Effects of Tsunami on 26 December 2004
(31 days after disaster)
I. SITUATION
Vice President of ABD calls on the President
The Vice President of Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr. Liqun Jin, called on President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom yesterday morning.
Noting the important role that the ADB had played over the years in the development of the Maldives, the President expressed his appreciation to the financial institution, in particular for the tremendous support and assistance that had been extended to the Maldives in the aftermath of the tsunami.
Mr. Liqun Jin said that, in addition to the loss of life, the tsunami had been a major economic setback for the Maldives. He praised the authorities for their effective utilization of assistance from the ADB. He pointed out that the President's initiative to establish a board of overseers for the Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction Fund had attracted wide international support.
Beauty of reefs not affected by tsunami says group of Italian scientists
A team of Italian scientists from the University of Bologna reported that the natural heritage of Maldivian reefs and dive sites were not affected by the tsunami that swept over the country last month. The Italian scientists said that it would take about three months to publish a complete report on this survey. Italy is the predominant tourist market for Maldives, with some 131,000 tourist arrivals from Italy recorded last year.
This news comes at a time when a group of Australian scientists and marine biologists sent by the Australian Government are starting their assessment on the damage to reef and the marine system in Maldives in view of the Tsunamis.
Parliamentary Elections close and official results announced
Final results have being announced for all constituencies from Saturday's parliamentary elections and there have been no changes from the preliminary results. The President has promised quick democratic reform within the year.
II. UPDATE BY SECTOR
Education
Schools across the country opened for the new academic year on 25 January and continue to function as normal.
Vulnerable Populations
The continuing vulnerability of women, men and adolescents amongst the severely affected and displaced population has been identified as a cause for immediate concern and response. There are 4,000 pregnant women in the country and about 1,500 are in the severely affected populations. Safe delivery conditions are of major concern as health facilities and services have been severely disrupted, and in many cases destroyed.
III. NATIONAL RESPONSE
President inaugurates Housing Project in Maamigili
The President yesterday inaugurated a new housing project in the island of Maamigili in Ari Atoll for the residents who were displaced and thus relocated there from the island of Meemu Atoll Madifushi. The housing project is part of the Government's relief, recovery and rehabilitation for those who were affected by the Tsunami.
Manifests for aid shipments
The GOM reiterated that manifests for aid shipments be sent to the government well in advance to ensure more efficient processing and reduce bottlenecks. There is limited warehouse storage capacity at the airport. Please send manifests in advance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of External Resources: der@foreign.gov.mv; fax: +960 317 592; copied to the Task Force's Aid Coordination Unit: rshareef@dhivehinet.net.mv and UNDP's focal point for logistics: shaheem.razee@undp.org.
IV. COUNTRY-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
UNDP/ UNHABITAT
A UNDP/UNHABITAT team visited four islands in Male' Atoll on the 25th of January 2005 to assess the shelter and housing situation on these islands.
Gaafaru: Situated in the north of the atoll, this island had sustained minimal structural damage to its buildings. Material possessions in most houses were however drenched by floods. Houses were structurally damaged at the end of the island where the tsunami hit. The islanders were producing cement bricks to renovate houses that suffered the most damage. The Dhiraagu telecommunications on this island was destroyed during the Tsunami.
Thulusdhoo: The capital island of the atoll and one of the more developed islands. Although most of the island experienced floods of up to two feet on the day, most houses had no structural damage except those located on the side of the island where the Tsunami first struck. There are currently no plans to rebuild these houses, but there are contractors on the island who could be mobilized with adequate funding to undertake the needful.
Huraa: This island suffered extensive damage. There is grave concern over the structural integrity of the houses that were badly hit but still standing. Tiles were displaced in many houses and there is a reluctance to start renovation before engineers have examined the buildings.
Himmafushi: Also has a small amount of houses that were totally destroyed and concerns there are similar to those in Huraa.
UNFPA
There allocated US$ 150,000 for the Immediate Relief from the UNFPA Tsunami Funds and have been able to mobilise US$ 500,000 from Japanese Funds, US$ 500,000 from the Gates Foundation and US$ 100,000 from China. These resources will be utilised to implement the three projects in the UN Flash Appeal which are in relation to Reproductive Health, Psychosocial Services and Life Skills Education. Additional US$ 1.3 million is required for UNFPA planned activities.
UNFPA has had discussions with government and NGOs regarding their support for providing technical support and ensuring basic standards in the establishment of temporary shelters/settlements. In particular, UNFPA will support interventions for the ensuring the health, particularly reproductive health as well as the protection of women and adolescents and preventing/reducing gender-based violence in these shelters. Furthermore, ongoing discussions with government have also focused on UNFPA's role in addressing social issues/problems that may arise in host islands housing large numbers of displaced populations and the need to focus on social integration.
UNFPA continues to support the Social Support and Counselling Services of the National Disaster Management Centre on providing psychosocial support services to the most affected families, women and adolescents. In this regard teams have been set out to the most affected atolls Raa, Noonu, Thaa, Laamu, Meemu and Dhaal. Life Skills Facilitators trained under the UNFPA programme have been deployed to the relief shelters for psychosocial support in collaboration with the Education sector. Life Skills education sessions for displaced adolescents are also being initiated in collaboration with the education sector. Similar activities are being organised for providing RH information and services.
UNFPA is supporting the Ministry of Health and working with the other UN agencies to assess the impact of the disaster and to help develop a comprehensive plan for relief and rehabilitation. An expert on health in emergency situations from ICMH was on mission and visited the atolls with the Ministry of Health to conduct an assessment. The mission visited the most severely affected atolls and assessed the conditions of physical damage as well as the displaced populations and host islands. UNFPA is supporting the development of standards and guidelines to help the management of the displaced population.
Clean delivery kits, clinical delivery equipment and materials for safe blood transfusions for ensuring safe delivery have been supplied for the most affected populations. Gynaecological checkups were also arranged for the expecting mothers during assessment visits and there will be continued support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of obstetric and gynaecological facilities of the most affected atolls.
WFP
Food Distributions:
WFP has distributed 39 Metric tons of High Energy Biscuits (HEB) to 46,770 beneficiaries in the immediate days of the emergency through the National Security Service.
On 25 January, WFP launched its school feeding programme in collaboration with the Government of Maldives. WFP team was on site the first day of the WFP school biscuit distributions in Kaafu Atoll. Schools visited were on the islands of Thulusdhoo, Huraa, Himmafushi and Gaarafu.
Monitoring Mission 25/01/05:
WFP visited a sample of schools on some selected islands in Kaafu Attoll At the schools visited WFP conducted presentations with school headmasters to the students explaining the nutritious value of the biscuits. A teacher from Himmafushi Island indicated that the biscuits would be an incentive for children to come to school, particularly those from vulnerable families.
Discussions with the Headmaster on Huraa Island, one of the more affected islands, explained that the reopening of schools symbolized to the community a resumption of normal activities. The tsunami has left a mark of uncertainty among the islanders and had destabilized confidence in island life. For many, the re-opening of schools is the first step to recovery.
A monitoring schedule has been prepared by WFP-Maldives and will be shared with the Ministry of Education. A focal point from the MOE is recommended to accompany the visits. In addition, the schedule will be shared with UN agencies and NGOs to facilitate transport for the other agencies where possible.
Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM):
The VAM assessment was presented yesterday to the UN Country Team, NGOs and representatives from the Government of Maldives. No major issues were raised on the findings. The findings are being finalised and will be reported in a future Situation Report.
Logistics:
WFP logistics continues to investigate LTSH costs. Transport costs vary according to distance, location and cargo and other variables such as weather conditions, bulk and volume.
- First logistic monitoring mission of
WFP's HEB showed that the distribution system through the National Security
Service is working well. Commodities were distributed in the right quantities
and on time.
- Generally among UN logistics, bottlenecks regarding the distribution of relief supplies appear to be resolved. In particular, the transport issue of larger cargo and generators to the islands.
V. GOVERNMENT REQUESTS
The Government have again reiterated their previous request for transportation facilities to assist in delivering heavy goods to the islands.
The Government is advocating the local manufacturing of desalination plants with support from the international donor community. While most equipment and spare parts can be produced locally through a local company, other parts such as membranes, pumps and filters should be imported.
VI. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
Government requests
In order to ensure that appropriate aid and quantities are sent to the country, please consult with the Government's Crisis Task Force through the Ministry of Foreign Affair's Department of External Resources: der@foreign.gov.mv.
Priority needs
Transport and logistical coordination continue to remain the main priorities of the government given the dispersion and the difficult conditions to be endured for aid delivery. Aid has to be delivered to each the 200 islands individually and can be done in small boats or using other means of light transport.
VII. CHANNELS FOR DELIVERY OF INTERNATIONAL AID
15. Cash contributions
The Government has set up bank accounts for cash donations:
Ministry of Finance and Treasury Disaster
Relief Fund
Bank of Maldives
Account No (Foreign currency): 7701-
147 900- 002
Account No (Local currency): 7701- 147 900- 001
Bank swift code: MALBMVMV
VIII. INTERNATIONAL PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Foreign Assistance update
Total cash amount committed/pledged:
US$24,926,967 (same as previous)
Total cash amount received:
US$23,403,335 (same as previous)
Total value in kind committed:
US$18,625,564
Total value in kind received:
US$ 4,128,177
Total (cash & kind) committed:
US$ 43,579,531
Total (cash & kind) received:
US$ 27,531,512
Source: MoForeign Affairs/DER 26January 2005
IX. OTHER INFORMATION
Field office contact
Aishath Jeelaan, Communications Officer, United Nations Resident Coordinator System, Tel: (960) 324501 ext. 227, mob: (960) 787 987.
Expected date of next report: 31st January 2005.