European Union @ United Nations, Partnership in Action
 
 
EU-related events in and around New York City: learn more about academic programs and think-tank events, arts festivals and cultural activities.

 
EU in the USA - delegation to Washington, DC

< Back to previous page

EU humanitarian aid for the earthquake of 26.12.2004 and the subsequent tidal waves affecting Asia

Summary: December 27, 2004: EU humanitarian aid for the earthquake of 26.12.2004 and the subsequent tidal waves affecting Asia (Brussels)

Overall humanitarian situation on the ground

Events with a humanitarian impact

On 26th of December at 00h58 GMT, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 on the scale of Richter occurred in the Indian Ocean. The epicentre was about 250 km west of the coast of the northern part of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia). Subsequently, the earthquake caused tidal waves that hit in full force the coasts of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and to a lesser extend the coasts of Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Seychelles and even the coasts of Eastern Africa.

The consequences of this natural disaster have been devastating in terms of loss of life, wounded and damage to infrastructure. Available information is still sketchy and may vary from source to source. Preliminary figures put the death toll as follows (estimations):

These figures may vary from source to source and are likely to increase once more detailed and confirmed information will be available on the large number of missing persons and reliable information from isolated islands in the Indian Ocean and from Sumatra (in particular from Aceh). Local information sources such as the Red Cross societies and humanitarian NGOs indicate a large number of wounded people and many people without shelter.

Needs identified

Preliminary assessments indicate that the main needs for the affected areas in the region are food, water/sanitation, medical and shelter. In general, it has proven to be difficult to communicate with or to reach the affected areas due to the destruction of the infrastructure. This factor not only hampers the assessments but also the delivery of much needed assistance.

In view of reports received about the number of people displaced due to this crisis (in Sri Lanka alone the number has been put at 1.000.000 persons displaced) shelter in combination with water/sanitation (to reduce the risk of outbreak of epidemics) will be a main challenge. Medical assistance will be required for the many wounded (fractures) in this crisis.

a) Sri Lanka:

An estimated 5% of the population (around 1.000.000 persons) has been affected by the disaster. Reports from coastal areas suggest a stretch of 800 km has been battered by the tidal waves. The government has issued a request for international assistance. Handicap International indicated that medical facilities were trying to take care of the wounded but that supplies were insufficient.

b) India:

Approximately 2.000 km of coastline has been affected in the south-east of the country. The government has not requested international assistance but will "welcome it" according to the PM. The sea water also affected a nuclear power station in Kalpakkam, which was safely shut down. The government has deployed the army and navy in rescue and relief efforts. Preliminary reports on the Andaman and Nicobar islands mention 30.000 people unaccounted for and 3.000 deaths.

c) Indonesia:

Affected areas are Aceh province and North Sumatra province. Latest information indicates some 50.000 people displaced. The Vice-President Yussuf Kalla, on visit in the region, estimates that the death toll could reach 25.000 and that around 1.000.000 persons are affected by the disaster. Unconfirmed sources indicate that the tidal wave had gone up to 6 km inland. The airport of Banda Aceh is, according to the latest information, now open for commercial flights. The government has not launched an appeal for international assistance and sounds rather reluctant to do so.

d) Maldives:

The government has issued a state of emergency and launched an appeal for international assistance. The capital Male was flooded for two thirds and the airport had to close due to flood water. No reliable information has been received on the effects of the tidal waves on the islands.

e) Thailand:

No appeal for international assistance by the government. The royal navy has dispatched three ships and ten helicopters for search and rescue activities. Water and food seem to be the priority for the small islands. SAR for tourists is a main component of the activities so far.

Humanitarian response

Response by humanitarian organisations

It is almost certain that the mobilization and absorption capacity of the humanitarian organisations will be stressed to the limit. Not only the magnitude of the crisis but also the question of access to regions affected will be very difficult for several reasons.

A number of humanitarian organisations are present in the region and, occasionally, in the affected areas. They are trying to assess the situation and provide assistance from existing stocks whenever possible.

a) Sri Lanka:

OCHA has dispatched a UNDAC team that has arrived on 27.12.2004. IFRC has deployed a FACT team and other organisations like ACF, Handicap, OXFAM and CARE are assessing the situation. HOPE Foundation, OXFAM and ZOA have indicated that they are already providing assistance to the victims (evacuations, food, non-food items). MDM-GR is departing on 27.12.2004 with a military plane to Sri Lanka with a medical team and taking along medical supplies to be distributed.

UNHCR is using existing stocks inside the country to assist the victims through one of its implementing partners. Commodities distributed are plastic sheeting, survival kits containing non-food items for some 2.000 families.

IFRC, through the SLRC, is assisting with medical supplies and has two Regional Disaster Response Teams dispatched to assist the local Red Cross with assessments, distributions and monitoring.

b) India:

The UN is meeting the Ministry of Home Affairs to suggest a request for a UNDAC team to be deployed. IFRC FACT team is on standby. The Finnish Red Cross is undertaking an assessment in Tamil Nadu. NGOs , mostly in co-operation with local partners, are undertaking assessments in the affected areas (Action AID, CARE, Caritas, MPDL, Save the Children, OXFAM). DCA and HOPE Foundation have apparently started with some initial distributions of relief items.

c) Indonesia:

UN OCHA Indonesia is preparing the establishment of an operation office in Medan, North Sumatra, to facilitate co-ordination among the humanitarian actors. The Indonesian Red Cross participated in SAR operations and started to mobilize emergency stocks available in the sub-delegation of ICRC in Aceh for distribution.

d) Maldives:

OCHA has deployed a UNDAC team to the Maldives. No further information on international humanitarian actors available. It is to be noted that the Maldives do not have a national Red Cross society.

e) Thailand:

MHD and MSF-F have deployed an assessment team to the Puhket area in co-ordination with the Thai Red Cross.

ECHO' response/activities

The Commission has allocated, through DG ECHO, an amount of €3M on 26.12.2004. to the victims of the disaster in the region. The funds are channelled through the IFRC on a regional basis without a specific earmarking on the beneficiary country. Under existing procedures for emergencies, ECHO could be able to allocate a further €30M depending on the outcome of a more detailed assessment of the humanitarian situation and the receipt of request for funds by ECHO Partners (UN or IO and NGO having signed the FPA).

a) Sri Lanka:

One ECHO expert from the Bangkok office has arrived on 27.12.2004 in the country to conduct an assessment of the situation. He will work closely with the UNDAC and FACT teams as well as liaise with the experts deployed under the MIC.

b) India:

The situation is closely monitored by the New-Delhi office by one expert and one local programme officer. The office is in constant contact with international organisations and with the local authorities. A mission is planned in the coming days to the affected area.

c) Indonesia:

One ECHO expert from the Bangkok office has been deployed to Jakarta. The situation is monitored until then by a local programme officer. Daily contacts with the humanitarian organisations are taking place. The ECHO expert will co-ordinate closely with the UN assessment teams if deployed to the affected region.

d) Maldives:

No ECHO presence foreseen at this moment. ECHO India will liaise closely with the UNDAC team on the situation/

e) Thailand:

Two ECHO experts remain present in the office in Bangkok to monitor the situation in the country and on a regional basis. Daily contacts with authorities and international organisations are taking place.

Some expatriate staff members who were on holiday have been called back to duty and will be in their relevant offices within two days. This will provide ECHO with the necessary back-up to strengthen its assessment capacity this week. Staff on duty from offices outside the region is remaining on stand-by in case of need.

Response by donors

Several Member States have already provided funds or in kind donations in favour of the victims of the disaster. Due to the closure of the Commission, no 14 point reports are available. ECHO will seek detailed information through a communication on CIRCA. Some of the response by MS has been given in the situation reports from the MIC (attached in annex).

Response by national authorities in the region

Local authorities have been responding immediately to this crisis by deploying army capacity or through the local Red Cross society. They have also established local co-ordination systems.

a) Sri Lanka:

The Government of Sri Lanka will be assisted by the UNDAC team of OCHA. Because of the relative small response capacity of the country to this type of disaster, an appeal for international assistance was almost immediately launched. It is mainly the SL Red Cross that, with assistance of IFRC, is intervening at the moment. The Government of India have sent 4 ships of emergency relief supplies and SAR capacity to Sri Lanka.

b) India:

The Government of India Crisis Management Group is holding daily co-ordination meetings. The government has responded quickly to the situation and has undertaken following actions: distribution of 200.000 food packets, search and rescue (army and navy capacity), dispatched emergency medical teams and organised relief camps. The Prime Minister has set up an emergency relief fund for private contributions.

c) Indonesia:

The Secretariat of National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management and Handling of the Internally Displaced has set up a co-ordination centre at Medan City, North Sumatra and the emergency operation, including mobilization of relief from national and international resources is supposed to converge at their operation centre. Different Ministries (Health, Social Affairs) are undertaking actions in favour of the victims. SAR activities are under way and the delivery and provision of medical assistance and food is being organised. However, the information from the affected provinces remains anecdotal and communications are hampering the efforts. A government team led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla is to visit the region on 27.12.2004. Other local actors like the private sector and political parties are trying to provide relief to the victims.

d) Maldives:

The Government of the Maldives have declared a state of emergency and requested the assistance of a UNDAC team. The Government of India has promised assistance to the Maldives. No further information available.

e) Thailand:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited the international community to attend a first co-ordination meeting on 27.12.2004. A mission leaded by the MFA is operational in Pukhet since 27.12.2004 with the initial scope of coordinating the first relief and evacuation.

Coordination

The co-ordination of the international effort in favour of a multitude of countries will be a real challenge. The international relief should be co-ordinated with the local national actions in order to achieve the highest degree of efficiency.

For any further information on ECHO activities, please consult ECHO Website at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/en/index_en.html


  • Ref: EC04-308EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 27/12/2004


< Back to previous page

See also
 

European Union Member States