*EPF410 12/30/2004
Fact Sheet: USAID Fact Sheet on Response to South Asia Earthquake, Tsunami
(Aid reaching India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand) (1940)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released on December 29 a fact sheet detailing U.S. humanitarian assistance following the massive December 26 earthquake in the Indian Ocean and subsequent tsunami.
The aid is contributing to international humanitarian relief efforts in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The following fact sheet outlines how the initial U.S. pledge of $35 million for relief efforts is being committed and programmed:
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
[Washington, D.C.]
INDIAN OCEAN ���� Earthquake and Tsunamis
Fact Sheet #3, Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 December 29, 2004
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE �������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������ SOURCE
Indonesia 45,000 deaths
AFP [Agence France-Presse], Government of Indonesia, December 29
Sri Lanka
23,015 deaths, 1 million people affected
CNN, December 29
India
10,850 deaths
AFP, December 29
Thailand
1,800 deaths, 3,000 injured
AFP, December 29
Somalia
100 to 300 deaths
WFP [U.N. World Food Program], December 29
Burma (Myanmar)
90 deaths
CNN, December 29
Malaysia
65 deaths
CNN, December 29
Maldives
55 deaths, 68 missing, 17,000 displaced
AFP, December 29
Tanzania
10 deaths
BBC, December 29
Seychelles
3 deaths
BBC, December 29
Bangladesh
2 deaths
BBC, December 29
Kenya
1 death
BBC, December 29
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Pledged........................................$35,000,000
Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed.................$10,131,300
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed..................................$11,381,300
CURRENT SITUATION Most Powerful Earthquake in 40 Years
����A magnitude 9.0 earthquake on December 26, off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered massive tsunamis that affected several countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, as well as Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya in East Africa.
����Reports from international media and national government sources indicate that the earthquake and tsunamis killed more than 81,000[According to the IFRC, the death toll will most likely exceed 100,000 people] people in South and Southeast Asia and East Africa: 45,000 people in Indonesia, 23,015 in Sri Lanka, 10,850 in India, 1,800 in Thailand, between 100 to 300 in Somalia, 90 in Burma, 65 in Malaysia, 55 in the Maldives, 10 in Tanzania, 3 in the Seychelles, and 2 in Bangladesh. Death tolls continue to rise as rescue and recovery operations access more remote areas.
Additional USAID/DART Members Deploy to Region
����Two military liaison officers, one to be stationed with U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) and one to travel to Sri Lanka, along with a press officer and a second information officer, will deploy to augment the USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) team already in the region. This will bring the total number of USAID/DART members deployed to 15. USAID/OFDA anticipates quickly increasing to a 40-person regional USAID/DART over the next several days.
IFRC Appeal Revised Upward
����On December 28, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced a revised appeal of more than $44 million to support emergency operations in response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. The IFRC����s preliminary appeal for $6.6 million was launched on December 26 and fully funded within 12 hours.
U.N. to Launch Flash Appeal
����The U.N. plans to release an inter-agency Flash Appeal on January 6, following further assessments by individual country teams in affected areas. In addition to emergency needs the appeal will cover some longer-term recovery requirements.
U.N. and IFRC Field Teams
����The U.N. has deployed U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams to Thailand, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The IFRC has sent Field Assessment and Coordination Teams (FACTs) to Sri Lanka and is sending teams to Indonesia and the Maldives to assist with logistics, telecommunications, water and sanitation, and health and medical sector activities. IFRC's office in Nairobi, Kenya, will manage the Federation����s disaster response in East Africa.
��Effects of Tsunami in East Africa
����According to WFP, the most affected areas of Somalia are in Puntland on the eastern tip of the Horn of Africa. To date, fatalities include 100 persons on land and 150 to 200 others lost at sea. WFP estimates that 4,000 people lack shelter and face significant health risks in Puntland. An inter-agency assessment of the affected areas will be conducted in the near future.
USG ASSISTANCE ����The USG has pledged $35 million toward earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Dollar amounts in this Fact Sheet are a part of the total pledge of $35 million and refer to specific funding actions that have been committed and programmed.
��
��Regional Assistance
����On December 27, USAID/OFDA provided $4 million to the IFRC for the distribution of emergency shelter materials and other relief commodities, based on the assessment and evaluation of needs in the affected areas. The appeal targets 500,000 beneficiaries for 6 months. Specific activities will include the purchase and transport of tarpaulins, mosquito nets, and family kits to the affected areas, as well as operational activities such as surveying and registering people for assistance. IFRC will distribute the relief items among the most vulnerable affected households. IFRC will also work to complement local reconstruction initiatives through the purchase and distribution of essential building materials and tools.
����The U.S. Department of Defense is currently in the process of organizing and sending disaster relief assets and aircraft into the Indian Ocean region to assist with the emergency response.
��Sri Lanka and the Maldives
����On December 26, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Jeffrey J. Lunstead issued disaster declarations for both countries. The same day, USAID/OFDA provided $200,000 through USAID/Sri Lanka: $100,000 for Sri Lanka and $100,000 for the Maldives.
����On December 29, USAID/OFDA provided $2.5 million to USAID/Sri Lanka for emergency grants to nongovernmental organization (NGO) relief activities in affected areas of Sri Lanka.
��India
����On December 27, U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford declared a disaster due to the magnitude of the effects of the tsunamis, particularly in southern coastal areas of India and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In response, USAID/OFDA immediately provided $100,000 through USAID/India to be divided between the Prime Minister����s Relief Fund and the Indian Red Cross for emergency activities.
����On December 29, USAID/OFDA provided $1 million to USAID/India for emergency grants for relief activities in the affected areas of India.
��Indonesia
����On December 27, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the earthquake and the tsunamis. USAID/OFDA provided an initial $100,000 through USAID/Indonesia to the Indonesian Red Cross for relief operations. USAID/OFDA is also providing $2 million through USAID/Indonesia for emergency water and sanitation, shelter, and health sector activities.
����USAID/OFDA is preparing to dispatch two flights to Indonesia that will carry two 10,000-liter water bladders, 500 body bags, 4,200 water containers, and 100 rolls of plastic sheeting. The value of this assistance excluding transport is approximately $49,300.
����USAID����s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has authorized 500 metric tons (MT) of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance valued at approximately $250,000 toward the U.N. World Food Program����s (WFP) relief efforts in Sumatra.
����On December 29, USAID/Indonesia provided $1.0 million for NGO relief activities in Banda Aceh, Sumatra.
��Thailand
����On December 27, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Darryl N. Johnson declared a disaster declaration due to the effects of the tsunamis. In response, USAID/OFDA is providing $100,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok to the Thai Red Cross for the procurement and distribution of emergency relief items.
USG REGIONAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ASIA
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
IFRC
Response to emergency appeal
Regionwide
$4,000,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO REGION
$4,000,000
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO INDIA
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
Prime Minister����s Relief Fund
Emergency relief activities
Countrywide
$50,000
Indian Red Cross
Emergency relief activities
Countrywide
$50,000
USAID/India
Primarily water and sanitation
Countrywide
$1,000,000
Administrative
$16,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO INDIA
$1,116,000
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
Indonesian Red Cross
Emergency relief activities
Sumatra
$100,000
Indonesian Red Cross
Airlifted emergency relief supplies
Sumatra
$49,300
USAID/Indonesia
Water and sanitation, health, shelter
Sumatra
$2,000,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO INDONESIA
$2,149,300
USAID/FFP ASSISTANCE
WFP
500 MT of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance
Sumatra
$250,000
TOTAL USAID/FFP TO INDONESIA
$250,000
USAID/INDONESIA ASSISTANCE
Multiple
Emergency relief activities
Aceh Province
$1,000,000
TOTAL USAID/INDONESIA ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA
$1,000,000
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO INDONESIA
$3,399,300
USAID/OFDA HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO MALAYSIA
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
Malaysia Red Crescent and National Disaster Management and Relief Committee
Procurement and distribution of relief items, shelter
Northwest Malaysia
$50,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDATO MALAYSIA
$50,000
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE MALDIVES
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
USAID/Sri Lanka
Emergency relief activities
Countrywide
$100,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO THE MALDIVES
$100,000
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
USAID/Sri Lanka
Emergency relief activities
Countrywide
$100,000
Multiple
Emergency relief activities
Countrywide
$2,500,000
Administrative
$16,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO SRI LANKA
$2,616,000
USAID/OFDA HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THAILAND
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
Thai Red Cross
Procurement and distribution of relief items
Countrywide
$100,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA TO THAILAND
$100,000
All USAID/OFDA funding represent committed and/or obligated amounts as of December 29, 2004.
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Pledged..............................................$35,000,000
Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed.......�������������$10,131,300
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed...........����.........................$11,381,300
PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION
����The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for their tsunami relief efforts in South Asia can be found in the ����How Can I Help���� section of http://www.usaid.gov/, Keyword: Tsunami, or by calling the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) at 703-276-1914.
����USAID encourages cash donations because they: allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
����More information on making donations and volunteering can be found at:
o USAID: http://www.usaid.gov/�� ���� Keyword: Donations
o The Center for International Disaster Information: http://www.cidi.org/���� or (703) 276-1914
o InterAction: http://www.interaction.org/ ���� ����Guide to Appropriate Giving����
����Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at http://www.reliefweb.org/ .
USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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