USAID Fact Sheet on South Asia Earthquake and Tsunami

United States pledges initial $35 million to relief efforts

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released on December 28 a fact sheet detailing U.S. humanitarian assistance following the massive December 26 earthquake in the Indian Ocean and subsequent tsunami.  The United States has pledged an initial $35 million for relief efforts. 

The following fact sheet outlines how this money has been committed and programmed:

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 #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 December 28, 2004

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE SOURCE

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Pledged...............................$35,000,000

Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed...........$6,599,300

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed............................$6,849,300

Most Powerful Earthquake in 40 Years

. The 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 56,000 people in South and Southeast Asia and East Africa: 27,174 people in Indonesia, 17,640 in Sri Lanka, 9,500 in India, 1,473 in Thailand, 90 in Burma, 65 in Malaysia, 62 in Somalia, 52 in the Maldives, 10 in Tanzania, and 2 in Bangladesh. Death tolls may rise as rescue and recovery operations continue.

USAID/DART Staff Members Arrive in the Region

. The USAID/Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) leader in Bangkok, Thailand, is leading a regional team comprised of public health specialists, water and sanitation experts, field officers, and an information officer. Presently, three USAID/DART members are in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and one is in Phuket, Thailand. In addition, a military liaison officer is scheduled to join the USAID/DART in Thailand on December 29 to coordinate relief activities with the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG).

Humanitarian Access

. Logistical problems persist for emergency workers trying to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Some of the smaller islands have reportedly been completely washed out. Search and rescue operations have not yet started in several remote islands. In addition, the large distances between islands and the lack of clean fuel for rescue helicopters are hampering relief efforts.

Landmines Pose Risk to Relief Efforts

. On December 27, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that landmines in Sri Lanka are posing a risk to relief efforts, as the mines have floated and washed out of known mine fields. In addition, the warning signs on mined areas have been swept away or destroyed.

USG ASSISTANCE

. On December 27, U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell announced an initial USG commitment of $15 million in response to the earthquake and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region. On December 28, the amount pledged increased to $35 million. 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.

. On December 27, USAID/OFDA provided $4 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (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.

. 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.

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 and 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.

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 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.

All USAID/OFDA funding represent committed and/or obligated amounts as of December 28, 2004.

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Pledged.............................................$35,000,000

Total USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance Committed..........................$6,599,300

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance Committed...........................................$6,849,300

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 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