Tsunami Reconstruction Plan

The December 26, 2004 earthquake-tsunami off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, affected millions of people in South and South East Asia. In the wake of this disaster, one of the most widespread and devastating quick-onset natural disasters in recent world history, there has been an unprecedented response by the world community to bring relief and reconstruction assistance to those who need it most.

The USG Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan seeks to save lives, support host government-led reconstruction efforts and advance a wide range of U.S. foreign policy and development interests. As final needs assessments are concluded and other donor and host country reconstruction plans are refined, the USG sees a historic opportunity to transform simmering conflicts through a healing process that solidifies and unifies communities.

The reconstruction efforts of the USG will support five main program areas: Relief, Transition from Camps to Communities, Infrastructure (Small & Large-Scale), Early Warning System and Technical Assistance/Good Governance and Reconciliation.

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $656 million for the Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction Fund. The fund reflects the contributions of multiple USG agencies and will be used to allocate resources among USG agencies. Please Note: Of this amount, $25 million is allocated to undertake a coordinated program to prevent and control the spread of the Avian influenza virus.

Provision is made for reimbursement to USAID for emergency relief assistance already expended and resources already committed. Grants were awarded by USAID in the initial period following the tsunami disaster and provided for temporary shelter, food, water, relief supplies, water purification, heath surveillance, psycho-social and protection services to children and cash-for-work programs. Some of these activities are still relevant and operational and will be extended through existing grants.

• Countries provided with relief reimbursement are: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Maldives.

Over 1.5 million people have been displaced by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India, with smaller numbers in the other affected countries. The "Camps to Communities" component of the reconstruction work includes three areas of activities: permanent shelter and housing programs, credit and other livelihood programs, and funding for continuing assistance such as nutrition and food aid to camps and cash-for-work programs - both intended to help speed the move from camps to more permanent communities.

Livelihood activities will focus on fisheries, agribusiness and trades industries, particularly construction trades directly relevant to community-level reconstruction. Areas include micro-enterprise development, micro-enterprise and vocational training which emphasizes economic opportunities for women. Countries with funding for "transitioning from camps to communities" are Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

• Many of the worst affected communities in the affected countries depended on fisheries for the bulk of their income and family consumption. In other places such as Sri Lanka and Thailand, the populations derived their income from tourism-related employment. Farmers in India have lost crops and livestock and seen their fields covered by sand and salt water. To restart the local economy of all these areas, USAID will extend cash-for-work programs begun under the relief phase and provide grants, vouchers, and credit to assist firms in replacing assets and re-establishing their businesses.
• The U.S. Peace Corps will use former volunteers, mobilized through the "Crisis Corps," to assist in re-establishing fisheries and businesses in Thailand and to support reconstruction efforts in Sri Lanka.
• USAID will support construction-related trades-people as well as provide assistance in community planning and construction site selection and preparation expertise.
• Economic recovery programs implemented through local NGOs and community-based organizations will address tsunami recovery needs and support reconciliation.

The World Bank/Asian Development Bank damage assessments in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, augmented by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and USAID rapid appraisals, put infrastructure reconstruction costs at more than $6 billion in Indonesia and Sri Lanka alone. "Re-building Infrastructure Better" targets Indonesia and Sri Lanka and includes both small and large-scale signature infrastructure projects. USAID will ensure that construction is environmentally sound and will use local firms to generate employment, which contributes to the objective of getting local economies functioning again. USAID will partner with key donors to undertake complimentary and joint projects.

Indonesia: USAID will support reconstruction of up to 240 kilometers of road and 110 bridges to re-open the Banda Aceh - Meulaboh road, a vital transport link. Concurrent with detailed design work for the entire road, the USG will undertake design and construction along three sections of the road and repair three bridges to reopen the first 80 kilometers of the road from Banda Aceh and ensure passage during the rainy season.

Sri Lanka: The damage to the fishing fleet and the harbor installations in the coastal fishing communities of Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Kod Bay was serious and widespread. Ocean going vessels were beached, moorings torn asunder, and shore facilities for handling the catch were damaged beyond repair. The importance of these installations to the economy of the region and by extension, the nation, has made recovery of fishing capacity a singular priority. USAID will support technical assistance ranging from infrastructure rehabilitation to improved post-harvest processing and marketing. This includes:

• Replacing a damaged bridge spanning the mouth of Arugam Bay to facilitate the reconstruction and rehabilitation of four coastal communities.
• Improving the drinking water supply for the Pottuvil-Ulla and Panama areas and improving the wastewater and solid waste management for the Pottuvil-Ulla area.
• Building two state-of-the-art vocational schools and replacing approximately eight vocational schools damaged in the tsunami.
• Repairing the harbor installations and improving facilities for the fishing fleet in the coastal communities of Hikkaduwa, Mirissa and Puranawella.
• Coastal and marine resources management will also be provided in order to restore livelihoods and set the fisheries sector on a path to sustainable economic growth.

NOTE: A design and construction management and supervision firm will be responsible for the design, sub-contracting, and supervision of construction sub-contractors, as well as technical assistance activities related to the vocational education activities and coastal management activities.

Hundreds of schools and clinics, municipal buildings, markets, critical bridges, wells and water distribution systems, community level power generation and electrical connections, and other community level infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

USAID will provide grants to NGOs, local governments and community groups in Indonesia and Sri Lanka to rebuild community infrastructure such as clinics, municipal buildings, markets and community center buildings. For example:

Indonesia: The teacher training center and other facilities damaged at the Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh will be rebuilt. A contribution will be made to the Aceh and North Sumatra Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), a multi-donor fund established at the World Bank to support rehabilitation and reconstruction needs in the tsunami-affected areas. The fund will provide direct support for Government programs; co-financing of on-going and pipeline projects of the multilateral development banks; and financing for new, stand-alone rehabilitation and reconstruction projects (including goods, services and works).

Sri Lanka: USAID will partner with the private sector and the Bush-Clinton Fund to construct or rehabilitate 100 children's parks across 13 districts along the damaged coastline.

Maldives: In response to the significant damages and impact in the Maldives, the US Government is assisting the country through a contribution to the Maldives national fund, the "Maldives Reconstruction Fund." The fund was established by the Government of the Maldives under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to finance long term reconstruction activities on the island nation. All USG funds will be managed by the U.S. Mission in Sri Lanka.

Prior reconstruction programs have shown the importance ensuring host country ownership and leadership of the reconstruction process. Toward that end, USAID will provide technical assistance and support to reinforce the capacity of national, provincial, and local governments to plan and undertake reconstruction so their priorities and decisions are better informed.

Sri Lanka and Indonesia: Efforts will include local civil society organizations and programs will emphasize citizen participation, inclusion of disadvantaged groups, transparency and accountability, and dissemination of information, enabling the reconstruction process to also address longstanding issues and equity concerns. Funding, through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, will provide technical assistance in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Indonesia: USAID will support the establishment of the E-Aceh tracking system for "off budget" assistance programs in Aceh. The Aceh Technical Assistance Recovery Project (A-TARP) will bring multi-disciplinary, technical assistance to key ministers, line agencies and sub-national levels of government to help them to better plan, coordinate, manage and oversee reconstruction efforts.

Sri Lanka: Funds will also support anti-corruption programs. These efforts will provide technical assistance and training to the auditor-general's department and to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption; training for civil society to monitor and report on the distribution of tsunami-related aid; and activities to strengthen the capacity of civil society, local political party officials, and tsunami-affected residents to establish multi-ethnic and multi-partisan networks.

India: Tsunami-affected cities will be paired with U.S. cities which have successfully recovered from similar natural catastrophes through an award to the International City and County Managers Association (ICMA). The intent is to strengthen the Indian communities' disaster preparedness and help them learn how to build back stronger local economies.

Thailand: USG funding is provided to support forensics experts to assist the Thailand Tsunami Victims Identification Center. Funding will also purchase DNA software and hardware to assist the Center in its ongoing work to identify victims.

The U.S. Government has pledged to support the multinational effort to establish an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS).

• USAID is coordinating an integrated USG program of assistance to strengthen disaster warning and response capabilities through international, regional, national and sub-national/local interventions. Utilizing targeted expertise from USAID, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Geological Survey (USGS), US Forest Service (USFS) and the US Trade and Development Authority (USTDA), the program will strengthen disaster preparedness and response systems as part of a multi-hazard framework.
• Other USG assistance will strengthen national disaster management frameworks, including community mitigation, preparedness, and response strategies, and critical public education and awareness support to render the entire system operable and sustainable over the long term.
• Through the US Trade and Development Agency, funding is provided for technical assistance related to emergency communication systems and an integrated communications backbone for early warning systems, disaster mitigation and risk management in the Indian Ocean region.

For more information, please visit www.usaid.gov.