US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO696

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 COLOMBO 000696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
USAID/W FOR A/AID ANDREW NATSIOS, JBRAUSE 
DCHA/OFDA KISAACS, GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, 
BDEEMER 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA 
DCHA/FFP FOR LAUREN LANDIS 
DCHA DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR WILLIAM 
GARVELINK 
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 #19 
 
REF:  COLOMBO 646 
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Summary 
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1.  From April 5 to April 7, the USAID/Disaster 
Assistance Response Team (DART) Information Officer 
(IO) and a USAID/Colombo Foreign Service National 
(FSN) assisting the USAID/DART visited USAID/Office 
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) 
implementing partners in Galle and Matara in 
southern Sri Lanka.  The team visited the 
International Federation of Red Cross and Red 
Crescent Societies (IFRC), the U.N. Children's Fund 
(UNICEF), the International Organization for 
Migration (IOM), Save the Children-United Kingdom 
(SC-UK), GOAL, Community Habitat Finance (CHF), and 
Christian Children's Fund (CCF) to discuss 
USAID/OFDA-funded programs including emergency 
relief supplies, livelihoods, psychological and 
social activities, and transitional shelter. 
 
-------------------------- 
IFRC's Programs in Galle 
-------------------------- 
 
2.  On April 5, the USAID/DART IO and USAID/Colombo 
FSN met with USAID/OFDA implementing partner IFRC 
in their warehouse in Galle which is the commodity 
shipment point for their southern operations 
(southern Sri Lanka to Hambantota).  IFRC has four 
warehouses that are located in Galle, Ratnapura 
(Ratnapura District), Ampara District, and Colombo. 
Most of IFRC's relief supplies arrive in Galle via 
Colombo.  Between January 5 and March 23, IFRC 
distributed relief supplies, including blankets, 
family tents, hygiene kits, 10 and 20 liter jerry 
cans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, bedsheets, sleeping 
mats, saris, sarongs, mosquito nets, laundry soap, 
baby kits, ropes, women's underwear, lamps, and 
cookers and kerosene at 178 sites in Galle, Matara, 
and Hambantota assisting 48,287 families or 208,170 
persons.  [Note:  IFRC uses the figure of 4.31 for 
family size.  Exact totals of individual items 
distributed are available if necessary, and these 
figures only cover IFRC's activities in southern 
Sri Lanka.  End Note.] 
 
3.  IFRC continues to distribute USAID/OFDA- 
provided hygiene kits, as well as those from other 
donor countries, and baby kits monthly and will 
continue these distributions for a few more months. 
IFRC is also examining procuring additional hygiene 
kits locally as needed.  In June, IFRC will 
reevaluate the needs based upon where internally 
displaced persons (IDPs) are living. 
 
4.  IFRC conducted a focus group with affected 
women regarding the hygiene kits and discovered 
that feminine products, soaps, and combs were 
extremely valuable; however, the individuals in the 
focus group did not need as much toilet paper as 
was provided in the hygiene kits.  [Note: 
USAID/OFDA's hygiene kits were one of the only 
types of hygiene kits to provide combs.  IFRC has 
heard from several beneficiaries that the quote 
blue-type razors end quote used in USAID/OFDA 
hygiene kits, as well as those provided by other 
donors, are not quite sharp enough.  End Note.] 
IFRC has phased out distributions of other items 
such as jerry cans, plastic sheeting, and stoves. 
 
5.  While in Galle, the team observed an IFRC 
distribution through the Sri Lankan Red Cross 
(SLRC) in Thalaaramba in Matara District.  During 
this distribution, SLRC provided 450 families with 
blankets, jerry cans, hygiene kits, four bars of 
soap, and plastic mats.  SLRC also registered all 
beneficiaries and provided beneficiary cards. 
During this visit, the USAID/DART IO spoke with the 
SLRC District Coordinator for Matara who advised 
the USAID/DART IO that he distributed USAID/OFDA 
plastic sheeting to fisherman in Matara town.  The 
SLRC District Coordinator noted that the 
marketplace in Matara was hard-hit by the tsunami, 
and 95 percent of the people that died in Matara 
were killed in the marketplace.  As a result, many 
lost their shops, and roofs on stalls were 
destroyed in the marketplace.  SLRC provided 
USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting to many fishermen so 
they could protect their stalls from the rain and 
the sun and start selling fish in the marketplace 
again.  Additionally, fishermen are using the 
plastic sheeting in their temporary homes and to 
protect them from the sun as they attempt to repair 
boats and equipment. 
 
6.  USAID/OFDA plastic sheeting is also being used 
in schools to protect students from the seabreeze 
and rain.  The SLRC District Coordinator stated 
that he greatly appreciated USAID's efforts in Sri 
Lanka, and the fisherman were grateful and relayed 
their thanks to USAID for the plastic sheeting. 
 
----------------------------- 
IOM and Livelihoods 
----------------------------- 
 
7.  On April 6, the team attended the second 
distribution of tools by USAID/OFDA implementing 
partner IOM to tsunami-affected carpenters in 
Matara District.  The tsunami destroyed the tools 
of many carpenters in Matara District, and those 
tools that withstood the tsunami are now rusted. 
The first distribution took place in March, and 16 
carpenters received tools.  During the second 
distribution, IOM distributed tools to 43 
additional carpenters.  IOM stated that non- 
governmental organizations (NGOs) that conduct 
vocational training developed this standard tool 
kit that included hand saws, an electric drill, 
drill bits, chisels, hammers, measuring tape, an 
angle grinder, a vise grip, as well as other items. 
The total value of the kit was USD 150, and all 
tools were procured in Colombo or in Matara 
District. 
 
8.  IOM identified tsunami-affected carpenters with 
the assistance of the Southern Development 
Authority (SDA) and then verified the names 
provided by the SDA.  The carpenters are all 
skilled, and no additional training is necessary. 
Since there is significant reconstruction work 
taking place in Matara, with the aid of the tool 
kit, the carpenters will be able to regain their 
livelihoods.  IOM also plans to implement a 
livelihoods program with USAID/OFDA funding in 
Kalutara.  IOM stated that the NGOs at the 
livelihoods sector meetings have identified 
different sectors to assist, and IOM will assist 
both carpenters and masons. 
 
9.  During this tool distribution, the team spoke 
with KR Nandasena from Paramulla in Matara District 
who has been living in a camp since the tsunami and 
received a tool kit.  Mr. Nandasena's home was 
completely destroyed due to the tsunami, but his 
family survived.  Mr. Nandasena does not know when 
he will receive a transitional shelter or land to 
rebuild his home as his home was located within the 
100-meter buffer zone.  Mr. Nandasena learned of 
the IOM tool distribution at the camp and 
registered to become a beneficiary.  Prior to the 
tsunami, Mr. Nandasena had his own carpentry 
 
SIPDIS 
business, and with the receipt of these tools, Mr. 
Nandasena will restart his business at his sister's 
house.  Mr. Nandasena usually does carpentry work 
with four men who also received tools, and now they 
will all be able to work together to engage in 
reconstruction work such as fixing boats, roofs, 
and houses.  Before he received this tool kit, Mr. 
Nandasena had been borrowing tools from friends in 
order to engage in carpentry work to support his 
family.  In conversations with the team, Mr. 
Nandasena said that his life had been dark for a 
few months after the tsunami, but now due to the 
receipt of these tools, his life has been 
enlightened. 
 
10.  In Matara District, with USAID/OFDA support, 
IOM is also assisting women in six camps by 
providing two sewing machines per camp as well as 
cutting tables, materials, and thread.  The team 
visited sewing centers in two camps and met with 
camp residents.  The beneficiaries are consulted on 
what type of materials they need, and this 
USAID/OFDA-funded IOM program will assist women 
with income generation.  Workshops are held in the 
camp to assist women in upgrading their sewing 
skills and to teach those women who do not already 
know how to sew.  IOM is also identifying tailors 
in the six camps. 
 
11.  A local organization, Nawimana Southern Rural 
Development Fund, has also approached IOM with a 
proposal to identify female sewers who have been 
affected by the tsunami but who do not live in the 
camps.  IOM plans to provide sewing machines and 
establish a sewing center on the grounds of a 
temple.  To date, IOM has identified 35 sewers, who 
were established in the sewing business prior to 
the tsunami, and will assist these sewers with 
tools and machines in Matara District.  Each sewer 
will receive a manual machine, (cost USD 150) and 
the women will also receive training in small 
business management, marketing, and financial 
management of small businesses so they may more 
effectively market and sell their goods. 
 
12.  All IOM's beneficiaries receive information 
sessions when they receive tools and machines etc. 
to ensure that recipients understand that these 
goods are to positively benefit their families' 
incomes and should not be sold.  IOM will conduct 
informal follow-up interviews with all recipients 
to ensure that recipients have used their tools, 
machines, etc. appropriately. 
 
13.  Within the camps in Matara, IOM has created 
camp care committees composed of camp residents, 
and all committees are 50 percent men and 50 
percent women.  These committees speak on behalf of 
all camp residents, and the members are trained by 
IOM.  IOM is also conducting surveys of residents 
in six camps to identify the needs.  Through these 
surveys, IOM is identifying the source of income 
for primary and secondary income earners and 
prioritizing the most vulnerable individuals, to 
include single-headed households (male or female), 
and those widowed, divorced, separated, or who have 
a spouse working elsewhere in the country.  Other 
people included in the vulnerable population are 
the disabled, young adults, and the elderly.  Based 
upon the results of these surveys, IOM hopes to 
assist the camp residents with training programs, 
tools, and microfinance assistance. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
SCF-UK's Psychological and Social Programs 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
14.  On April 6, the team met with SCF-UK to 
discuss psychological, social, and child protection 
support in Matara District.  To increase the 
capacity of its volunteers to ensure they are able 
to identify children with psychological problems 
who need counseling, SCF-UK planned workshops for 
its volunteers at 22 different centers. 
Additionally, SCF-UK is providing child friendly 
corners so children have play activities and can 
better adapt in the aftermath of the tsunami.  SCF- 
UK plans different activities for different age 
groups including Lego, puzzles, drawing, and 
singing for children aged 6 to 11, and Scrabble, 
Carom, reading, drawing, drama, general knowledge 
quizzes, and group discussions on issues such as 
health for those aged 11 to 19.  SCF-UK's education 
unit is focusing on starting pre-schools at camps 
for children aged three to five years.  The SCF-UK 
representative advised the team that there is a 
great need for emotional support for children in 
tsunami-affected areas. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
---------------------------------- 
CCF's Programs in Matara District 
---------------------------------- 
 
15.  On April 6, the team visited a USAID/OFDA- 
funded CCF project in Polwathemodara in Matara 
District that provides psychological and social 
support through child-friendly spaces where games 
and activities are designed to help tsunami- 
affected children with emotional recovery.  The 
woman who runs the CCF project was also affected by 
the tsunami, and her house was destroyed.  This CCF 
volunteer is currently conducting daily classes 
from 1530 to 1730 hours in the transitional shelter 
built for her by USAID/OFDA implementing partner 
CHF.  In these classes she teaches English, Math, 
Dancing, and Music.  The CCF volunteer stated that 
the children still seem worried about the ocean and 
continue to draw pictures of the tsunami.  The CCF 
program initially started with 20 children in a 
temple, but has now increased in number. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
--- 
GOAL's Transitional Shelter Program in Matara 
District 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
--- 
 
16.  On April 6, the team met with a GOAL 
representative in Matara District to discuss GOAL's 
USAID/OFDA-funded transitional shelter program. 
The GOAL representative stated that the 
organization initially did not intend to build 
transitional shelters in Matara District as the 
area was adequately covered by other NGOs; however, 
many NGOs were unable to fulfill their previous 
commitments, and GOAL started building shelters in 
Matara District in March.  GOAL currently plans to 
build 100 shelters in Dickwella, but will 
eventually complete approximately 200 shelters 
total in Matara District.  As of April 6, GOAL has 
completed 68 transitional shelters in Matara 
District. 
 
17.  GOAL noted that the allocation of land for 
transitional shelters is a significant problem (see 
reftel), and the organization has encountered many 
problems obtaining land from the Government of Sri 
Lanka (GOSL).  GOAL stated that after many 
meetings, the GOSL finally provided land to GOAL on 
April 1, but it is a site that is prone to flooding 
and GOAL will have to build a drainage system.  The 
GOSL also offered GOAL another plot of land where 
they could build four shelters; however, GOAL 
rejected the land as it was a mass grave containing 
46 bodies.  The GOSL has also offered to sell land 
to those NGOs that wish to purchase land, and GOAL 
noted that the cheapest land available was USD 
160,000 per acre. 
 
18.  The GOAL representative stated that the lack 
of available land on which to build transitional 
shelters is a significant problem, and GOAL is 
currently going door-to-door in Matara District and 
speaking to residents who have available land on 
which they will allow GOAL to build transitional 
shelters.  GOAL is currently building transitional 
shelters on these single sites, often in private 
owners' gardens.  In cases where GOAL has been 
building on the land of private owners, GOAL 
negotiates an agreement with the landowner so that 
the landowner will own the transitional shelter 
after the IDP leaves the landowner's property. 
 
19.  GOAL had hoped to build six to seven 
transitional shelters per day; however due to the 
recent bad weather and rains, GOAL has only managed 
to build between three and four shelters a day in 
Matara District.  The GOAL representative noted 
that if the GOSL provided plots of land, they would 
be able to construct between 12 and 15 shelters a 
day.  The District Secretary advised GOAL that 
approximately 1,000 families in Dickwella need 
transitional shelter; however the GOAL 
representative believes that between 150 and 200 
families, and at most 300 families, actually need 
shelter in this area. 
 
20.  The GOAL representative reported that since 
USD 400 is now the limit for the cost of shelters, 
after all transitional shelters have been 
constructed, as a separate project (not with 
USAID/OFDA funding), GOAL will revisit previously 
constructed transitional shelters and install 
kitchens and electrical wiring. 
 
21.  The team visited the location of the first 
transitional shelter constructed by GOAL in Matara 
District, as well as the location of the most 
recently constructed transitional shelter that was 
finished just hours before the team's visit. 
Occupants of all shelters were extremely happy and 
grateful to now have a place to live and were 
satisfied with the quality of the shelters. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
-- 
CHF's Transitional Shelter Program in Matara 
District 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
-- 
 
22.  On April 7, the team met with USAID/OFDA 
implementing partner CHF to discuss CHF's 
USAID/OFDA-funded transitional shelter program in 
Matara District.  CHF, like GOAL, noted that 
allocation of land has been the main impediment to 
building transitional shelters.  CHF has been 
identifying those individuals who still have land 
and are located outside the 100-meter buffer zone 
where transitional shelters can be built. 
Approximately 80 percent of CHF's beneficiaries are 
housed on their own land, outside the 100-meter 
buffer zone.  In general in Matara District, CHF 
has been constructing shelters on residents' own 
land, the land of relatives, and as a last resort, 
like GOAL, CHF has also been negotiating private 
plots with local land owners. 
23. Currently CHF has 400 transitional shelters 
under construction in Galle and Matara.  The CHF 
representative noted that initially CHF planned to 
construct 3,000 transitional shelters; however, CHF 
noted that in the days following the tsunami, 
initial assessments over-estimated the number of 
those residents who lost their homes, and the 
actual number of residents who lost their homes has 
dropped by 50 percent.  In addition, since the 
beginning of the relief response, the cost per 
transitional shelter has also changed from USD 250 
to USD 400.  As a result, CHF is examining putting 
plywood on the sides of its transitional shelters 
instead of just plastic sheeting to upgrade the 
shelters and provide additional security and 
stability.  CHF is currently committed to providing 
2,000 shelters at USD 400 per unit in Galle and 
Matara. 
24.  CHF has identified 700 beneficiary families in 
Galle and between 500 and 600 families in Matara 
District.  After all the initial transitional 
shelters have been built, with the remaining 
difference of 800 shelters (from 2,000 planned), 
CHF plans to revisit those families who have 
already received shelters at the lower cost and 
upgrade them with the plywood.    Additionally, CHF 
will also revisit families with seven or more 
members that previously only received one shelter, 
and CHF will provide an additional transitional 
shelter to these larger families.  CHF will also 
upgrade the shelters of other NGOs that constructed 
shelters at the initial lower cost.  As of April 7, 
CHF has constructed 180 shelters in Galle, and 480 
additional transitional shelters are under 
construction in this area. 
 
25.  CHF has also been working with Project Galle, 
an organization formed in the aftermath of the 
tsunami by expatriate residents and new volunteers, 
 
SIPDIS 
to engage in camp upgrades.  Currently 65 
volunteers and core staff reside in Sri Lanka and 
have been assisting CHF with camp upgrades in 40 
camps in Galle.  CHF is providing the financial and 
technical backing, and Project Galle is providing 
the labor.  Together, both organizations are 
upgrading the living conditions of camps in Galle, 
including clearing existing drainage systems, 
digging new systems so that pools of stagnant water 
will not develop, and providing temporary water 
points and temporary latrines.  The team visited a 
camp and witnessed Project Galle volunteers digging 
ditches and building drainage systems to prevent 
flooding and upgrading other features at the camp. 
 
26.  The Italian-provided tents that are currently 
located in camps in Galle cost USD 850, and since 
they are more costly than the shelters CHF is 
building (due to the USD 400 limit), those camp 
residents located in these tents will not receive 
additional transitional shelters.  However, these 
tents are designed for cold climates and have 
little ventilation.  Thus, using USAID/OFDA- 
provided plastic sheeting, CHF and Project Galle 
will install canopies above the tents to provide 
shade from the sun and runoff of rain.  The first 
shade canopies will be delivered on April 11 at a 
cost of USD 55.  CHF is also working with local 
communities to reposition the tents in these camps 
up to six to eight inches above the ground to 
prevent flooding during the monsoon season.  CHF 
will engage in camp upgrades in 20 camps with 
approximately 900 families. 
27.  The team visited the site of CHF shelters in 
Werallana in Hikkaduwa.  At this location, CHF was 
constructing eight transitional shelters on land 
that was owned by a man whose house was also 
destroyed.  The man's house was located in the 100- 
meter buffer zone, and CHF was also constructing a 
shelter for him on this land that was located 
beyond the 100-meter buffer zone.  This man had 
agreed to allow CHF to build these transitional 
shelters on his land, and the shelters will benefit 
35 people. 
28.  When building transitional shelters, CHF noted 
that in cases where there are no able-bodied men in 
the beneficiary family, CHF will build the entire 
transitional shelter.  However, if men are 
available, CHF advises the beneficiaries that CHF 
will provide the door, roof, and plastic sheeting 
and the beneficiaries will be paid to do the 
masonry, frames, and sand foundation work.  In 
cases where the beneficiaries are unable to do the 
work, they may find someone else to be paid to 
complete the work.  CHF only pays 50 percent 
initially to ensure that the work is completed. 
29.  Earlier in the week, the team spoke with some 
beneficiaries who received transitional shelters 
from CHF in Polathumodara in Matura District.  The 
team spoke to the father of a family of five who 
had lost his 19 year old daughter due to the 
tsunami.  The man was a fisherman and was currently 
 
SIPDIS 
unable to work as his boat was destroyed.  His 
family is living in a transitional shelter that may 
or may not be within the 100-meter buffer zone (it 
is within 100 meters of a river and the ocean is 
slightly beyond the river).  CHF had constructed a 
transitional shelter on top of the foundation of 
the man's house as it was the only part of his home 
that was not destroyed.  Since the house is located 
in the area close to/or within the 100-meter buffer 
zone, the GOSL will not provide the family with 
money to rebuild their home until they find 
appropriate land to relocate the family.  The man 
stated that his family would move immediately if 
the GOSL could provide him a home elsewhere.  Until 
the GOSL makes a determination regarding his land 
or finds appropriate land for the man to 
reconstruct his home, he will not receive any 
compensation for his damaged home and will not be 
allowed to reconstruct his home on this land. 
 
LUNSTEAD