Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN) 1 Jarrett White Road MCPA-DM, Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 Telephone: 808.433.7035 · [email protected] · http://www.coe-dmha.org

December 30, 2004

Note: New content has been inserted in red font.

Overview • The death toll from Sunday’s (December 26) massive tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west cost of Indonesia’s northern Sumatra

Island has now reportedly climbed to well over 100,000. As of today tsunami related deaths have been reported in 12 countries that include Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The loss of life has been particularly severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. According to Indonesian health ministry the death toll has now climbed to nearly 80,000 with 1,240 missing in the northern province of Aceh on the island of Sumatra and along the 115 miles of the islands along Indonesia’s northwestern coast, which is close to the epicenter of the earthquake. WHO estimates 80 percent of Aceh’s west coast has been damaged. The death toll in Sri Lanka and India has also climbed to in excess of 24,743 and 14,000 deaths respectively. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as southern state of Tamil Nadu have been the worst hit areas where deaths have been in excess of 7,000 and 7,000 respectively. Death toll in Thailand’s resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi has now climbed over 2,400.

• WHO says between 3 – 5 million people have been affected. In Indonesia alone, an estimated 1 million people are either displaced or homeless. However, at this stage of the crisis the actual extent of displacement remains unclear, particularly in case of affected island groups where people may not have many options to move elsewhere. The full extent of displacement will not be known until field assessments are complete.

• The UN experts are warning of possible epidemics within days if health systems are not brought up to speed. According to the UN, water, sanitation, food, shelter and health are priority sectors to stem any disease outbreaks. Due to the contamination of drinking water sources, the risk of water- borne disease such as cholera, dysentery, malaria and dengue fever, remains very high. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) between 3 and 5 million affected people did not have access to clean water, adequate shelter, food, sanitation and healthcare. Food and medicine in many areas are in short supply. Health experts at the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross warn of significant number of additional deaths due to possible outbreaks of disease. WHO is seeking an initial US$40 million to address the issue. The risk of malaria is significantly high due to warm temperatures. Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to malaria due to recent monsoon season as standing water provides ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. Mosquito nets, malaria medicines, spraying of stagnant pools of water with insecticide as well as provision of water purification tablets to people can help stem some of the water-borne diseases.

• A number of logistical problems have been reported. Logjams have been reported at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport near capital Colombo. Among some of the issues, shortage of trucks to transport relief supplies, lack of storage facilities and limited capacity of the airport to land relief planes have been reported. In Indonesia, only international military planes are allowed to fly in the humanitarian relief at airport in Banda Aceh. Transportation of relief supplies from the airport continues to a problem and widespread shortage of gasoline has also been reported. On Aceh local government has collapsed and coordination mechanisms do not appear to be in place. Shortage of helicopters to transport relief supplies to affected areas that are no longer accessible by road has also been reported in both Sri Lanka and Indonesia. In Thailand, the lack of equipment and supplies to move and store dead bodies has been reported.

• Country representatives from United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in affected countries are working with other UN agencies to coordinate their relief efforts and to assess food situation. FAO is carrying out food/crop assessments in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia in conjunction with the government’s of those countries. The United States, Australia, Japan and India have reportedly formed a ‘core group” to help coordinate relief efforts. However, it remains Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

unclear if this group’s activities would be independent of the United Nations coordinating efforts. German insurance giant Munich Re estimates the cost of damage to buildings and foundations in the affected regions to exceed US$13.6 billion.

• International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched a consolidated appeal for US$59 million for the crisis. United Nations is planning to launch a consolidated flash appeal next Thursday (January 6).

Indonesia

The Indonesian Health Ministry says that the death toll from Sunday’s (December 26) earthquake off the coast of Sumatra and resultant tsunami has climbed to 79,940 with 1,240 others missing, ministry spokesperson Mariani Reksodiprodjo said. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that at least some 100,000 people have been left homeless. Most of the dead come from Aceh province, located at the northern tip of Sumatra Island and some 93 miles (150 kilometers) from the earthquakes epicenter, with the rest coming from a few areas in adjoining North Sumatra province. Worst hit areas in Aceh include the capital, Banda Aceh, and the northwest coast of Sumatra, a stretch of about 155 miles (250 kilometers), which was closest to the epicenter of Sunday’s earthquake. The ministry says the death toll has increased because some 12,000 additional bodies were found in the town of Sabang. The western town of Meulaboh (located 1,200 miles or 2,000 kilometers northwest of Jakarta), one of the Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

hardest hit areas in Indonesia, reportedly started receiving assistance Thursday (December 30). UNDP estimates that some 40,000 may have died in the town. Offshore islands such as Nias have reported some 66 dead from the disaster. There have been conflicting reports of the other offshore island of Simeulue. Indonesian Defense Force Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said that some 419 soldiers had parachuted in to the town with food, medicine, and communication equipment. More isolated spots in Aceh are still yet to be reached. Collapsed bridges and broken roads leading to the northwest coast, have forced the military to airdrop supplies. Aftershocks were reported in Aceh province, sparking some panic Thursday morning. The Banda Aceh airport was reportedly so busy with international aid, that some private charter planes were being turned away. Most flights to the airport originate from Medan. Buses to Banda Aceh from Medan are also running at full capacity or overloaded, with seats nearly impossible to obtain as family members rush to the city to hunt relatives, the US Consulate in Medan reports. Previous reports say that some of the first aid to arrive in the province was from private chartered jets by Indonesian citizens. However, residents and aid officials say that although international flights with aid are arriving, distribution of relief is not organized. One government official said that supplies were just piling up at the airport. Purnomo Sidik, the head of the Social Affairs Disaster Control Directorate, says that a fuel shortage has resulted in a logjam of planes at the airport in Medan, North Sumatra province, the major city on Sumatra. “There is enough relief aid. So much that it is a problem to park aircraft carrying them at the airport in Medan,” Sidik said. Although health experts are warning that contaminated water, inadequate food supplies and the spread of disease were the biggest dangers, officials appeared focused on retrieving and burying dead bodies. Officials were still reportedly burying bodies in mass graves. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was expected to fly into Sumatra on Saturday (January 1) to inspect the damage. Yudhoyono today urged separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels to lay down their arms and help to rebuild the devastated province. He said that the disaster called for a permanent end to the rebellion which has been fought since 1976. Yudhoyono urged the GAM to reconsider an autonomy package offered to the province in 2001, under which the province would get a larger share of its rich natural resources. Yudhoyono also today said that he called upon the UN to sponsor an international conference on efforts to help affected countries.

Local Government

• The Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare (MENKOKESRA) has provided written guidance with contact information and a sample of the required form to complete for foreigners to gain access to Banda Aceh. The turn around time for clearance is one day but can be faster (e.g., one Japanese official needed only five minutes). Access without the formal blue book will be granted to aid workers, diplomatic/consular staff, resident journalists as well as foreign civilian and military aircraft. The National Coordinating Agency for Disaster Relief and Refugees (BAKORNAS) will handle GOI agencies in the relief effort, while MEKOKESRA will handle international assistance. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

• Both President Yudhoyono and Vice President Kalla visited the Medan Command Post December 28. President Yudhoyono announced six priority assistance areas. He called for food, medicine, clothing, tents and equipment for the homeless in camps. He also noted the importance of locating all of the victims as quickly as possible, and of re-establishing telecommunications. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

• Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the government has simplified procedures for international humanitarian workers to obtain a visa upon arrival for a one-month stay. The Jakarta Post reports that dozens of foreign aid workers have already arrived in Aceh. The province had been Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

closed to foreigners as the military had mounted a huge military operation against the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in May 2003 and the province was still under a state of civil emergency.

• Military planes reportedly dropped hundreds of food packets to survivors on the ground. Officials say that most survivors may have fled to escape the smell from the dead bodies. Most local government have ceased to function because officials may have been killed or are looking for family members. Many areas lack basic supplies such as food, water and fuel. There are reportedly only two functioning gas stations in the capital. (Dec 30, MSNBC)

• Government workers are working to restore services to Sumatra. Electricity and cellular phone service has returned to some parts of Banda Aceh.

• Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina has announced it is sending 300 kiloliters of heating oil to Banda Aceh. Telephone service provider Telkom has announced it is providing 15 free service telephones to Banda Aceh customers for outgoing calls. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

• Government estimates that it will cost US$150 million to rebuild the province in the coming year and more than US$1 billion over the next five years. (Dec 30, AP)

• Indonesian government says that military could only reach a quarter of the western coast of Sumatra. Military reportedly attempted to push through but was unable to reach many areas.

• Reports say that four out of the five hospitals in Aceh are in ruin.

• 100 Indonesian doctors arrive in Banda Aceh and say they will set up 4 hospitals across province.

Local Organizations

To be provided

Foreign Governments

• Medan Command Post authorities tell us doctors arriving in Medan from the US Navy’s Medical Research Unit-2 (NAMRU-2) will be sent directly to Meulaboh. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

• The carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and four other vessels will be stationed off Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island. (Dec 30, Reuters)

• 100,000 safe water treatment kits provided by the USG through CARE reportedly sent to Banda Aceh on Wednesday, December 29. (December 30, US Consulate Medan).

• US, Japanese and Australian naval ships heading towards Aceh with onboard hospitals and water desalination plants. (Dec 30, Reuters)

• Government of Australia will give $10m to support immediate needs, including food and water, shelter and clothing, medical care, emergency power and public health measures. Funds will help support the early operations of international relief agencies and direct procurement and delivery of urgently needed supplies by ADF C130s to Aceh and North Sumatra . The funding will assist international relief agencies to ramp up their effort quickly. In addition to needs assessments and planning, the agencies are coordinating their efforts in Indonesia to provide basic essentials such food and shelter and restore water supplies and sanitation. Australian funds will also support the work of international medical organisations such as MSF and the International Medical Corps, now on the ground in Indonesia .(Dec 30, Government of Australia)

• Food and supplies coming from Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States are reportedly trickling in to areas. (December 30, Kyodo)

• Japan sent twenty-two doctors and nurses for Indonesia and two disaster surveillance experts(Dec 30, AFP)

• China will send a 100-odd member medical team to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia. Besides, a 35- member rescue team headed by Zhao Heping, deputy director general of the State Seismological Bureau, will leave for Indonesia. (Dec 30, Xinhua)

• Spain was also sending a plane carrying sanitary material, doctors and aid personnel to Indonesia (Dec 30, DPA)

International Organizations

• According to USAID officials in North Sumatra, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) appears to be the most effective NGOs involved in the relief effort, thanks to IOM's strong network and connections to the GOI and Armed Forces (TNI). IOM planned to send 25-30 trucks from Medan to Banda Aceh mid-morning December 29 with fuel and other commodities to be distributed by IOM staff. Once in Aceh, the trucks will remain to help with local distribution of supplies that are piling up at the Banda Aceh airport. IOM planned also to send generators to Banda Aceh by plane. This IOM effort is largely funded by USAID (approximately 300,000 USD, with 20-30,000 USD of co-funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)). With Dutch funds, IOM has procured 5,000 body bags, also due to arrive in Banda Aceh on December 29. IOM's office in Banda Aceh is also hosting the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) effort. (December 30, US Consulate Medan)

• Some reports say first shipments of humanitarian aid arriving in Banda Aceh on Wednesday but with no means of distribution available yet.

• 28 Dec. Association of Medical Doctors of Asia AMDA dispatched a coordinator from Headquarters in Japan, joined by 6 doctors (2 plastic surgeons, 1 anesthetist and 3 internists) from AMDA Indonesian chapter in Djakarta and the team has arrived in Aceh on the morning of 28th. 4 of the 6 local hospitals have been flattened, as well as lifeline still not being recovered at

this stage. The dead bodies are yet to be processed in an appropriate manner. AMDA team carries out relief activities based in Indonesian Military hospital, the only place where the electricity is alive. There are 180 patients waiting to undergo the operation and excessive number of wounded are receiving medical treatments open air. On 29th, additional 20 AMDA doctors and undergraduate doctors have participated on a voluntary basis. (Dec 30, AMDA) • Oxfam Australia will be sending a chartered plane load of emergency aid supplies into Sri Lanka and Indonesia today. The IL76 cargo plane will carry 27 tonnes of emergency equipment worth $250,000 which will be split between the two destinations. The load will include water tanks, pumps and taps to set up emergency drinking water systems for homeless families, and latrine slabs to build emergency latrines. (Dec 30, Oxfam Aus) • CARE is preparing to provide clean water to affected populations. (Dec 30, CARE)

• UN agencies are ready to make available immediate assistance worth $1 million. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will deploy a recovery expert and WFP has allocated $500,000 to purchase food for immediate distribution. WHO and UNICEF are providing four complete sets of health emergency kits to cover 40,000 people for three months. UNICEF will also send tarpaulins and family sets for 8,000 households.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s president’s office reported today (Thursday, December 30) that the confirmed death toll from Sunday’s (December 26) tsunami disaster has reached 24,743 spread over 14 coastal and inland districts, while 4,916 people were still missing. About 12,480 people were also injured and 888,000 people displaced after their homes were destroyed. Rescue workers are continuing recover bodies from collapsed structures as well as the sea. According to reports, many of the dead bodies remain unclaimed or unidentified. In an effort to avert an outbreak of disease, the Sri Lankan judiciary has ordered that bodies be fingerprinted and photographed, then buried in mass graves. Aid agencies report that the devastation in northern and eastern coastal districts, including Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara, is on a large-scale. However, access to these districts is hampered by a lack of trucks or other means of transport, and inaccessible coastal roads, which were badly damaged. Communications is also difficult, with much of the infrastructure damaged or destroyed as far as two kilometers (1.2 miles) inland, according to the World Health Organization. At the only international airport in Sri Lanka, the Bandaranaike International airport outside the capitol city of Colombo, has been clearing additional runways and aircraft hangers in an effort to accommodate incoming cargo planes. However, the airport

Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org. lacks sufficient warehousing facilities to store supplies before they could be trucked out to affected coastal areas. According to an airport official, two private airlines have offered to ferry supplies to two smaller domestic airports near the affected areas. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has promised that aid would reach all parts of the country, but the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been engaged in a 20-year civil war with the Sri Lankan state, have complained that aid is not reaching LTTE-controlled areas. On Wednesday (December 29), LTTE rebel commander Velupillai Prabhakaran made a rare personal appeal to the international aid community for assistance. According to reports, the UN will be meeting LTTE today (December 30) to organize relief in LTTE-controlled areas.

Local Government

The Sri Lankan government established a National Relief Operations Unit (NROU) yesterday (Wednesday, December 29), which will be chaired by the Secretary to the President. The NROU has begun coordinating with a UN team to conduct needs assessments of affected regions in the country.

Local Organizations

To be provided

Foreign Governments

• US Pacific Command says that the Bonhomme Richard strike group was headed for the Bay of Bengal, off Sri Lanka to help with relief effort. Spokesperson says it has still not been decided whether any of the some 2,200 Marines would go ashore.

• India sent four navy ships with relief supplies on Monday (December 27). Indian army teams arrived Tuesday (December 28) to distribute supplies. Indian medical teams have been deployed at district hospital in Hambantota. The Indian Air Force sent 6 helicopters with 12 tons of relief supplies. India says Home, External Affairs and Defence Ministry were working together to bring relief to Sri Lanka. Indian Navy engineers are clearing and repairing the Galle Harbor so that two Indian patrol vessels carrying 40 tons of relief supplies could enter the harbor. Indian helicopters are assisting with search and rescue operations in the Galle-Matara area. Six Indian Air Force helicopters are also ferrying food, clothing, and medicines in the area of Galle (Hindustan Times, Dec-29-04).

• Four planes arrived in Colombo bringing a surgical hospital from Finland, a water purification plant from Germany, doctors and medicine from Japan and aid workers from Britain, the Red Cross reports.

• Vietnam is providing US$100,000 to Sri Lanka. Health workers and medicines are prepared to be sent if requested. (Xinhua News Agency, Dec-30-04).

• Japan has sent a 20-member medical team to Sri Lanka (AFP, Dec-30-04) Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

• Bangladesh sent two helicopters and a plane-load of medicine, safe water and oral rehydration packets to Colombo on Thursday (December 30). A 10-member medical team and a 96- member army team will also be dispatched. (Deutsche Presse Agentur, Dec-30-04)

• According to ITAR-TASS news agency, a Russian cargo plane carrying 20 tons of non-food items and drinking water and disinfectants departed Thursday (December 30) for Sri Lanka. (AFP, Dec-30-04)

International Aid Organizations

• The World Food Programme (WFP), which says at least 1 million people have been displaced from their homes, is providing an initial response of food aid for 500,000 people for two weeks. On December 28, WFP dispatched 12 trucks carrying food for 22,700 people for 15 days to the south and east. On December 29, WFP dispatched 13 trucks carrying food for 32,519 people for 15 days to the north and east. On December 30, 35 trucks were dispatched with food for 66,705 people for 15 days to the north and east. WFP plans on doubling its distribution capacity and expects to have 5,000 tons of essential food to feed 750,000 people for 15 days. WFP staff have been deployed to affected areas. Five trucks of commodities have been sent to LTTE- controlled areas in the north. (WFP, Dec–29-04)

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is organizing an airlift of relief items from its UN Humanitarian Response Depot located in Brindisi, Italy, and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) will bring in medical supplies for 150,000 people for three months after already providing more than 30,000 blankets. The World Health Organization (WHO) is shipping four emergency health kits for hospitals with medicines, disposables and instruments sufficient to support 40,000 people for three months. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is initially distributing $380,000 worth of supplies, including 23,500 plastic sheets for shelter, 24,500 plastic mats, clothing, towels and 20,000 kitchen sets.

• UNHCR opening up its local relief stocks to help with emergency. Plastic sheeting (18000), plastic mats (17,000), rope, and non-food relief packages for 2,000 families. Stichting Vluchteling, a Dutch NGO, that works with UNHCR, said it will provide US$200,000 of approximately US$280,000 cost of the items.

• At government and UN meeting, it was decided that UNHCR would concentrate on delivering relief items to conflict-affected areas in the east, where it has offices and access. UNHCR has 7 offices overall in the country.

• Mercy Malaysia and Malaysian Red Crescent Society are dispatching medicine and doctors. Malaysian rotary clubs are also helping with relief work. (The Star online, Dec-29-04)

• Action Against Hunger provided immediate assistance to victims in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Jaffna, including the building of temporary latrines, water, and transportation of bodies (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• AmeriCares is mobilizing an airlift Sri Lanka to deliver medicines and medical supplies, personal hygiene items, and water purification treatments for up to 4 million liters of drinking water. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• CARE has nearly 250 staff spread across 17 offices in Sri Lanka. CARE Sri Lanka will provide food for 14,000 affected people in Batticaloa district over the next two days and provide similar assistance in Jaffna, Mullaitivu (north), Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Ampara (east) and Hambantota (south). CARE will also assist with the transport of relief goods. (CARE, Dec-30-04)

• World Vision Sri Lanka has been providing assistance in the southern coastal areas, including Matara, and Hambantota, including food and non-food items. WV also provided a freezing facility and set up a database of names at the Karapitiya Hospital in the town of Galle. WV expects to scale up their intervention once reports by assessment teams have been made. (World Vision/Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• Church World Service is planning to deploy and assistance team and will be supporting efforts by the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

Thailand

The confirmed death toll in southwestern Thailand has risen to nearly 2,400 today, up from yesterday’s estimates of 1,800, while at least 6,130 people remained missing. According to the Department of Disaster Mitigation, the toll includes 710 foreigners, 1,488 Thais and 196 of undetermined origins in the six affected provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that 80 percent of the missing should be considered dead, and that the death toll could reach 6,800. Other reports say that at least 4,000 people were missing from the Khao Lak resort area in Phang Nga, where there were about 20,000 guests and 10,000 staff. Officials believe the majority of those missing are foreigners. Phang Nga province recorded at least 1,600 deaths, one third of which were tourists, Krabi recorded 367, including 88 tourists, and Phuket has 282 deaths, including 108 tourists. Ranong had 151 mostly Thai deaths, while 5 and 6 people died in Trang and Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

Satun respectively. Earlier today, a tsunami alarm was sounded after several aftershocks in the region, but no additional tsunamis were generated. Up to 20,000 people are involved in rescue and relief operations in Thailand’s largest ever relief operation. Some locals have complained, however, that they have been ignored in favor of foreign tourists in relief efforts. However, authorities yesterday said that they no longer need rescue teams, but need foreign forensic assistance to identify the bodies that have begun to rapidly decompose in the heat. Officially, the Thai government has promised that it will allow enough time for foreign medical experts to inspect bodies, but health officials have expressed concerns over disease. Aid workers said today that they badly needed rubber gloves and masks to handle decomposing bodies, which pose a serious risk of infection and disease. Local temples and hospitals in the region are reportedly overloaded with bodies and need storage and burial sites. Thai health officials are also struggling to bury the dead in temporary graves, and provide latrines and drinking water to survivors. Hundreds of bodies remain to be collected among the debris, and search and rescue efforts were expected to take several weeks.

Local government

• Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has put his cabinet in charge of the affected provinces: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suvit Khunkitti would take care of Krabi; Deputy Interior Minister Sutham Saengprathum, Phangnga; Deputy Prime Ministers Pinit Charusombat and Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, Ranong; and the Interior Minister Pokin Polakul Phuket, Trang and Satun. Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop will deal with emergency help offered to foreign tourists. (Bangkok Post, Dec-30-04)

• The Information and Communications Technology Ministry (ICT) is currently mobilizing resources from state agencies to create a central database of tidal wave damage and victims in Thailand (BKK Post) that will be accessible through websites such as http://www.thaitsunami.com. The ICT is also preparing Internet and cell phone connections to facilitate the collection of information in all affected provinces. (Bangkok Post, Dec-30-04)

• Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra put Smith Thamsaroj, former Meteorological Department chief, in charge of establishing an advanced seismic and tidal wave warning for the whole nation. (Bangkok Post, Dec-30-04)

• Hundreds of Thai volunteers are currently passing out food and water, and free phone and Internet services were operating in hospitals in Phuket (DPA, Dec-30-04)

• Hospitals and schools in Phuket are being used as shelters and are collecting donations. Caskets and cloths for Muslim funeral rites are badly needed. (The Nation, Dec-30-04)

• The Public Health Ministry is sending counselors to provide grief counseling to survivors, which is badly needed. (The Nation, Dec-30-04)

• The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a Ad Hoc Task Force on Tidal Wave Disaster to coordinate international assistance and has appointed a Humanitarian Relief Coordinator.

• The Bangkok Post reported today that about 15,000 troops deployed to the insurgency-hit south will not participate in rescue operations for tsunami-hit provinces on the southwestern coast due to continuing violence in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. However, troops from the upper South, Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Except for Overview section that is rewritten weekly, any changes in the other parts of the report are highlighted in red. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at PDMIN@coe- dmha.org.

including Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chumphon provinces, have been deployed to take part in the rescue operations.

• Officials today were concerned about freshwater shortages caused by the contamination of seawater in underground and surface water sources. Officials said that freshwater ponds will be established in unaffected areas.

• The Ministry of Health also has declared the six provinces disease-control areas, and additional medical teams were sent today to prevent the spread of disease.

• Agencies at the scene included the Defense, Interior and Transport Ministries, the police, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Royal Fisheries department, as well as private foundations.

• The police and military were among the first to deploy on Sunday (December 26), while additional military rescuers were deployed from nearby provinces the next day.

• Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said that although there are sufficient personnel for rescue and relief, there is a lack of equipment.

• Authorities have sent 10 refrigerated containers to ease pressure on morgues, but facilities were reportedly overwhelmed and forensic experts struggled to identify bodies.

• Authorities also struggled with looters attempting to steal belongings among the debris. More than 13,000 rescuers and volunteers from the country and abroad are currently working in the affected areas.

• The government has reportedly set aside about 28 billion baht (US$717 million) for rehabilitation, while millions of baht in private donations have been given. The total rebuilding cost was estimated at 30 billion baht (US$768 million).

• The government and military has launched a massive emergency response operation and has given priority to rescue and food airdrops for those stranded in remote islands, care for the injured, and the identification and repatriation of bodies.

• The Health Ministry said that although there were concerns of a disease epidemic, there was enough clean drinking water. However, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has said it would send about 20,000 bottles of water a day to affected provinces.

• More than 200 doctors and nurses have been sent to affected areas.

Local organizations

• Many local foundations are collecting cash donations and relief items in Bangkok. (Bangkok Post, Dec-30-04)

Foreign governments

• US officials said today that the Utapao air base, 90 miles (145 km) south of Bangkok, is being used by the US military for transport planes and personnel. The US Embassy said that surveillance planes were already flying search and rescue missions over Thailand, and the first supply planes arrived in Thailand overnight. The Pentagon has also said that C-130 cargo planes would bring relief supplies to Thailand from Yokota air base in Japan, as well as from Utapao to the southern Thailand. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier strike group in Hong Kong was also diverted to the Gulf of Thailand, while a US official said that up to 1,000 US military personnel are expected in the next week. In addition, a military forensic team was also due to arrive to help in identifying bodies. (AP, Dec-30-04)

• Seven of the U.S. ships can produce 90,000 gallons of fresh water a day and one ship can deploy a field hospital ashore when it arrives in Thailand in about a week. (Reuters, Dec-30-04)

• A US Marine disaster relief assessment team arrived in Thailand yesterday (December 29). (American Forces Press Service, Dec-30-04)

• Four helicopters and a 70-strong team from the Singapore air force left for Phuket this morning to join in rescue efforts for two weeks. (Channel NewsAsia, Dec-30-04)

• Japan today sent an additional 22 medical personnel to Thailand. (AP, Dec-30-04)

• The Swiss government is sending a group of some 20 medical experts and specialists in disaster victim identification (SADC, Dec-30-04).

• Vietnam has granted US$100,000 in aid to Thailand, according to the report of Vietnam News Agency. (Xinhua, Dec-30-04)

• A $5m allocation by the Australian government to support international emergency relief efforts in other countries, including Thailand and the Maldives, and the deployment of Australian personnel. No breakdown of the allocation was provided. (AUSAID, Dec-30-04)

• New Zealand said it will send a victim identification team to Thailand as soon as possible, according to a request by Thai authorities. (Government of New Zealand, Dec-30-04)

• The Czech Republic is sending a planeload of humanitarian aid to Thailand (AFP, Dec-30-04)

• Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Germany and Israel have sent experts to help identify bodies. (AFP, Dec-30-04)

• Hong Kong SAR has sent 120-strong relief team to Thailand to assist return of Hong Kong tourists.

• China has donated US$300,000 to the Thai government for disaster relief.

• Japan has sent a team of 50 aid workers, police, fire department and coast guard officials to Phuket island. Twenty additional medical workers were scheduled to go on Thursday

(December 30). By the end of the week, two fire department helicopters and a 40-member crew are due to arrive.

• Japan has dispatched three Self Defense Force vessels, two destroyers and a supply ship to Phuket carrying two helicopters.

• French and Australian jets carrying aid and medical supplies arrived in Phuket on Wednesday (December 29). Greece, Italy, Germany and Sweden were all planning to send aircraft to take their respective nationals home from Phuket.

• The Italian Embassy in Bangkok sent a medical and forensics team to Phuket on Monday (December 27)

International organizations

• The World Food Program (WFP) has said that coordination is lacking and that the Foreign Affairs Ministry, its main contact, is overwhelmed with dealing with missing or dead foreigners, and evacuating them. Meanwhile, the Red Cross was expected to send an assessment team tomorrow (December 31) to Phang Nga. (WFP, Dec-30-04)

• ADRA (Adventist Development Relief Agency) is on the ground in Thailand responding to and assessing the damage. In Phuket Province, Thailand, ADRA is working with a local hospital to distribute personal care packages and provide relief assistance to nearly 3,000 people. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• In one of the largest initial responses for emergency assistance in South and Southeast Asia, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has committed at least $500,000 to provide shelter and immediate health care needs to affected countries. CRS and local partners immediately mobilized to the hardest hit areas of Thailand. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• Project HOPE will be responding to the disaster in south Asia with appropriate medical humanitarian assistance -- initially in Thailand, possibly in other affected countries, as need and resource and logistic questions are answered. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• World Concern will provide emergency shelter, food, water and sanitation to victims in southern Thailand. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• Cash and emergency commodities are being sent by World Emergency Relief to Thailand. (Interaction, Dec-29-04)

• CARE is assessing most affected areas in Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong with a focus on assistance to migrant populations. (CARE, Dec-29-04)

• The global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International based in south and south east Asia have mobilized humanitarian relief operations in Thailand. (ACT, Dec-29-04)

• In Thailand, UNICEF is assessing both immediate and long-term needs in the affected areas, which in addition to the tourist spots Phuket and Krabi also include fishing communities along other areas of the coast which were completely destroyed. UNICEF is focusing on providing water, sanitation facilities and food for those in the affected areas, especially children, as well as addressing the longer-term needs for education, psychological support and replacing lost livelihood of entire communities. (UNICEF, Dec-30-04)

• A Thai IRAEMOP (Immediate Response Account/ Emergency Operations) being arranged by the World Food Program (WFP). (WFP, Dec-30-04)

• UNDP (UN Development Program) released an emergency grant of $100,000, while WFP has allocated $500,000 to purchase food for immediate distribution to the affected population. (UN News Services, Dec-30-04)

• ADRA has set up a crisis command center in Bangkok, Thailand to coordinate its network-wide response and continuing assessment in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India. Earlier this week, ADRA International committed $500,000 of private funds as part of the agency’s initial response. In Phuket Province, Thailand, ADRA distributed personal care packages benefiting nearly 3,000 people. (ADRA, Dec-30-04)

• In Thailand, nine volunteers from Taiwan’s Tzu Chi Buddhist foundation left for Phuket Island from Bangkok on Dec. 26 to assess needs. They will provide 2,000 body bags and 1,000 surgical gloves. (Tzu Chi Foundation, Dec-30-04)

• World Vision Thailand is distributing 2,000 survival kits to affected communities in Krabi, and is assisting at least 20,000 people in Krabi and Ranong (World Vision, Dec-30-04).

• World Vision will coordinate communications and assessment with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) as requested by the government (WFP) to share with UN agencies (WFP).

• UNICEF is currently assessing short and long-term needs in affected areas, including local fishing communities. UNDP has released an emergency grant of US$10,000, while WFP has allocated US$ 500,000 for food aid. (WFP, Dec-30-04)

• UN agencies have pledged to contribute about 90 million baht (US$2.3 million) in aid to Thailand.

• A UNDAC team flew to Phuket today (December 29) to assist with relief. Team was accompanied by UN resident coordinator in Thailand, and representatives from UNICEF, the WFP and the WHO. They will conduct needs assessment and help the government in coordinating international aid.

• Bangkok has reportedly asked the UN to coordinate relief efforts and the international support.