 to UNICEF for child protection and 
psychological and social activities.  End Note.] 
 
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Praise  for  USAID/OFDA's Efforts in the  Micro-finance 
Sector 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
16.   On January 25, the USAID/Colombo Mission Director 
attended  a  meeting at the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's 
Office  that  included  heads of District  Chambers  of 
Commerce, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, 
donors,  and  GOSL  officials.  The  Sri  Lankan  Prime 
Minister  is extremely interested in micro, small,  and 
medium  enterprises  and  would  like  to  revive  this 
sector.  However, many small and micro  businesses  are 
unable  to obtain credit since they have no collateral. 
The  Prime  Minister  upon hearing  about  USAID/OFDA's 
programs in this sector congratulated the USAID/Colombo 
Mission Director on the USAID/OFDA funded cash-for-work 
and livelihoods projects currently underway. 
 
17.   The Prime Minister and meeting participants  were 
extremely  impressed that USAID/OFDA programs  in  this 
area  were currently operating on-the-ground and aiding 
survivors  of  the earthquake and tsunamis.   The  fact 
that  USAID/OFDA's  programs combine  relief,  shelter, 
livelihoods, and microfinance has made an impact on how 
quickly  assistance can be rendered after  a  disaster. 
On January 27, USAID/OFDA contributed an additional USD 
6  million to Nathan Associates who are working to help 
families,  communities,  and  small  businesses  regain 
their lost livelihoods through micro-credit schemes and 
other targeted assistance. This additional funding will 
exponentially expand activities to address the battered 
small and medium enterprise sector in affected areas. 
 
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USAID/DART Staffing 
--------------------- 
 
18.  As of January 27, there are 12 members of the 
USAID/DART in Sri Lanka and Maldives.  Of the 12 USAID/DART 
members, one individual is in Galle and another team member 
is in Male', Maldives. 
 
ENTWISTLE