US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO252

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 000252 
 
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 #12 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  From January 21 to 26, the USAID/Disaster 
Assistance Response Team (DART) Water and 
Sanitation Officer (WSO) traveled to 
Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota, 
Matara, and Galle districts to meet with 
implementing partners and visit internally 
displaced person (IDP)camps.  The USAID/DART WSO 
observed that there is in some instances weak 
coordination between Government of Sri Lanka 
(GOSL) officials and non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) and among NGOs working in a 
district or sector.  The USAID/DART WSO stated 
that the lack of clarity regarding where IDPs 
will be allowed to rebuild their homes is 
reportedly delaying efforts to build 
transitional shelters.  The USAID/DART WSO 
observed a lack of sanitation facilities 
throughout the assessment, and in many places 
the number of latrines did not meet 
International Sphere Standards (at least one 
toilet per 20 persons).  End Summary. 
 
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Current Situation in Trincomalee 
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2.  On January 21, the USAID/DART WSO traveled 
to Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka and met with 
a water and sanitation official and the Mutur 
office representative of the International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).  The water 
and sanitation official stated that coordination 
was lacking and hampering the relief activities 
in Trincomalee.  IDPs affected by the earthquake 
and tsunamis are awaiting information from GOSL 
officials regarding where they will be 
relocated; however, a plan had not yet been made 
public. 
 
3.  The GOSL and the Sri Lankan Army are 
responsible for tankering water to camps where 
ICRC is working.  ICRC, in conjunction with the 
Sri Lankan Red Cross (SLRC), is opening a mobile 
health clinic scheduled to begin service during 
the week of January 31. 
 
4.  The USAID/DART WSO also met with the U.N. 
Children's Fund (UNICEF) who has worked with NGO 
World University Service Canada (WUSC) to clean 
approximately 25 wells.  UNICEF has developed a 
system of prioritizing wells to be cleaned and a 
method of pumping the wells to minimize damage 
to the aquifer.  WUSC will hold a technical 
meeting to share this information with NGOs 
during the week of January 31.  There are 
currently only three water quality testing labs 
in the Trincomalee District, located at the 
National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) 
in Kantale, Action Against Hunger (ACF) in 
Mutur, and Oxfam in Trincomalee. 
 
5.  UNICEF has ordered 36 chlorine test kits for 
the public health inspectors (PHI), and there 
are currently 42 PHIs working in Trincomalee 
District, but not all PHIs participate in field 
work.  The PHIs will receive training when the 
chlorine kits arrive at the end of January. 
Fecal coliform testing is still needed, and the 
USAID/DART WSO suggested that UNICEF should work 
with ACF and Oxfam to conduct fecal coliform 
testing until well cleaning and disinfection had 
been completed.  UNICEF has purchased 450 squat 
plates and 75-1,000 liter water storage tanks 
and has been involved with latrine design.  The 
USAID/DART WSO reported that public latrines are 
full and additional pumper trucks are needed. 
Two additional units have been ordered and are 
scheduled to arrive in late February.  [Note: 
The USAID/DART WSO will follow up on the 
provision of extra trucks for Trincomalee 
District with the Ministry of Urban Development 
and Water Supply (MUDWS) in Colombo.  End Note.] 
 
6.  The USAID/DART WSO also met with an ACF 
water and sanitation engineer and discussed 
latrine use.  The ACF engineer stated that 
greatest concern is hygiene, and latrines have 
been constructed but are not being used.  ACF 
has health education and hygiene promotion 
programs which will be reinforced to encourage 
hygiene practices.  [Note:  USAID/OFDA has 
provided USD 403,763 to ACF for water and 
sanitation activities and emergency relief 
supplies in Trincomalee, Mullaittivu, and Jaffna 
districts.  End Note.] 
 
7.  The USAID/DART WSO stated that at a water 
and sanitation meeting in Trincomalee, NGOs 
decided that one NGO should be responsible for 
each affected division's coordination, 
reporting, and monitoring.  This lead NGO is not 
responsible for conducting all activities, but 
will ensure that safe drinking water and 
latrines are provided, waste disposal is 
adequate, and that PHIs and health promotion 
activities are coordinated.  The NGOs were 
appointed to cover activities in the following 
areas:  Mutur and Seruvila/ACF, 
Echilampathu/ICRC, Kinniya/Oxfam, Town & 
Gravets/UNICEF, Kuchchaveli North/Zoa Refugee 
Care, and Kuchchaveli South/Danish Refugee 
Council (DRC). 
 
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USAID/DART Visit to Trincomalee IDP Centers 
------------------------------------------- 
 
8.  On January 22, the USAID/DART WSO visited 
the Alaska Garden IDP camp housing 150 families 
near Trincomalee town.  The Alaska Garden camp 
is located in a school and plastic sheeting had 
been provided for shelter, but the area had been 
flooded by recent rains, and much standing water 
was observed.  In the camp, 12 latrines are 
available for use, and the urban council employs 
2 people to clean the latrines daily.  The 
USAID/DART WSO observed that although the 
facilities were clean, a child was observed 
using the adjacent field for defecation.  [Note: 
USAID/DART WSO believes that residents of the 
camp may not be accustomed to using latrines. 
End Note.]   Water is available in a U.N. High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) tanker, and no 
chlorine residual was detected.  The USAID/DART 
WSO reported that the GOSL has not offered any 
housing options to the IDPs in the camp. 
 
9.  The USAID/DART WSO visited an IDP camp in 
West Mutur located in the Habeeb Nadar School. 
According to the USAID/DART WSO, 108 families or 
702 people live at the camp.  The GOSL provides 
food rations to the camp, and IDPs cook their 
own food.  The USAID/DART WSO observed that an 
open dug well is used to provide water for 
washing.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides 
drinking water in two 1,000 liter tanks that are 
filled twice a day (5.7 liters per person per 
day), and chlorine residual was detected. 
 
10.  The USAID/DART WSO reported that eight 
latrines are available at the camp in West 
Mutur, and this is below International Sphere 
Standards (1 toilet per 87 people and 
International Sphere Standards are 1 toilet per 
20 people).  The USAID/DART WSO observed that 
the liquid level was approximately eight inches 
from the top of the latrine open pit. 
 
11.  The USAID/DART WSO reported that the IDPs 
in this camp have been told that they must leave 
the school by January 25.  During the visit the 
Italian NGO Intersos was delivering kitchen 
sets, and the Intersos representative stated 
that they were working to provide transitional 
shelters for the IDPs, but they had not yet 
determined what type of shelter would be 
provided.  Land had been provided by the mosque, 
and the location was said to be acceptable to 
the IDPs.  Government land had been identified 
for temporary housing but was not acceptable as 
people wanted to be near the coast. 
 
12.  The camp representative indicated that 
medical services were adequate, and teams came 
in approximately every other day to provide 
health care. 
 
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CRS' Activities in Batticaloa 
------------------------------- 
 
13.  On January 23, the USAID/DART WSO traveled 
from Habarana to Batticaloa and met with the 
base manager for the Catholic Relief Services 
(CRS) shelter program.  USAID/Office of U.S. 
Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) implementing 
partner CRS is responsible for providing shelter 
in 2 of the 10 affected divisions of Batticaloa 
District (out of 14 divisions total).  There are 
16 transit camps in the 2 divisions of 
Araympathy (primarily Hindu) and Katankudy 
(primarily Muslim).  The earthquake and tsunamis 
affected approximately 10,000 families, and an 
estimated 1,000 families are living in 
transitional housing in the camp areas in 
Batticaloa. 
 
14.  The USAID/DART WSO reported that no 
shelters have been constructed yet, and it is 
estimated that it will take approximately two 
days for teams of five to six people to erect 
one transitional shelter.  Animators, or 
trainers, will assist with relocation and 
technical trainers will assist with 
construction.  Construction is expected to 
employ cash-for-work laborers, particularly 
carpenters.  CRS will provide a standard set of 
materials for transitional housing kits, 
including the timber frames.  The NWSDB and 
UNICEF are responsible for activities in the 
areas of water, sanitation, and garbage 
disposal. 
 
15.  The USAID/DART WSO also visited an IDP camp 
at Puthukudiyiruppu School in Batticaloa. 
Approximately 165 families are currently living 
at the camp, down from an initial 700 families. 
There are three 1,000 liter tanks with drinking 
water and one dug well for washing.  UNICEF 
coordinated water tankering with the NWSDB, and 
residual chlorine was detected.  There are eight 
toilets available, and they are clean and in 
good condition; however, the USAID/DART WSO was 
told that people are defecating outdoors.  The 
SLRC staff is conducting a health 
education/hygiene promotion program as many 
people have not previously used latrines. 
 
16.  The USAID/DART reported that residents at 
the camp in Puthukudiyiruppu School will be 
moved to the Ayuredic Hospital which is located 
within two km of the school.  Land behind the 
hospital has been designated for temporary and 
transitional shelters, and 65 shelters were 
planned for this area.  Latrines are planned for 
every four to five families, and water will be 
tankered. 
 
17.  The USAID/DART WSO also visited Selvangar 
East where there are approximately 128 families 
or 425 people and Araympathy East which houses 
approximately 76 families.  These camps are 
located adjacent to one another, and shelter 
consists of a variety of tents and plastic 
sheeting.  There are 24 latrines under 
construction at the camp, (one latrine per 40 
people which is below International Sphere 
Standards), but none were available at the time 
of the USAID/DART WSO's visit.  The USAID/DART 
WSO stated that IDPs are using the nearby field 
for defecation.  The USAID/DART WSO observed 
five to six watering points, and UNICEF is 
coordinating water tankering.  The USAID/DART 
WSO noted that washing areas will be located 
near existing wells which had not been cleaned 
or disinfected but were covered. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
GOAL's Activities in Hambantota District 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
18.  On January 24, the USAID/DART WSO met with 
USAID/OFDA implementing partner GOAL in 
Ambalantota in Hambantota District.  GOAL is 
working in four divisions in Hambantota District 
and will construct 1,000 shelters.  The shelters 
are estimated to last for two to three years, 
and consist of a wood frame construction with 
corrugated metal roofing, USAID/OFDA plastic 
sheeting, and concrete footings to anchor the 
structure.  GOAL estimated that four teams of 
four people will be available to construct 
shelters once land and families are identified. 
GOAL stated that it will take each team a half 
day to build one shelter.  The USAID/DART WSO 
reported that families who receive these 
shelters are asked to assist with site clearing 
and the construction. 
 
19.  The USAID/DART WSO stated that GOAL also 
has active cash-for-work and quick impact 
projects in Hambantota District and is 
considering additional projects.  These 
additional activities include a Kalamatiya 
fisheries cooperative to repair fishing boats, 
cleaning canals in areas that are prone to 
flooding, and working in a rice research center 
to employ rice farmers.  The damage to the rice 
crop has left many rice farmers unemployed, and 
it was estimated that it will take approximately 
six months for the conditions in the rice 
paddies to return to a state that will support 
the growth of rice.  GOAL has also distributed 
several sewing machines, and workers are being 
paid to sew mosquito nets which are distributed 
to those affected by the earthquake and 
tsunamis. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
20.  The USAID/DART WSO visited the site of a 
GOAL cash-for-work program that had been 
implemented at Pulinathalaramaya and Gangaramaya 
Temples in Malpetawa.  Under this cash-for-work 
program, workers were paid 350 rupees per day to 
remove sand and debris. 
 
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Christian Children's Fund Activities in Matara 
District 
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21.  On January 25, the USAID/DART WSO met with 
USAID/OFDA implementing partner Christian 
Children's Fund (CCF) in Matara District.  The 
USAID/DART WSO reported that due to the large 
number of organizations working in Matara 
District, coordination has been challenging. 
CCF is working in Wehella, Papithegama South, 
and Weligama in Matara District.  CCF has 
identified the following needs that it plans to 
meet through its programs:  the cleaning and 
rehabilitation of schools and preschools, 
plumbing, latrine rehabilitation, garbage/solid 
waste removal, and the provision of safe 
drinking water from community taps to homes. 
CCF is also considering supplying water 
containers for families that do not have piped 
water. 
 
LUNSTEAD