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NATION THAT FACE A CATASTROPHE [Greens of Sri
Lanka] Colombo
(Disaster Management & Information Programme): 27-12-2004/06
 The
Disaster Management & Information Programme participated a UN co-ordinated
meeting in the morning (December 27, 2004) chaired by the UNDP Resident
Representative. The meeting was participated by UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, ILO and
other UN agencies, GtZ, Save the Children Fund, International Organization for
Migration and other International NGOs, DfID, Norwegian Embassy, French Embassy
and other diplomatic missions and local NGOs such as Sewa Lanka Foundation,
National Peace Council, Foundation for Coexistence and Consortium for
Humanitarian Agencies. The Director of National Disaster Management Centre and
Mr. Jayasinghe
from Presidential Secretariat disseminated information and basic emergency needs
of the situation.
The conclusion of this meeting
is that the International NGOs will co-ordinate their efforts through DfID and
local NGOs will co-ordinate through Sew Lanka Foundation. The Disaster
Management & Information Programme discussed with Sewa Lanka to share
information and support each other in relief efforts.
The following table is an
updated version of the National Disaster Management. Centre and the Sri Lanka
Police Head Quarters:
District Deaths
Displaced Missing
Ampara 1,516 120,500 Not
Available
Anuradhapura 03 200
09
Batticaloa 653 84, 025
Not Available
Colombo 13 33, 000
Not Available
Galle 640
12, 000 1, 000
Gampaha 05 15, 475
Not Available
Hambantota 667 5, 000 Not
Available
Kalutara 69 13, 000
41
Jaffna 149
4, 000 Not Available
Matara 671 1,
000 Not Available
Mullativue 300 15, 000 Not
Available
Trincomalee 591 75, 000 Not Available
Vavuniya 0
450 Not Available
Based on this combined table
the death toll is 5, 277 and the displaced total is 378, 650. According to the
National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) these numbers are not yet confirmed
and figures are changing.The National Disaster Management Centre distributed the
Sri Lankan Government request for emergency requirements of essential food items
and other materials among the meeting participants. They are:
1. Water
2. Biscuits
3. Infant noodles
4. Infant milk powder
5. Jam
6. Full cream milk powder
7. Rice
8. Pulses
9. Sugar
10. Canned fish
11. Kitchen utensils
12. Tents
13. Generators
14. Water pumps
15. Plastic buckets
16. Plates and cups
17. Plastic roles
18. Plastic tanks
19. Soaps
20. Detergent powder
21. Mats
22. Mattress
23. Blankets
24. Clothes : Sarongs, Skirts, Blouses, Baby Suits, Shirts, Frocks, Towels and
School Uniforms.
The Disaster Management & Information Programme is closely working with the
National Disaster Management Centre to share information and working with the
network members of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka to collect and distribute
these essential food items and other materials in places where there are gaps.
Colombo (Disaster Management
& Information Programme): 27-12-2004/05
Tsunami effect in Sri
Lanka shows that the tiny little Island in the Indian Ocean is not prepared
enough to deal with disasters. At this stage the Sri Lankan Government needs
support from all the civil society, political and religious groups to deal with
this national catastrophe.
According to the Sri Lankan
Prime Minister’s Operation Room the death toll due to tsunami is 4,610. The
damage has not been counted yet. Civil society groups and media agencies are
working with communities in other parts of the country to collect relief and dry
food items to distribute among affected community members. There are more than
2,000 IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps around Sri Lanka at this stage.
The Disaster Management & Information Programme is implementing a long term
disaster response for this situation and will co-ordinate with the government
authorities, civil society agencies and community groups.
The Disaster Management &
Information Programme of Green Movement of Sri Lanka is implementing the
following damage assessment process:
1. Five teams of five people are in Trincomalee, Gampaha, Colombo,
Puttalam,Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Kalutara, Hambantota and Matara. Jaffna and
Mullativue are been covered by the Secretariat for Immediate Humanitarian and
Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN).
2. Green Movement of Sri Lanka is working with 200 young men and women in
affected districts to provide necessary support to community members in affected
areas. The Green Movement of Sri Lanka is planning to increase this number of
young men and women up to 1,000 bases on resources and facilities.
3. The Disaster Management & Information Programme is planning to produce an
initial damage assessment report on the situation (covering social, economic,
health, livelihood, infrastructure, cultural, environmental and other damages)
with traumatic stress, human rights, child abuse, violence against women and
discrimination issues by end of the week.
Disaster Management &
Information Programme of Green Movement of Sri Lanka is closely networking and
co-ordinating with the National Disaster management Centre, Prime Minister’s
Office and the President’s Office through out this situation to share
information and provide necessary support.
====
TSUNAMI AT SRILANKA [26-12-2004]
An
extremely powerful earthquake rocked northern Indonesia Sunday (December 26,
2004) reportedly sending massive tidal waves crashing into several countries
including Sri Lanka. The U.S. Geological Survey said a magnitude-8.5 quake,
capable of massive damage, struck at 8 a.m. about 100 miles off the west coast
of the island of Sumatra. Massive tidal waves in Sri Lanka - some 1,000 miles
west of the quake's epicentre - forced authorities to shut operations at some
ports. In southern and eastern Sri Lanka waves caused flash floods, displacing
thousands of people, witnesses and police said. There were no immediate reports
of casualties.
At least 160 people were killed in north-eastern Sri Lanka. Rescue workers
Sunday found 150 (approximately) bodies in the Muslim village of Muttur while
another 10 were found in the town of Trincomalee that has submerged under
several feet of sea water. Based on the news from the Sri Lanka Navy there are
about 300 casualties in the affected areas. According to the Sri Lankan
Government officials these casualties could be higher. The water level is going
down leaving a massive trail of destruction. A large number of people were also
believed to be missing.
At this stage the following districts of Sri Lanka are facing the destruction
and casualties/missing.
* Trincomalee * Batticaloa * Ampara * Jaffna * Mullativue * Hambantota
* Matara * Galle * Colombo * Gampaha * Kalutara * Puttalam
The destruction of this emergency situation has not been calculated and the
exact numbers of casualties are unknown.
According to the Sri Lankan Government Authorities, this is a situation where
the emergency and relief agencies in Sri Lanka have never experienced. Because
of that they do not have the technical and practical knowledge to deal with the
situation.
Emergency Intervention by the DMIP
The Disaster Management and Information Programme of the Green Movement of Sri
Lanka is conducting the following activities to support the communities and the
Government of Sri Lanka to face this emergency situation:
I. Information gathering
The DMIP of GMSL is co-ordinating and networking with news agencies, government
agencies and civil society groups in collecting accurate information. These
information will be disseminated to useful emergency relief organizations to
provide effective support for affected communities. The DMIP is also using these
information to assess the situation and to document practical and technical
difficulties for future references.
II. Emergency relief co-ordination
The DMIP is working with 138 network members of Green Movement of Sri Lanka to
provide necessary food and shelter support in areas where the Government
agencies find difficulties. The network members are collecting food and relief
items to assist communities in the above 12 districts and support people to find
missing family members.
III. Long-term livelihood protection
The DMIP is planning to support fishermen in providing fishing nets and small
boats to support livelihoods of affected communities. As 79% of the affected
communities are fishermen the DMIP finds it important to support livelihoods to
be taken off as soon as the sea water level goes down.
- Green Movement of Sri Lanka,
Colombo, Sri Lanka / 26-12-2004
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