THE TSUNAMI DISASTER IN SRI LANKA UNICEF’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE: THE FIRST SIX WEEKS

UNICEF/HQ/Kathryn Grusovin Grade 4 student at Hambantota Primary School get back to learning with the help UNICEF school supplies

TABLE OF CONTENTS A. INTRODUCTION B. DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TSUNAMI i. Assessments by International Organizations ii. Assessments by the Government of Sri Lanka C. UNICEF EMERGENCY RESPONSE i. The Provision of Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene ii. The Provision of Essential Health and Nutrition Services iii. The Provision of Child Learning Opportunities iv. Protection and Psychosocial Support of Children D. UNICEF OPERATIONS

i. ii. iii.

Funding Human Resources Supply and Distribution of Relief Items

List of Tables

Table 1: Estimates of tsunami damage and financing needs Table 2: Distribution of water bowsers Table 3: Construction of latrines in schools and camps Table 4: Damage to health facilities by district Table 5: Nutritional status of tsunami affected children compared to national data Table 6: Health facilities for UNICEF reconstruction Table 7: Damage to schools as a result of tsunami Table 8: Distribution of school supplies Table 9: Schools for UNICEF reconstruction Table 10: Unaccompanied and separated children in displaced camps Table 11: UNICEF funding by sector Table 12: Staff brought on for the tsunami emergency Table 13: Value of supplies ordered Maps Map 1: Affected Populations

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A.

INTRODUCTION

With over three decades of experience in Sri Lanka including a history of responding to drought, floods and a presence in the North East of the country to assist war-affected and disadvantaged children, UNICEF Sri Lanka was well-positioned to respond swiftly and appropriately to the tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004. Immediately upon hearing news of the massive waves hitting coastal areas, UNICEF staff mobilized for action. The priority objectives were clear: to ensure the survival of affected populations, to alleviate the immediate suffering of children, particularly those who had lost parents, and to address their most pressing humanitarian needs. Within 72 hours of the disaster, UNICEF had distributed all of the essential supplies in its stockpiles and had begun in earnest the procurement of additional emergency equipment. By 30 December, household supplies had been distributed to 25,000 people; emergency medical kits dispatched for 150,000 persons; six water bowsers and 75 water storage tanks delivered and set up; 471,000 water purification tablets distributed; 3,000 squatting plates for construction of temporary latrines provided; sanitation suction tanks dispatched; and nearly 92 recreation kits for over 7,200 children passed out in IDP camps of the most affected districts. Every hour counted and UNICEF staff, along with partners, worked around the clock. Six weeks on, the sheer scale of the tsunami devastation has now fully unfolded. The tsunami that hit Sri Lanka and eight other countries of the Indian Ocean caused death and destruction of unprecedented proportions. In Sri Lanka alone, over 30,000 persons were killed, 80,000 households destroyed, and one million persons displaced. It is estimated that one-third of all fatalities were children, and according to assessments in Ampara, the worst affected district, as many as half of all tsunami deaths were children. Since 26 December, UNICEF has conducted emergency activities in support of tsunami-affected populations from its established offices in the North East, namely Batticaloa, Jaffna, Killinochchi, and Trincomalee. It has also fielded staff to areas where UNICEF did not have offices before the tsunami. These are the southeastern districts of Ampara, Hambantota, Matara and Galle. Assistance has revolved around UNICEF’s core commitments for children in emergencies: i) the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene; ii) the provision of essential health and nutrition services; iii) the provision of child-learning opportunities; and iv) the protection and psychosocial support of children. In addition, UNICEF has provided support to government institutions and ministries during this emergency phase. It is significant that since the tsunami not a single child has died as a direct result of diseases normally associated with mass displacement. It is also of critical note that the opportunity to return to school was made available to as many as 200,000 children with the support of UNICEF emergency education supplies, furniture and equipment within six weeks of the tsunami.

B. DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TSUNAMI i.

Assessments by International Organizations

Since the tsunami, there have been a number of needs assessments conducted. Immediately following the disaster, there was little coordination in these assessments as an ever-growing number of humanitarian actors scrambled to assess the extent of damages and quickly plan their activities. A few days after the disaster, a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)

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team arrived in country and, under the direction of the UN Resident Coordinator, was expected to coordinate assessments at the district level. UNICEF assisted missions coming to the North East where it already had established offices. UNICEF also participated in a joint UN/DFID assessment of Ampara District in the first days of the crisis. This was one of the most comprehensive of the early needs assessments and provided useful information on the scale of damages in this worst affected district. The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, with the support of UNDAC and other UN agencies, collated the data coming from the various assessments and produced a preliminary report of the situation in the various districts with this information in the first week of January. The process was difficult because different assessments had been conducted according to different formats and the result was uneven. At the request of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), a 40-member assessment team comprised of staff from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank arrived in country on 10 January to conduct a rapid assessment of the damage caused by the tsunami. UNICEF provided technical input for the psychosocial, education, and water and sanitation sectors of the needs assessment. According to the preliminary findings of the team, overall financing needs are estimated in the range of 1.4 to 1.5 USD billion. Over 65 percent of all physical damage caused by the tsunami was sustained in the North and East. The worst damage was reported in the eastern districts of Ampara and Batticaloa. In Ampara alone, damage is estimated at 131.79 USD million. Galle, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Trincomalee were all estimated to have sustained damage above 50 USD million. Table 1: Estimates of tsunami damage and financing needs Table 1: Preliminary Estimates of Losses and Financing Needs (US$ million) Losses Financing Needs Sector Asset Loss Output Loss Short-term Medium-term Total Needs Housing 290-325 50 360-410 410-460 Roads 80 21 157 178 Water and Sanitation 40 60 50 110 Railways 14 15 56 71 Education 21 12 12-30 24-42 Health 57 16 63 79 Agriculture* 3 2 2 4 Fisheries* 120 155 85 60 145 Tourism* 250 65-130 250 250 Power 9 27 40-50 67-77 Environment 10 6 12 18 Social Welfare** 30 30 900-930 220-290 580 810-890 1,400-1,500 Total in $ million Percent of GDP 4-4.5 1-1.5 7.0 Source: Government of Sri Lanka and staff estimates. * Includes estimates from livelihoods damage assessment of fishermen, small farmers, and small businesses in tourism totaling $140 million. ** Targeted assistance to vulnerable groups. Source: Sri Lanka 2005 Post-Tsunami Recovery Program, Draft Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment, Prepared by ADB/JBIC/JICA and World Bank, January 2005.

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A broader coalition of Sri Lanka’s development partners including the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the bilaterals, NGOs, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the UN agencies have agreed to work jointly on the second phase of the needs assessment. The objective is to turn the damage assessment conducted by the IFIs into a recovery and reconstruction plan endorsed through a process of district level consultation and national level policy deliberation and decision. This phase of the assessment will cover recovery and reconstruction and will be undertaken over a period of two months. A second and more comprehensive report with data from this phase is due to be completed by the end of April.

UNICEF/HQ05-0169/Shehzad Noorani Hasina, 11, sits amidst the debris where her house used to be before it was destroyed by the tsunami, in the village of Maruthamunai in the eastern district of Ampara. “All these years we lived here,” she says “…but there is nothing left. Everything, my books, toys, even my friends, everything is gone.”

Jointly with the Medical Research Institute of the Ministry of Healthcare, Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development and WFP, UNICEF has conducted a rapid nutrition survey in IDP camps. The findings and recommendations of this survey will feed into the overall assessment of international organizations during this second phase. ii.

Assessments by the Government of Sri Lanka

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) conducted a comprehensive assessment of the damage done by the tsunami which is in the process of being reconciled with the information provided by the IFIs. It also conducted a number of sector-specific assessments. Of particular interest to UNICEF were assessment reports produced by the Ministries of Education and Health outlining the damages sustained in each of those sectors. By 4 January, the Ministry of Education had released a report outlining its preliminary findings of damages to schools in the affected districts. Later, the Ministry followed up its initial assessment with additional findings. In the latest report, released on 18 January, the Ministry indicated that 70 schools were fully damaged and another 95 schools were partially damaged. The cost of the damages was estimated at 10,392.5 Rs million.1 The Ministry of Health also produced a report with preliminary findings of damages to the health sector on 11 January. In this report, it indicated that 87 health institutions were fully or partially damaged. Included in this figure were different Deputy Provincial Directors of Health Services offices affected by the tsunami. Preliminary estimated reconstruction costs were reported at 67 USD million with the most damage to the health sector assessed in the eastern districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.2 The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have also conducted damage assessments and formulated reconstruction plans in the North East. This too is in the process of being reconciled with the information provided by the IFIs. 1

Ministry of Education, Details of Damage Caused by Tsunami to Schools in the Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka, Education for All and MDG Monitoring Unit, 18 January 2005. 2 Ministry of Health, 9.0 Tsunami Disaster 2004: Sri Lanka Health Sector Recovery, 11 January 2005.

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In the next phase of the assessment leading to a recovery and reconstruction plan, Sri Lanka’s development partners, will work together at the district level to turn the initial damage assessment by the IFIs into a recovery and reconstruction plan with the support of all parties.

C.

THE UNICEF EMERGENCY RESPONSE

One of UNICEF’s immediate responses to the disaster was to distribute essential household supplies that it had in its stockpiles. Additional items were ordered within the first days of the emergency. These included 30,000 sleeping mats, bed sheets and towels, 10,000 sets of cooking pots, 10,000 t-shirts, 420 cases of washing soap and 346 cases of face soap. Additional household kits for 66,000 families were ordered and will be used in subsequent months as the displaced return to their permanent homes. These kits included sleeping mats, sheets, cooking pots, mosquito nets, clothing, hygiene kits for adults and babies, and water purification tablets. In addition, UNICEF procured enough sanitary pads for 70,000 women for three months. It also provided immediate shelter assistance through the distribution of tarpaulin sheets for displaced families and has committed to provide 5,000 family tents to the Government of Sri Lanka for use in transitional relocation sites. In addition to its response on shelter and the distribution of non-food relief items and its support to the coordination of the emergency response, UNICEF undertook emergency activities around the following core commitments for children in emergencies: i) the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene; ii) the provision of essential health and nutrition services; iii) the provision of child-learning opportunities; and iv) the protection and psychosocial support of children i.

Support to Coordination of the Emergency Response

UNICEF has played a significant role in coordination of emergency activities at the national and district levels. UNICEF supported the Centre for National Operations established by the Government of Sri Lanka to coordinate the tsunami response and deployed staff members and consultants to staff the water and sanitation desk, the education desk and the children’s desk which focused specifically on protection issues. UNICEF is also the UN focal point for three sectors of the emergency response: water and sanitation, education and child protection (including psycho-social support and care of unaccompanied and separated children). This role entailed facilitating the Government of Sri Lanka’s coordination of the emergency response in these sectors by supporting regular coordination meetings chaired by relevant government ministries with NGOs and supporting the planning of services at the national and district level. In addition, UNICEF has been active in the coordination of the emergency response at district level in several of the districts and is actively represented in various district sectoral committees. In Galle, Matara and Hambantota, UNICEF deployed staff members to the offices of the Government Agents (GAs). They collaborated with colleagues from other UN agencies to help support the GAs as they coordinated the response to the tsunami. In Killinochchi/Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, UNICEF Heads of Zone Offices are also the UN focal points and have actively supported the GAs in the establishment of different coordination mechanisms. In Mullaitivu, for example, UNICEF is participating in the joint emergency task force, consisting of the Government Agent (GA), representatives from the LTTE political and women’s wings, the Deputy Provincial Director of Health Services (DPDHS),

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the Tamil Eelam Health Services, the NGO consortium and one representative from international agencies. UNICEF has also played a key role with other international agencies to encourage the government of Sri Lanka to adopt a more structured approach to the relocation of displaced families that is in full accordance with international standards pertaining to internally displaced persons, including the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. UNICEF has stressed the importance of balancing the rights of children to return to school with the rights of displaced persons. UNICEF has supported a staggered approach to the re-opening of school buildings used as temporary camps to ensure that appropriate alternative shelter is found for displaced families and that IDPs are fully consulted and informed about possible relocation options. In this regard, UNICEF has worked closely with local government authorities, UNHCR and Save the Children Fund to develop and implement a rapid survey of displaced families to ascertain their preferences regarding relocation. ii.

The Provision of Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Issue Several of the areas that were hit by the tsunami had lower rates of access to basic safe drinking water and sanitation even before the disaster of 26 December. In Sri Lanka, over 20 percent of children were drinking unsafe water and 35 percent were without access to basic sanitation. As a result of the tsunami, already fragile water supply networks were damaged and water sources contaminated. Sanitation facilities were destroyed, making survivors even more vulnerable to waterborne diseases. Whilst the country has avoided epidemics related to water and sanitation thus far, the potential for outbreaks still exists, particularly in camps and in communities of return. Action UNICEF has focused its activities on ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for over 200,000 persons and on rebuilding proper sanitation facilities in camps, schools, and health centres. UNICEF support for the construction of emergency toilets, in particular, has been essential in maintaining a disease-free environment for displaced populations. Within 72 hours of the tsunami, UNICEF purchased six water bowsers and rented an additional six for the distribution of water in the IDP camps. It distributed 75 water storage tanks, 471,000 water purification tablets and rented one gully sucker to dispose of sewage.

UNICEF/HQ05-0155/Kathryn Grusovin A girl drinks safe water at a tap in the village of Islamabad in Kalmunai District, Ampara Province. The village is among several on a 5-6 kilometre coastal stretch where 8,000 people were killed by the tsunami and thousands more were left homeless.

During the early days of the emergency, UNICEF was requested to act as the UN focal point for water and sanitation. It seconded a water and sanitation specialist to the Government of Sri Lanka’s Centre for National Operations (CNO). It also worked closely with the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply, the Ministry of Health, and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to facilitate the coordination of water and sanitation activities amongst all stakeholders. It has consolidated an on-going needs

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assessment by various sector partners and has supported specific needs assessments in order to establish priorities for its own response to the tsunami crisis. In addition, a sub-committee has been set up under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, consisting of UNICEF, World Vision, IFRC, Oxfam and WHO to develop hygiene promotion materials for camps, schools, and affected communities. Furthermore, two additional sub-committees have been established with UNICEF participation to develop standard toilet design and well cleaning standards. UNICEF’s coordination role has been a core component of its emergency response in the sector and has continued at the national level and in some of the districts as required. Within six weeks of the tsunami, UNICEF had provided an additional ten water bowsers to local water boards, some 3000 squatting pans for the construction of temporary toilets in IDP camps; 100,000 bottles of drinking water, 50 tonnes of water treatment chemicals, 25,000 family water purification kits, and tools for the construction of toilets. At the same time, UNICEF has supported the establishment of water points in camps, schools and health centres. A Water and Sanitation Section has now been established within UNICEF Colombo. Five international technical staff has been temporarily appointed and an additional seven short-term national technical staff are currently being recruited for deployment to the affected districts. This staff will provide much needed support to water, sanitation and hygiene promotion activities in IDP camps, schools and health centres as well as in communities of return. A 19 USD million Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion Plan of Action has been developed to address the short and long-term needs of the affected population. Table 2: Distribution of water bowsers

District

Jaffna Killinochchi Mullaitivu Trincomalee Batticaloa Ampara Hambantota Matara Galle Kalutara To be identified TOTAL

UNICEF Distribution of Water Bowsers to Date First batch Specifications Second Specifications delivered batch delivered 2 6000 L 1 6000 L 1 6000 L 1 13200 L 1 6000 L 2 6000 L 1 6000 L 1 6000 L 1 6000 L 1 6000 L

1 1

6000 L 6000 L

1 1

6000 L 6000 L

Addtl. Planned

1

1 3

6

10

5

UNICEF is currently supporting the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply to provide toilet and water facilities in 106 schools and 200 camps. During the course of the last six weeks, UNICEF has supported the construction of 836 temporary toilets in displaced camps and schools out of a total of 3,968 temporary toilets constructed by all agencies during this period. An additional 1,332 toilets are needed in temporary camps and schools. UNICEF has also distributed squatting plates and shovels. In addition, UNICEF has supported the construction of bathing facilities for women and men in the temporary relocation sites in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu.

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Due to the urgent need to empty toilet pits in IDP camps, schools, health centres and places where household toilets have been flooded with silt and water, UNICEF has supported the local development of a simple, light-weight and highly maneuverable gully emptier for deployment in the affected districts. The first unit has been successfully tested in Matara; twenty-one additional units will be ordered. UNICEF has also launched a survey to investigate the technical quality of the emergency water and sanitation systems currently operating in camps, schools, and health facilities to ensure that there are certain minimum standards maintained in all affected districts. As well as providing water and sanitation equipment, UNICEF is also working closely with the Ministry of Health, WHO and several NGOs to develop promotional messages on sanitation and hygiene for populations in affected areas. UNICEF, in collaboration with WHO, has distributed 200,000 pamphlets on good hygiene practices in hundreds of camps and is working with the Government of Sri Lanka, UN agencies and NGOs to harmonize future activities on hygiene promotion. Table 3: Construction of Latrines in Schools and Camps District

Type of latrine

Location

Type of work

Latrines constructed by other agencies

Additional latrines needed

Total

Jaffna

No. of latrines completed by UNICEF 38

Water sealed

Schools

N/A

100

138

Killinochchi Mullaitivu Trincomalee

0 0 208

N/A N/A Dry pit

939 908 85

350 350 150

1,289 1,258 443

Batticaloa

60

215

112

387

Ampara

291

Barrel and pit Temporary

N/A N/A Schools and camps IDP camps

282

100

673

Matara

4

Temporary

IDP camps

191

50

245

Hambantota Galle

0 235

N/A 30 temporary latrines and squatting pans for 200 direct pit latrines in houses

N/A temporary latrines in school camps and direct pit latrines in houses

Cleaning and renovation – ongoing N/A N/A Construction completed Construction completed 227 latrines construction completed/ 64 ongoing Construction completed N/A Construction of temporary latrines completed; squatting pans provided for houses

235 277

20 100

255 612

TOTAL

836

3,132

1,332

5,300

IDP camps

In addition to this support for affected populations in the districts, UNICEF will be providing critical technical expertise and logistical support to the Government of Sri Lanka and its institutions through the purchase of vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and computers which are due to arrive in the coming days.

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Next Steps Moving to the second phase of the disaster response, UNICEF will continue its support of the GoSL during the reconstruction process, particularly its assistance to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Working with partners, it will continue to provide fresh water to affected populations and at the same time step up its construction of latrines and washing facilities in identified transitional camps, in schools, in health centres, and in communities of return. UNICEF is currently reviewing designs for water and sanitation systems in the schools and health centres that UNICEF has committed to reconstruct and renovate. During the next weeks and months, UNICEF will also accelerate its work to clean contaminated wells in accordance with GoSL specifications. It will promote good sanitary and hygiene practices among affected populations. For the long-term, UNICEF will strive to strengthen the national water and sanitation systems, rebuilding the sector in such a way that it will provide lasting services to the Sri Lankan population. Water quality surveillance systems will be established for rural water supplies in 12 affected districts. At the same time, efforts will be made to improve the capacity of district and local governments to deliver and manage water and sanitation services to rural and small urban centres. UNICEF will work to improve the water supply and sanitation facilities in 800 primary schools and 300 health centres. At the policy and strategic partnership level, support will encompass the development of a sector vision and a policy framework. This will involve greater engagement and participation in the development of WES policies, normative standards, and inter-linkages with other sectors, in the context of meeting the MDGs. iii.

The Provision of Essential Health and Nutrition Services

Issue The tsunami caused considerable damage to the health infrastructure in Sri Lanka. Ninety-two (92) health facilities in eleven of Sri Lanka’s twenty-five districts were either damaged or destroyed, including several major hospitals, district and divisional health offices, maternal and child health clinics and three regional drug stores. The cost of rehabilitating these services stands at around 79 USD million.3 In addition to physical damage to institutional buildings, medical equipments, drugs, and a large number of health sector vehicles, including ambulances, lorries, vans, double cabs and motor bikes, were lost in the tsunami. These losses resulted in a complete breakdown of the health system in the days following the disaster.

UNICEF/HQ05-0012/Shehzad Noorani UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy speaks with a girl who was injured during the tsunami, at the General Hospital in the southern city of Matara.

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ADB/JBIC/JICA/World Bank, Sri Lanka 2005 Post-Tsunami Recovery Program, Draft: Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment, end January 2005. The Ministry of Health had released on 11 January an initial estimate putting costs to the health sector at 67 USD million.

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Table 4: Damage to health facilities by district District

Fully damaged buildings

Partly damaged buildings

Batticaloa Galle Ampara Trincomalee Matara Mullaitivu Kalutara Colombo Hambantota Jaffna Killinochchi Total

9 10 11 3 2 6 2 0 0 0 1 44

10 8 2 6 5 0 3 5 5 4 0 48

Total fully and partially damaged buildings 19 18 13 9 7 6 5 5 5 4 1 92

Source: Please note that this figure of 92 health centres comes from the ADB/JBIC/JBCA/World Bank, Sri Lanka 2005 Post-Tsunami Recovery Program, Draft: Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment, end January 2005. The Ministry of Health had released on 11 January an initial estimate of 87 health centres damaged.

Due to the rapid emergency health response of the Government of Sri Lanka and humanitarian agencies such as UNICEF, the tsunami did not result in any major outbreaks of disease in Sri Lanka. To date, there have only been a few cases of dysentery, viral fever, diarrhoea, skin disease and respiratory infections identified, and there have been no reports of children who have died of communicable diseases. Well-functioning national health programmes prior to the tsunami, including high immunization coverage, properly trained health personnel, and a strong network of primary health care helped to prevent a major medical emergency. The rapid restoration of the water supply and coordinated efforts to provide adequate emergency sanitation also contributed to the prevention of a major disease outbreak. Action Since the beginning of the emergency, UNICEF has worked closely with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to coordinate the emergency health and nutrition response. Under the overall UN health coordination by WHO, UNICEF identified six key areas to focus its short-term response in the areas of health and nutrition. These have included: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

Re-establishment of basic health services; Initiation of public health measures to control communicable diseases; Restoration of cold chain facilities; Nutritional surveillance; Promotion of infants and young child breastfeeding; Delivery of micronutrients.

1) Re-establishment of basic health services Within 72 hours of the Tsunami, emergency health kits containing essential drugs and supplies for up to 150,000 people for three months were provided to all affected areas. Additional batches of essential drugs including 150,000 sachets of oral re-hydration salts, intravenous fluids, essential antibiotics and antiseptics were handed over to the Ministry of Health on 12 January.

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2) Initiation of public health measures to control communicable diseases A key element in preventing a major outbreak of disease since the tsunami has been a concerted public health campaign. UNICEF has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to develop public information messages on health promotion, prevention of disease, and safe hygiene. Immediately following the disaster, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health in its distribution of 200,000 leaflets in both Tamil and Sinhalese with health messages. UNICEF also distributed water purification tablets, water storage tanks, insecticide treated nets (ITN) and rapid malaria diagnostic kits to prevent the spread of water-borne and other communicable diseases in the displaced persons camps. 3) Restoration of cold chain facilities UNICEF has committed to assist the Government of Sri Lanka to restore cold chain facilities for the provision of vaccines in the affected areas of the country. To date, UNICEF has purchased vaccine carriers and cold boxes, refrigerators and deep freezers, as well as five vaccine transport vans and three drug/vaccine transport lorries for the Ministry of Health. In order to improve the capacity of local health care providers to respond to emergency cases as well as to reinforce outreach in the districts, UNICEF has ordered 19 double cabs, seven ambulances and 124 motorbikes for use by the Ministry of Health. 4) Nutritional surveillance Over the past weeks, UNICEF has worked with the Medical Research Institute (MRI) of the Ministry of Health and WFP to develop and conduct a rapid nutritional survey in IDP camps across the country. The survey was completed on 21 January and covered a total of 905 children in 30 IDP camps across the affected provinces of Sri Lanka. Preliminary findings from the survey indicated the following: • 20% of tsunami affected children are stunted (height for age) compared to the national figure of 14%. While these figures can be found in other non-tsunami affected areas, the higher exposure of displaced persons to disease and the absence of natural sources of food puts displaced children at a higher risk of malnutrition. • 16% of children suffer from acute malnutrition (wasting) compared to a national figure of 14% The prevalence of acute malnutrition in the East (19.8%) and West (18.1%) is higher compared to the North (12.7%) and South (12.8%). The survey also assessed disease morbidity and availability of food for the displaced population. The findings indicate the following: • More than two thirds of under five year olds were found to suffer from acute respiratory infections and nearly one in five children had diarrhoeal diseases. • While latrines were generally available in the camps, they were used by only 25% of the population which is made up of displaced from fishing communities with a low tradition of latrine use. • Although the general food distribution for adults is adequate, children do not get appropriate supplementary food • Triposha – a blended food rich in micronutrients is only available to 14% of under five year old children. Corn Soya Blend although available with WFP in adequate quantities at the national level, has not yet been distributed due to logistical delays and the need for WFP to train health workers in distribution and monitoring. • Although vitamin A capsules are readily available in the country, only 23% of children received vitamin A supplements

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Even before the tsunami disaster, malnutrition was the single developmental challenge for Sri Lankan children. Although Sri Lanka has attained high child and maternal survival rates, malnutrition among children has continued to be a significant public health problem. It is envisaged that these results will enable the development of policies and action for nutritional surveillance in the medium-term both in affected districts and the rest of the country. To assist with the nutritional surveillance, UNICEF has procured 1,500 salter scales; 500 infant scales and 2,500 child height measuring boards. As many patients lost all their health records during the tsunami, UNICEF has assisted with the printing of over 100,000 copies of the Child Health Development Record, a growth and development monitoring tool, which will be distributed to health workers through the Ministry of Health. 300,000 Pregnancy Record Cards for promoting antenatal care are currently being printed to replace those lost during the tsunami. And some 200,000 pamphlets on pregnancy and infant care have also been developed with the Ministry of Health. Further to this, an order for iron/folate and vitamin C tablets has been placed to augment the existing stock and protect pregnant women and lactating mothers against iron deficiency anaemia.

Table 5: Nutritional status of children compared to the national data (n=878)

40

34.9 29

30 20.2

%

20

13.5

16.1

14

10 0

Stunting

Wasting

Tsunami survivors

Underweight

DHS-2000

5) Promotion of infant and young child feeding In the immediate aftermath of the crisis, there was a great deal of confusion surrounding the need for feeding bottles and infant formula in the displaced camps. There was an assumption that either young infants’ mothers had died in the disaster or that they would be too traumatized to continue breastfeeding. UNICEF worked in earnest with the Ministry of Health in the days after the emergency to counter this misconception and to actively promote the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. UNICEF assisted the Government of Sri Lanka in developing guidelines on the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breast feeding, including regulating the distribution and use of breast milk substitutes for specific groups. Public health messages were developed on infant and young child feeding specific to Sri Lankan circumstances and compatible with the National Code of Breast Milk Substitutes. Some 200,000 leaflets promoting on promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding have been distributed in the camps.

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Next steps A number of important recommendations came out of the nutritional survey. These include: • Launching of a one day vitamin A supplementation campaign for all under five children affected by tsunami; • Urgent distribution of Triposha or CSB for all the children under 5 years of age as well as pregnant and lactating women; • Organizing further communication campaigns focusing on sanitation and hygiene; • Establishment of nutrition surveillance system among tsunami survivors; • Capacity building of health workers on key nutrition interventions in emergency – general food distribution, supplementary feeding, micronutrient deficiencies and infant and young child feeding. In addition, UNICEF’s medium to long-term strategic health and nutrition response strategy will prioritize the following areas: • Identification of the medium and long-term rehabilitation needs of primary health care facilities, with particular attention to maternal and child health services; • Support for the renovation of primary health care facilities and the strengthening of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services; • Support for the renovation and strengthening of emergency obstetric care services; • Renovation of damaged medical stores; • Support for cold chain facilities, particularly cold rooms in regional drug stores; • Capacity-building of Government counterparts and monitoring of core commitments; • Identification of professionals to undertake an assessment of the status of salt iodization plants to determine the extent of damage caused by the tsunami and to ensure adequate supply of future production of iodized salt; UNICEF has also tentatively agreed with the Ministry of Health to support the reconstruction of 21 health facilities. These include ten health centres, eight hospitals, and three medical supply stores. Reconstruction work will include the supply of equipment, furniture, health vehicles and utilities. Below is a breakdown of the work that will be carried out. Table 6: Health facilities for UNICEF reconstruction District Batticaloa

Ampara

Type of health facility District Hospital Arayampathy District Hospital Valachchenai Construction of 3 Government Health Centres: Maddilaky; Thiruchenth; Koddaikallar Regional Medical Supplies Division (drug store) District Hospital Pottuvil District Hospital Thirukkovil

Mullaitivu

Regional Medical Supplies Division (drug store) District Hospital Mullaitivu

Description of reconstruction work Construction of pediatric ward Construction of pediatric ward

Construction of drug stores Construction and renovation of pediatric and maternity wards Construction and renovation of pediatric and maternity wards Construction of drug store Construction of labour room

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District Galle

Type of health facility Teaching hospital Karapitiya Base Hospital Balapitiya

Matara Jaffna Hambantota iv.

Base Hospital Elpitiya 2 Government Health Centres Regional Drug Store 3 government health centres (to be managed by Killinochchi) 2 government health centres

Description of reconstruction work Construction of labour and special baby care ward Construction of underground reservoir, ICU; renovation of mother/baby unit Renovation of maternity and labour wards

The Provision of Child-Learning Opportunities

Issue The tsunami had a devastating impact on children and the education sector. Human losses are, for Sri Lanka, unprecedented. While complete data on the number of students killed by the tsunami is not yet readily available, it is estimated that as many as 30 percent of students in the affected areas died. In the hard hit division of Kalmunai in Ampara, over 1,163 children are estimated to have been killed. Many teachers, principals, administrators and community members involved with school activities also died in the disaster. According to Government figures, as many as 74 schools were fully destroyed and another 102 were partially damaged. The number of children attending these 176 schools before the tsunami is reported at around 100,0004. Below is a table that reflects the physical damage to schools in each district: Table 7: Damage to schools as a result of tsunami District

Schools fully destroyed

Schools partially damaged

Schools fully/partially damaged

Hambantota Matara Galle Kalutara Gampaha Batticaloa Ampara Trincomalee Mullaitivu Jaffna TOTAL

0 5 10 2 0 14 25 9 3 6 74

6 7 17 5 2 22 15 14 9 5 102

6 12 27 7 2 36 40 23 12 11 176

Total number of schools in district 311 375 435 415 537 314 388 259 102 411

% of total schools fully/partially damaged 1.9% 3.2% 6.2% 1.7% 0.4% 11.5% 10.3% 8.9% 11.8% 2.7%

Source: Education for All and MOG Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Education, Details of Damage CauseD by Tsunami to Schools in the Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka, as found on the CNO Website at www://cnosrilanka.org, 25 January 2005. 4

As noted in the tables of the following report, Education for All and MOG Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Education, Details of Damage Caused by Tsunami to Schools in the Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka, 18 January 2005.

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Further to the damaged and destroyed schools, another 260 schools became temporary shelters for an estimated 300,000 persons made homeless by the disaster. One month after the disaster, the number of schools housing IDPs has reduced significantly. Still, by end January, there remained over 100,000 persons housed in 153 schools throughout the country.5 While UNICEF has emphasized the importance of enabling children to resume learning as part of the rehabilitative process, UNICEF has also recognized that this must be achieved in a way that respects the rights of displaced persons. As a result, UNICEF has supported a staggered approach to the re-opening of schools so that safe, alternative shelter with adequate facilities and services can be identified for displaced families staying in school buildings. UNICEF has promoted the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement as the minimum requirements during the relocation process. UNICEF has also supported efforts to clarify the situation regarding the relocation of IDPs by working with a group of international agencies, including UNHCR, Save the Children and Caritas to develop a survey to assess IDP preferences for relocation. Decisions regarding relocation and shelter for displaced families will have a critical impact on UNICEF’s activities not only in the area of education but in the areas of water and sanitation and child protection as well since it will impact on how UNICEF will access and serve affected populations. In addition to the structural damage to buildings, schools suffered enormous material losses. Furniture and equipment of every sort was completely swept away. Pupils surviving the tsunami lost all documents and supplies as well as the proper uniforms to attend school. Affected schools required major clean up efforts. Community groups and volunteers in the districts have worked diligently to clear rubble and whitewash walls. While unaffected schools opened on 10 January and students from affected schools were allowed to attend classes in these schools. Affected schools did not open until 25 January. Overall, attendance has been varied. It was initially estimated that only 30 to 50 percent of children were attending school, but in the first weeks of February attendance was rising.

UNICEF/HQ/Kathryn Grusovin

Grade 4 students at Hambantota Primary School get back to learning with the help of UNICEF school supplies.

Action In the wake of the tsunami, UNICEF understood immediately the importance of children returning to the classroom as the single most effective remedy in helping them cope with the enormity of the catastrophe. Immediately, UNICEF committed to supporting the return of 200,000 children by the end of January. Over the last six weeks, UNICEF’s immediate activities have centered around four objectives: 1) the distribution of emergency schools supplies; 2) the clean-up of schools, including the establishment of emergency water and sanitation facilities; 3) psychosocial support for children in schools; and 4) the coordination of emergency education activities.

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Government of Sri Lanka, CNO IDP Desk, 28 January 2005. It should be noted that the number of schools housing IDPs has decreased. The figures indicated here are the last official figures publicly released by the Government of Sri Lanka before the closure of the CNO.

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1) Distribution of emergency school supplies Within days of the disaster, UNICEF provided 100 school-in-a-box kits to the severely-hit districts in the East. In parallel, UNICEF had committed itself to supporting the provision of all of the necessary supplies and materials to return tsunami affected children to learning and swiftly placed orders for additional school-in-a-box kits, textbooks, stationary, furniture, school shoes, and uniforms for the return of some 200,000 children by the end of January. By the end of January, emergency schools supplies had arrived in large quantities. UNICEF had received and distributed over 3,000 more school-in-a-box kits, 59,444 units of school furniture, over 675,000 exercise books, and uniform material for some 107,000 children. Math sets, chalk boards and all sorts of stationary reached children around the country. Each of the school-in-abox kits included supplies for over 60 students and two teachers and contained such items as exercise books, pens, crayons, blackboards, chalk, scissors, tape and school bags. The table below provides an overview of the dispatch of UNICEF material to date by district with an indicator of the number of children reached: Table 8: Distribution of school supplies District

Hambantota Galle Matara Kalutara Gampaha Ampara Batticaloa Trincomalee Mullaitivu Jaffna TOTAL # of Children Reached

Distribution of selected school supplies as of 31 January 2005 School in a Uniforms Exercise School School Box Kits (metres of Books Chairs Tables/ cloth) Desks 190 5,049 45,410 1846 753 604 19,362 128,870 9309 2902 282 10,882 58,530 4047 1279 253 4,648 61,260 3851 1212 114 3,637 34,380 1592 407 690 27,235 153,480 10714 3314 489 16,345 94,950 7294 2248 219 5,705 38,960 3200 1042 146 5,653 32,000 1960 593 122 5,260 29,000 1437 449 3,109 103,776 676,840 45,250 14,199 200,000 107,000 153,276 45,250 45,250

Chalk Boards 285 1,045 285 475 190 760 665 190 190 95 4,180 125,400

2) Clean up of schools UNICEF offered its immediate support for the clean up of 102 prioritized schools, including the construction and/or repair of water and sanitation facilities. With the assistance of community and volunteers groups as well as foreign and national military, UNICEF supported the zonal departments of education in the cleaning, white washing of all of these schools. In many schools, toilets and hand washing facilities have already been constructed, and this work will continue in the weeks and months to come. 3) Psychosocial support in schools A key priority for UNICEF has naturally been to provide psychosocial support to children in camps as well as schools. With the re-opening of schools at end January, UNICEF recognized the importance of providing children and their teachers with different activities to assist them in overcoming the trauma of the disaster. In the South, UNICEF has already trained nearly 150 psychosocial workers who are providing much-needed psychosocial support to children in reopened schools, camps and affected communities in the southern districts. UNICEF, with its partners, is developing additional psychosocial activities for implementation in all of the affected

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districts. (See the section on Psychosocial Support to Children below for more information on UNICEF activities in this domain). 4) Emergency education coordination UNICEF has supported the coordination of education activities at the central level through direct contact with senior Ministry of Education officers and staff secondment to the Centre for National Operations (CNO). UNICEF has also functioned as the UN education focal point at the central level. In the districts, it has participated in a number of multi-sectoral task forces and education sub-committees in the affected districts. These committees are assisting to coordinate the education-related responses of the government, multilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations. UNICEF understood soon after the disaster that the return of children to school had to be balanced with the rights of displaced persons currently housed in school buildings. For this reason, UNICEF encouraged a flexible school re-opening date with its government counterparts at all levels. It also promoted the back-to-learning concept that permits children to resume learning activities using the supplied materials without causing undue pressure on displaced persons in school camps. The identification and establishment of safe, alternative shelters for displaced persons is on-going and is fully supported by UNICEF. Next steps With school equipment dispatched to each of the districts for the resumption of classes, UNICEF will now focus on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of school buildings. In a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Ministry of Education on 31 January, UNICEF committed to reconstruct 17 schools damaged by the tsunami in six different districts during 2005. In addition to the basic classrooms, it will construct science laboratory facilities, computer labs, an administrative block, assembly hall, an arts centre for music, dancing and the arts, an outdoor play area and library. With key partners, it will ensure that the schools are fully equipped with water and electricity, sufficient toilets, adequate fencing and an access road. In response to a formal request by the Government of Sri Lanka, UNICEF has drawn up guidelines and standards for the construction of child-friendly schools in the longer-term reconstruction phase. It has also developed guidelines for child-friendly latrines in schools. Table 9: Schools for UNICEF reconstruction District Hambantota Galle Batticaloa

Ampara

Mullaitivu

Name of school 1 Zahira MV 1. Ratgama Sri Sumana P.V 2. Balapitiya Siddhartha 1. BT/Navalady Namahal V 2. BT/ Nasivantheevu GTMS 3. BT/ Palchchenai GTMS 4. BT/ Periyathambipillai V 1. KM/ AK/AL – Badhur V 2. KM/ AL – Hidaya V 3. KM/ Palakuda Palavinayagar VID 4. KM/ Thiruppathy GTMS 1. MU/ Sillawathai HBTMS 2. MU/ Valayanmadam GTMS 3. MU/ Kallappadu GTMS 4. MU/ Mullaitivu RCTMS

Estimated number of students 952 985 795 313 321 503 79 101 205 36 72 270 48 266 476

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District Jaffna

Name of school 1. J/ Valvai RCTMS 2. Valvi Sivaguru VID Total number of students impacted

Estimated number of students 40 572 6,034

Source: Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sri Lanka and UNICEF, signed 31 January 2005.

During the reconstruction phase, UNICEF will continue to provide schools supplies and will assist with the construction of temporary and semi-permanent schools as required. At the same time, it will support the reprinting of destroyed textbooks and the printing of teachers’ guides and catch-up-education materials. Efforts will also be stepped up to provide proper water and sanitation facilities in schools. Psychosocial support to children and teachers in schools will be a major tenant of the education programme over the medium and long-term. Preliminary needs assessments in the area have been conducted, and UNICEF is presently preparing a paper outlining its future plans for psychosocial support to children in schools. Additional educational needs identified by UNICEF for action are: 1) support to children not in learning situations; 2) development of child-friendly school initiatives; 3) collection of additional education data; 4) initiation of rapid A-level support programmes; and 5) the development of disaster preparedness programmes in schools. UNICEF will provide continued support to the Ministry of Education in order to reinforce its human resources and to build the capacity of zonal education offices. With government counterparts, UNICEF hopes to develop a broad vision on how to improve the national education system to make it even stronger than it was prior to the tsunami. v.

Protection and Psychosocial Support of Children

Issue Children in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka have been deeply distressed by the tsunami disaster. Providing appropriate care and assistance to child survivors of the tsunami poses a huge challenge to the country as a whole and will be a priority activity of UNICEF for some time to come. In the initial days after the tsunami, there was a lot of media attention surrounding the issue of unaccompanied and separated children. Local authorities were flooded with requests to adopt socalled “tsunami children” and organizations rushed forward with offers to establish orphanages. UNICEF has focused considerable efforts on working with the government to encourage the fostering of children with extended family members or non-family caregivers, rather than institutionalization or adoption outside the community. Action Since the start of the emergency, UNICEF has worked closely with the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) and the National Child Protection Agency (NCPA) to develop appropriate policies for the protection and support of children affected by the tsunami. As part of its efforts to bolster the capacity of Government institutions to protect children in the post-tsunami environment, UNICEF ordered 20 motorcycles for probation and child care staff and another 20 to assist in the implementation of psychosocial programmes. UNICEF also seconded a staff member to the Children’s Desk at the CNO. UNICEF protection and psychosocial work in the first weeks of the emergency can be broken down as follows: 1) identification and support of unaccompanied and separated children; 2)

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psychosocial support to children; 3) protection of children from trafficking, abuse and exploitation; 4) mine-risk awareness. 1) Identification and support of unaccompanied and separated children A key priority for UNICEF and its partners has been to identify and register unaccompanied and separated children and reunite them with parents, siblings, extended family, or home communities. Over the last six weeks, UNICEF has worked closely with the DPCCS, NCPA, ILO and Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL) to develop and implement a nation-wide survey to identify separated and unaccompanied children in tsunami affected areas. The first phase of the survey was carried out in a total of 369 displaced camps in all of the affected districts. This initial survey identified 40 children who have lost both parents and are not staying with extended family (unaccompanied children) and 1039 children who have lost their parents, but are staying with extended family (separated children). While the number of children who have lost both parents and are not being cared for by family members is relatively low, over 3,600 children have lost either their mother or their father. The challenge now will be to support this large number of single-parent households and families that have taken over the care of separated children. These figures are expected to increase as the second phase of the survey is carried out in communities. Table 10: Unaccompanied and separated children in displaced camps Unaccompanied and Separated Children in Sri Lanka as of 28 January 2005 Number of Number No. of No. of unaccompanied of children displacement children separated lost one sites done children parent Ampara 10 154 954 62 Batticaloa 0 443 1045 50 Galle 6 116 267 88 Hambantota 2 100 347 8 Jaffna 0 55 179 23 Killinochchi 0 25 225 11 Matara 4 48 206 63 Mullaitivu 0 93 396 19 Trincomalee 18 5 33 45 Total 40 1039 3652 369 The following definitions apply: Unaccompanied: Child is without parents residing in an institution or with non-family carer Separated: Child is with the extended family, but without parents Lost one Parent: Child is either with the father/mother

Based on the findings of the unaccompanied/separated children survey, UNICEF is supporting a national coalition to trace and care for unaccompanied and separated children with a focus on community-based approaches rather than institutionalization. In particular, UNICEF has encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to utilize existing legislation under the Sri Lankan Children’s and Young Persons Ordinance (CYPO) to regularize fostering placements of children with extended family or non-family caregivers. As of 3 February, 20 cases to regularize fostering through the courts had already been processed with legal input and advice provided by UNICEF. UNICEF has also encouraged the Government to issue a directive that no new orphanages be opened for tsunami survivors and that adoptions should not take place until the emergency phase

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is over and it is clear what has happened to all family members. UNICEF is supporting several international NGOs, including Save the Children in Sri Lanka and the Christian Children’s Fund, to work alongside probation and child care officers to provide appropriate follow-up social work for these children. 2) Psychosocial support The second challenge for UNICEF has been to address the psychological impact of the tsunami on children in a manner that is both culturally-appropriate and community-based. In terms of coordination in this area of concern, UNICEF is actively supporting UNFPA – which is the UN focal point for the psycho-social sector of the emergency response. At the policy level, UNICEF has been working with partners to set standards and guidelines for a national psychosocial policy. UNICEF has provided key input for the mainstreaming of psychosocial activities in schools. UNICEF has spearheaded an effort to train psychosocial workers in ten districts. In the South, some 150 psychosocial support providers have received training and begun working alongside local health authorities in camps, schools and communities. In the North East, UNICEF has worked with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Welfare to provide psychosocial training to community groups while continuing to work with the existing network of 250 psychosocial counselors from various NGOs in the area. UNICEF has received a large number of proposals for psycho-social support projects throughout the tsunami affected areas which it is now in the process of assessing. Proposals have been received from both local and community-based organizations, national and international NGOs. The projects range from drama and art therapy and recreational activities for children, to the formation of children’s and youth groups and supporting community groups to provide emotional and spiritual support through culture and traditions, to professional counseling services and training, setting up mental health committees and providing psychiatric interventions for affected communities. UNICEF has also focused on restoring normalcy to children’s lives through the establishment of child-friendly play spaces in IDP camps and the distribution of recreation kits. Some 200 camps have received UNICEF support for children’s recreational activities. Some 550 recreation kits have been dispatched to the districts enabling thousands of children to participate in team sports and games under the guidance of a teacher. In addition, UNICEF has procured local recreation materials for children in hundreds of camps.

UNICEF/HQ05-0161/Shehzad Noorani Sports equipment and other games from a UNICEF Recreation Kit are distributed to children at a relief camp for people displaced by the tsunami, at Rahula College in the southern city of Matara.

3) Protection of children from trafficking, abuse and exploitation UNICEF responded swiftly to reports of violence and sexual abuse following the tsunami by issuing a set of practical steps for all field staff on how to identify and prevent sexual abuse and by developing, in collaboration with the National Child Protection Agency (NCPA), Probation and Child Care Services, Sri Lankan police forces, and UNHCR, strategies for combating violence. In early January, UNICEF and UNHCR jointly produced a set of key messages on

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protecting women and children against sexual abuse and exploitation. The messages were issued in concert with the Centre for National Operations (CNO) and distributed widely in all camps and affected areas. Support has also been provided to local police to strengthen surveillance in the field. UNICEF has provided equipment to the Children and Women’s Police Desks and has also boosted transport capacity for the police during the emergency phase. Reports of trafficking and sale of children have been referred immediately to DPCCS, NCPA and police. Finally, UNICEF has issued a code of conduct to all its field offices aimed at protecting children against sexual abuse and exploitation. All staff and volunteers working with UNICEF during the tsunami emergency will be required to sign the code of conduct. Failure to comply with the code of conduct is grounds for dismissal. 4) Mine-risk awareness Since the tsunami, a UNICEF mine action officer has conducted a 10-day assessment of affected areas. Although there is not a major problem of dislodged mines as a result of the disaster, the districts with the most significant problems are Trincomalee and Batticaloa. The Danish Deming Group removed 80 mines dislodged by the tsunami in the Kuchaveli area of Trincomalee. As part of its ongoing mine-risk-education programme, UNICEF printed one million school timetables educating children and adults about the threat of mines and unexploded ordinance dislodged by flood waters. These were distributed with the school-in-a-box kits. Next steps The tsunami disaster has created new challenges in policy and legal frameworks relating to the protection of affected children and families, particularly children who had lost one or both parents and families whose homes were destroyed and were sheltering in schools. The huge outpouring of financial and other resources, and a much heightened awareness of the importance of psychosocial care, offers an opportunity for greatly strengthening social protection systems for children and women. UNICEF hopes to contribute to a reinforcement of social protection systems through continued support to and development of appropriate policies for unaccompanied and separated children, expanded psychosocial work, protection of children at risk, and mine-awareness education. Over the medium and long-term, UNICEF will focus on strengthening existing legal provisions for the fostering of unaccompanied and separated children. This includes strengthening the capacity of the judiciary and Probation and Child Care Services to ensure efficient and speedy placement of children in foster families. UNICEF will also help to prepare, translate and disseminate guidelines to appropriate authorities on fostering procedures and provide focused training where necessary. It will also help to develop a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the need for families caring for separated and unaccompanied children to apply to the court to regularize their status as foster families. In the next phase of the emergency response, particular attention will be paid to supporting the large number of single-parent households after the tsunami. UNICEF will support the extensive expansion of psychosocial activities in affected districts. It will train new psychosocial workers while reinforcing the capacity of existing psychosocial providers to support community-based initiatives. Furthermore, UNICEF will continue its efforts to raise awareness and develop policy guidelines on child abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Major campaigns are being developed jointly with the DPCCS and Save the Children in Sri Lanka on the importance of family unity and on the impact of institutionalization on children. A further campaign will be developed in collaboration with Young Asia TV on the psychosocial

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impact of the tsunami. UNICEF will also work closely with its government and NGO partners to support continued mine risk education activities.

D. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS i.

Funding

In immediate response to the disaster, UNICEF reprogrammed 72,000 USD from its regular programme funding and a 1,500,000 USD contribution from DFID for emergency activities. Within a week, the UN prepared and presented the Indian Ocean Earthquake – Tsunami Sri Lanka Flash Appeal. In that appeal, UNICEF made a request for an additional 42.7 USD million. The bulk of those monies were requested for emergency water and sanitation activities. See the below table for a comprehensive breakdown of UNICEF Sri Lanka funding requested. Table 11: UNICEF funding by sector Sector Water and sanitation Health and nutrition Non-food relief items/shelter Education Child protection Disaster management

Requested in Flash Appeal 19,857,000 7,500,000 6,750,000 4,632,000 2,575,000 300,000

The UNICEF portion of the Flash Appeal has been fully funded. As of the 10th of February, UNICEF has received over USD 69 million in funding and utilised USD 22 million for emergency activities. The additional funds will be used for the recovery and reconstruction phase of the emergency. Major donors to the UNICEF Sri Lanka emergency response include Australia, Canada, ECHO, Denmark, Finland, France, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and the UNICEF National Committees. ii.

Human Resources

In December 2004, UNICEF Sri Lanka employed 151 staff members. The organization had zonal offices in the northeastern districts of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Killinochchi, Vavuniya, and Trincomalee. Following the tsunami, there was an urgent need to bolster the human resources of every section of the organization. At the same time, field presence was required in southern districts which had normally been covered from Colombo namely Matara, Galle, and Hambantota. UNICEF also boosted its presence in Ampara – the worst affected district – where it had not had previously had a field office. Staff were fielded within 24 hours to the affected southern districts. Within days, UNICEF HQ and the Regional Office for South Asia seconded specialist staff to assist with the emergency and UNICEF Sri Lanka hired additional personnel to fill the gaps. During the first month, UNICEF took on 38 additional professional staff, either through deployment from other UNICEF offices or through short-term hire. These persons have supported the various sections as shown in the below table:

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Table 12: Staff brought on for the tsunami emergency Section Emergency/ Programme Coordination Education Health Water and Sanitation Child Protection Communications Operations Total

Number of staff 5 3 1 5 6 6 12 38

One section that UNICEF bolstered considerably with personnel on loan from other offices was communications. The expanded communications section has successfully facilitated the visits of a large number of delegations that have visited the country since 26 December. UNICEF Sri Lanka has been host to three distinguished UN colleagues and nine visiting National Committee delegations. The visits of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, and UNICEF Director of the Office of Emergency Operations, Daniel Toole were all successfully facilitated by UNICEF Colombo and the Zone Offices. During the course of the last six weeks, UNICEF has had a continual presence in all nine of the most affected districts. In addition to its existing presence in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Killinochchi (also covering Mullaitivu), and Trincomalee, UNICEF staff have been fielded to Ampara, Matara, Galle and Hambantota. UNICEF has recently established permanent offices in Ampara and in Galle. It is envisaged that the office in Galle will function as a regional office covering all three districts of the Southern Province (Galle, Matara and Hambantota). iii.

Supply and Distribution of Relief Items

Before the tsunami disaster, UNICEF had in place stockpiles of essential supplies for about 500 families. Severe floods in seven districts in the North East, North Central and Central provinces of Sri Lanka in mid-December 2004 left more than 130,000 people homeless and meant that UNICEF had already dispatched much of its emergency supplies to assist in the flood relief by the time the tsunami hit.

UNICEF/HQ/Kathryn Grusovin Padmini Ranaweera of UNICEF spends time with a young girl from Samodagama Junior School who lost both her parents in the tsunami.

For this reason, the procurement of emergency supplies began in earnest immediately following the tsunami. In parallel, additional supply and logistics staff was brought in from other UNICEF offices to help with the enormous supply and logistics operation. The bulk of the new supplies were ordered off-shore from the UNICEF central supply warehouse in Copenhagen. Supplies were also procured from China, Pakistan, and India. Within days, large volumes of supplies started arriving by air. At the height of the logistics operation, as many as five flights were arriving each week. At present, the placement of orders and deliveries remains high with supplies arriving three to four times a week.

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Although UNICEF was initially confronted with delays in the supply of goods from Copenhagen as the central warehouse struggled to deal with an unprecedented number of requests from across the Indian Ocean, this problem was soon resolved and the bulk of education arrived by the target date of 25 January. The one category of items that was significantly delayed is tents as Copenhagen’s own stocks were depleted due to dispatches to Darfur and other emergencies. At the Colombo airport, there were also constraints at the beginning as officials scrambled to put receiving systems in place. However, procedures for clearing relief items were quickly formalized. While UNICEF already had some warehouse space organized near the airport, it needed to increase its capacity and quickly secured an additional 1,000 square metres of space. This has now been further increased to 2,000 square metres. Ground transportation was secured for the onward delivery of supplies, which sometimes occurred directly upon the arrival of flights. In the districts, UNICEF staff worked with local Government counterparts to receive a continual flow of supplies. Their most recent efforts to receive and distribute the large volumes of school furniture and education supplies were commendable. In addition to all of the supplies ordered off-shore, a significant number of items were procured locally in an effort to get much-needed relief goods to the districts as quickly as possible. Water and sanitation equipment, recreational toys, and other items were found on the local market.

UNICEF/HQ/Geoffrey Keele 400 UNICEF School in a Box Kits arrive in Sri Lanka from UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen.

Table 13: Value of supplies ordered Value of supplies Ordered in Response to Tsunami Date Total value of local Total value of offshore orders placed orders As of 4 February 3,790,959 USD million 16,137,254 USD million

Total value of orders 19,928,213 USD million

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