Appeal No. M04EA028 Asia: Earthquakes 6 June 2010 Operations update n° 66 & Tsunami Appeal target (Tsunami emergency and recovery revised plan and budget 2005-2010 issued on 13 March 2009): CHF 706.4 million (USD 606.5 million or EUR 473.4 million); <click here to go directly to the revised plan and budget > Appeal coverage: 100%; <click here to link to contact details > Appeal history: • This emergency appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 26 December 2004, for CHF 7,517,000 (USD 6,658,712 or EUR 4,852,932) for six months to assist 500,000 beneficiaries. • Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 1,000,000 was initially allocated from the International Federation’s DREF to support the national society in response. • Revised Preliminary Appeal issued on 29 December 2004, for CHF 67,005,000 (USD 59,152,246 or EUR 53,439,988) for six to eight months was to assist two million beneficiaries. • Preliminary Appeal originally launched was titled “Bay The newly constructed Balapitiya Base Hospital of Bengal: Earthquake and Tsunamis”. Title was Operating Theatre. Photo: SLRCS changed to “Asia: Earthquakes and Tsunamis” in Revised Preliminary Appeal launched on 29 December 2004. • Operations Update No. 16 revised the budget to CHF 183,486,000 (USD 155,296,000 or EUR 118,669,000) with programme extensions for Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Maldives and East Africa. • Tsunami Emergency and Recovery Plan of Action 2005-2010 was launched on 6 May 2005 with a budget of CHF 590 million for the two-year period 2005-2006. • Tsunami Emergency and Recovery Plan of Action 2005-2010 Revised Plan and Budget was launched on 22 December 2005 with a budget of CHF 1.064 billion (USD 811 million or EUR 687 million) for the period of 2005-2007. • Tsunami Emergency and Recovery Revised Plan and Budget 2005-2010 was launched on 31 March 2008 with a budget of CHF 202,609,575 for the period of 2008-2010. • Tsunami Emergency and Recovery Revised Plan and Budget 2005-2010 was launched on 13 March 2009 with a budget of CHF 135,493,049 for the period of 2009-2010, with a total budget of CHF 706.4 million for the six-year period. Summary: Sri Lanka: At the dawn of the fifth year commemoration, the International Federation and its partners can look back at the number of achievements that have been accomplished for the tsunami operation in Sri Lanka. During the last five years, a total of sixteen Partner National Societies (PNS) have completed their tsunami projects. The remaining eight PNS’ are exiting/transitioning to support for longer term development programmes. The International Federation is currently well into the period of transition focussing on shifting from tsunami programming to the four core programming areas which are Disaster Management, Health and 1 Care, Organizational Development and Principles and Values. Having undergone a comprehensive and consultative strategic planning process, followed by a revision and elaboration of concrete programme plans, Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has completed its five-year strategic plan 2009-2013. The International Federation is refocusing its support and resources towards the core programme areas in support of the SLRCS’ recently completed Five Year Development Plan (FYDP) and is undergoing the transition to regular programming based on its exit strategy. As of December 2009, Red Cross Red Crescent partners have collectively either fully funded or co-financed the construction of 27,989 houses in Sri Lanka. Of the completed houses so far, 14,290 have been built by the International Federation with multilateral funding and 13,699 houses with bilateral funding. An integrated approach using various segments within the Red Cross such as water and sanitation, livelihoods, health and care and disaster management are taken into serious consideration while constructing these houses. With the permanent housing programme moving fast towards its completion, Red Cross Red Crescent partners have focussed on rebuilding and reconstructing health infrastructure facilities which include a list of 69 projects identified in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health. Out of which the International Federation has undertaken 14. The scope of work includes the construction of new buildings as well as the renovation and refurbishment of existing health facilities together with the supply of new medical equipment. The International Federation has made a remarkable progress of completing seven health facilities which are located in the south and south eastern parts of Sri Lanka. In addition, an MoU has been signed with the government through the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) for 26 projects. Of the 26 projects, the International Federation has undertaken eight significantly large projects and completed three projects in south Sri Lanka. Much of the Red Cross Red Crescent water and sanitation portfolio in Sri Lanka includes large infrastructure projects, such as laying pipeline networks to new resettlement areas. Targeted tsunami-affected families will only get access to the improved water sources once the entire project is finalised and water is connected to the catchments area. Maldives: Most of the work during the latter part of the year was based on rectification of the completed projects mainly on the island of Dhuvaafaru and Vilufushi The machinery for road construction arrived late December 2009, this created a huge setback in the planned work schedule. It is also clear now that the work will not be finished before the end of March 2010 and that the Memorandum of understanding (MoU) needs to be extended. The MoU with the Dhuvaafaru Island office concerning the construction of a solid waste management centre and rainwater harvesting tanks was signed on 29 December 2009. Due to design errors of the sewer systems in Maafushi and Guraidhoo the pumps and control panels of the wet wells need to be replaced. This work is likely to be carried out during the first quarter of 2010. The memorandum of understanding has been signed with regards to the ‘host community appreciation project’, on 5 different Islands in Raa Atoll. First payment requests were issued in November, the works started immediately after. The program is due to be finalized during the first quarter of 2010. Parallel to tsunami recovery programmes, the International Federation has been supporting efforts to establish a National Society in the Maldives. Setting the legal foundation for this process proved to be lengthy, primarily due to the transformation of the Maldivian political system. However, on 29 April 2009 – some 43 months after the first steps to form the National Society were taken – the People’s Majlis [parliament] passed the Maldivian Red Crescent Act. The country’s president ratified the Law on 7 May 2009, paving the way for the establishment of Maldivian Red Crescent. Among other community-focused activities, the new National Society will put effort on enhancing disaster risk reduction approaches in order to promote community resilience. The new year looks promising with the hopes of most tsunami projects brought to completion by end of March 2010. SRI LANKA The situation Humanitarian issues and concerns were highlighted in the 3rd quarter of 2009 with the war coming to an end and the military operation winding down. In the month of June, the Sri Lankan Government requested the ICRC to scale down its operations. The ICRC initially responded by closing down several offices in the East and said that they will restructure their operations according to the current need. According to the UN, over 280,000 people were in temporary camps where the majority was in Manikfarm. The international community, especially the UN, USA and the British Government pressured the Sri Lankan government to take immediate steps to resettle these IDP’s in their homelands. The government responded stating that this could only be done after a clear confirmation by the UN, that landmines have been evacuated from the war zone. The GoSL put the 180-day resettlement plan into effect, and saw the resettlement of the majority during the year. At present, according to the UN, approximately 10,000 IDP’s remain in temporary camps as most have been resettled. In November 2009, the UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Sir John Holmes arrived in the island and assessed the IDP situation in the north. Here the Undersecretary General commended the Government of Sri Lanka, for taking steps to resettle the majority of the IDP’s. After this visit by the Undersecretary General, the government announced that from the 1st of December 2009, movement for IDP’s still remaining in temporary camps will not be restricted and would grant them the freedom of movement. Another political issue that was brewing in Sri Lanka was elections, as the legal term of the country’s parliament ended on 2 December 2009. As per the law the President was to dissolve parliament and was to call for fresh elections, however this was delayed due to the discussion that took place whether to hold a Presidential election instead and then to hold a parliamentary election or both together. After many debate the President called for a fresh mandate for the post of the Executive President of Sri Lanka on 23 November 2009. Later on the Elections Commissioner declared 26 January as the Election Day. Five years after the devastating tsunami, Sri Lanka is now in a position to take yet another turn towards development. The huge amount of humanitarian assistance received through the tsunami operation and the experience gained from the operation have done much to strengthen the capacity of the National Society ensuring a better recovery process for more resilient communities and structures not only in the north but for the country as a whole.