Highlights of the Situation and Relief /Recovery Efforts
The Honorable Prime Minister visited on 8 January 2005 the Tsunami affected areas of A&N Islands and assured of all possible help for rehabilitation and re-construction. An amount of Rs.2 billion was announced as preliminary assistance to be carried out in Andaman and Nicobar Island.
The Finance Secretary, Government of India has written to the UNDP Administrator regarding UN assistance for undertaking the work of rebuilding of Infrastructures, both public and private, and for rehabilitation of livelihoods to those affected, as well as enhanced assistance in developing disaster prevention and management systems.
The Government has also requested the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for similar support and assistance. These agencies announced that they would now work with the Government of India to organize a needs assessment, and on that basis develop a program of support for reconstruction and recovery
The Government is now focusing mainly on providing temporary houses for those who have lost houses, provide wage employment, restore infrastructure and rehabilitate the affected people.
Most of the schools in the affected areas have been reopened in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry. The provision shops and schools have started opening in Port Blair.
The first phase of relief and rescue operations is over in the affected States/UTs except A&N Islands where it will continue.
The fishermen of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu braving their grief have resumed fishing activity. More than 40,000 fishermen have ventured into sea in Tamil Nadu.
All Relief camps have been closed in Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. People from relief camps in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have started going back to their villages and numbers of relief camps and persons accommodated in these camps have reduced
Relief camps in Andaman &Nicobar Islands have increased and more people are being accommodated. People in the relief camps are being provided with food. Medical teams have been deployed in relief camps and hygiene is being maintained. There is no report of outbreak of any epidemic. The local administration has resumed normal functioning. The Nicobar Group of Islands would require almost rebuilding of dwelling units. Pending permanent housing arrangements, temporary shelters are being provided.
The UNDMT met under the chairpersonship of the UN Resident Coordinator on 14th January to review the relief support being provided by UN Agencies and to plan the coordinated UN system support in the rehabilitation/reconstruction phase. It was agreed to closely co-ordinate the needs assessment exercise with the Government and the World Bank and ADB.
UNDMT meeting was held in Chennai on 13thJanuary 2005 to strengthen the UN system initiatives in psychosocial support project in the affected areas of Tamil Nadu. All agencies agreed to adopt a coordinated and systematic approach.
UN team for Recovery Support met on 18th January to discuss the UN system field coordination and programme framework for thematic focal points/areas of interest to be implemented in Tamil Nadu.
The total death toll is now at 10749. About 5640 people are missing.
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