Colombo, December 23, 2005 - Over
37,000 tsunami-affected people have been included in a national database
of survivors being prepared by the Sri Lankan government with help from
the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The creation of a centralised database
of people affected by the 2004 tsunami began in Sri Lanka in early December,
thanks to a project intiated by IOM. The Sri Lankan government has
established a National Data Centre in Colombo in collaboration with IOM
to carry out the project, which is expected to cover an estimated one million
people affected by the disaster. The database project is funded by the
Japanese government and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department.
So far, over 9,000 heads of families from tsunami-hit communities in the southern Matara district have queued up in front of a mobile registration bus to submit their personal details. The inside of the bus has been modified to resemble an office, complete with laptops, digital cameras and fingerprint scanners. Registration buses will travel to all 13 affected districts.
"The database will show comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date data that can be used to fill gaps in and improve rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts,'' says Christopher Gascon, Chief of Mission of IOM Sri Lanka. The information will not only help establish how many individuals have been affected by the tsunami but also help determine if they have been denied basic support and the quality of living conditions of these populations.
During the registration process, the names, addresses and identity card numbers of the entire family are collected along with information like the assistance received so far and the current occupation.
Chintana Meegamarachchi, an information technology expert from IOM Colombo, has designed the software for the project. "The central database system will allow varied data sources to be brought together and integrated in a logical manner," he explains.
IOM has also been training government officials at the central and district levels to carry out the registration process and maintain the database. "National capacities to manage and prepare disaster response plans are being enhanced through the provision of training in these areas," says Meegamarachchi.
District Data Centres are to be set up in 13 districts with financial support from IOM. Resource persons in these centres will facilitate the sharing of the information with government, multilateral and non-governmental agencies working to assist the affected communities.
For more information please contact:
B. Ranjitha, IOM Sri Lanka, ranjithab@iomsrilanka.org, +94-115-333-432