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Response to Tsunami: EU Commission Progress Report

As the first anniversary of the Asian Tsunami approaches, the European Commission today set out a progress report on EU humanitarian and reconstruction aid to areas hit by the devastating natural disaster last December. The report records a rapid and coherent response to the disaster, and the substantial contribution made by the EU to support the resolution of long-standing conflicts in some of the affected countries.

Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, said: "From the early hours on that terrible 26th of December until today, our humanitarian aid effort has been guided by the principles of fastness, efficiency, transparency and accountability. Thanks to the efforts of devoted staff, clear and strict procedures and the collaboration with the best and most reliable Humanitarian partners, we ensure this. We do not indulge in self-satisfaction and are fully aware of the dire conditions in which the populations are still living. I am particularly concerned by the shelter issue. In Indonesia alone 400.000 people still live in temporary shelter and poor sanitary conditions. The European Commission will allocate an extra €20 million in the coming days to cover these needs and bridge the gaps between humanitarian aid and reconstruction phase which has met delays."

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "The EU can be proud of what it is doing to aid reconstruction in the Tsunami affected areas. Money has been committed swiftly, and we have been extremely active in seeking rapprochement between parties in conflict so that together we can truly build for a better future. Our significant contribution to the peace process in Aceh (Indonesia) is a major political achievement"

At the Jakarta Donors' Conference of January 2005, Commission and EU Member States together pledged more than €2 billion for tsunami affected countries distributed as follows:

• €566 million for humanitarian aid (ECHO and Member States), €452 million of which has been spent to date (80%).
  
  
• €1.5 billion for reconstruction assistance, of which €902 million have been committed (± 61%) and €367 million disbursed. The Commission is providing a quarter of EU reconstruction aid (€350 million). EU member states have also shown unprecedented engagement in reconstruction committing €250 million for Sri Lanka, €150 million for Indonesia, and €22 million for Maldives.

The European Commission's response

Humanitarian: European Commission (EC) humanitarian aid was on the ground in Asia the same day the tsunami hit. A total of €103 million has now been committed and a further €20 million will be before the end of the year, completing the initial EC pledge of €123 million for humanitarian aid. More than €73 million has already been spent. Humanitarian operations provide shelter, food and sanitation to tsunami victims and will extend until end 2006, or into 2007 if necessary.

Reconstruction: Nearly half of the EC pledge of €350 million has been committed and the total pledge is expected to be delivered in 2006 as foreseen. Around €75 million has been disbursed. The longer-term reconstruction phase is now underway in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with regional programmes also benefiting India and Thailand. Programmes are focusing not only on regenerating communities and rebuilding infrastructure, but also on encouraging democratisation and improving governance, gender and environmental issues.

To ensure efficient delivery of reconstruction aid, human resources were bolstered both at Headquarters and in the field. The EC representation in Sri Lanka has been upgraded to a fully-fledged Delegation to cover both Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The EC Delegation in Jakarta has been reinforced through a 'Europe House' in Aceh to ensure a good, on-the-spot co-ordination of EU assistance.

Conflict Affected Areas

In those tsunami regions also affected by long-standing conflicts, the EU has played a significant role in addressing political factors hampering reconstruction efforts. In particular in Aceh, the EU has made a significant contribution to achieving a peace settlement.

In Aceh, the Commission's Rapid Reaction Mechanism (RRM) helped finance the mediation activities which led to the signing of a peace agreement between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Government of Indonesia. A comprehensive range of EU measures (EU Aceh Monitoring Mission, short and long term EC assistance programmes, including support for the reintegration of GAM combatants) aims at ensuring the sustainability of the peace process.

In Sri Lanka, despite the deteriorating political situation, the Commission has intensified its efforts to support Norway's facilitation effort. The Commission supported efforts to set up a joint structure for the Government, the LTTE and representatives of the Muslim community to agree on priorities for reconstruction in the North and East of the country. An EU Electoral Observation Mission (the fourth to Sri Lanka in five years) was also deployed, as a further contribution to the peace process and to democratisation in Sri Lanka.

Disaster Preparedness

In line with the Commission's Communication of April 2005 on 'Improving Disaster and Crisis Response in Third Countries'¹, the Commission is helping to ensure improved reaction and coordination on future crisis and disasters. Two Commission Liaison Officers have been appointed and have started working with the recently established CivMil cells in the Council and will provide expertise in humanitarian aid, disaster response and reconstruction assistance.

The Communication provides a framework for a more robust mechanism ensuring timely provision of transport for assistance, provision of logistical equipment and support to on-site intervention teams.

A new Monitoring and Alert Tool has been established on a test basis by the Monitoring and Information Centre and disseminated to civil protection authorities in 30 countries involved in civil protection activities with the Commission. A proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a "Rapid Response and Preparedness Mechanism" and aimed at establishing a single framework to finance civil protection actions is being discussed. A Global Disaster Alert Co-ordination System is being developed by the Commission in collaboration with the UN that will provide early warning and relief co-ordination in future disasters.

Country by country breakdown

Indonesia

Humanitarian aid: €39.5 million has funded a number of activities including an epidemic early warning system, health services, tracing and reunification of separated children and families, the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation, and telecommunications. In addition to improving the living condition of people in temporary accommodation, the humanitarian assistance has provided for the restart of fishing and agriculture activities.

Reconstruction: The EU (EC plus Member States) is the biggest donor to the Multi Donor Trust Fund for Reconstruction in Indonesia (85% of total pledges). Of the €200 million the Commission has earmarked for this MDTF, €82 million have been committed and €40.8 million disbursed. Currently the fund is supporting a land titling project to identify ownership, with a target of mapping 50,000 land plots by the end of the year; piloting housing reconstruction projects with a target before the end of the year of 400 houses reconstructed, 45 rebuilt; preparing a community development project to support restoration of community infrastructure for 3000 villages; and piloting a development project to address urban poverty. The MDTF will therefore make an important contribution in the crucial areas of housing, waste management, and other infrastructure.

Outside the MTDF, the Commission has provided a support facility to foster dialogue on the role of civil society in the post-tsunami reconstruction; provided a €200,000 unique technical satellite imagery facility to the Indonesian national topographic institute and its local branch in Aceh to facilitate planning and reconstruction; launched a €3 million "Aceh Local Governance Action Programme" which addresses a key constraint in the reconstruction process overall: the lack of administrative skills and low administrative capacity at local level.

Sri Lanka

Humanitarian aid: €28.9 million has funded provision of food, clean water and sanitation, temporary shelter, health services and the restoration of livelihoods for fishermen, farmers and others.

Reconstruction: €95 million (2005-06) have been allocated to Sri Lanka in order to regenerate communities, restart livelihoods and repair economic infrastructure. Of this €39.5 million has been committed for the reconstruction of the key Matara Batticaloa coastal road, and €5.5 million to revitalise livelihoods and communities in the North and East. Through the Rapid Reaction Mechanism, €2 million is already supporting restoration of livelihoods in the North and East and €2.4 million is producing detailed satellite imagery to identify ownership of property.

A further €50 million is held up due to the political gridlock on the "Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure" (P-TOMS), where the Government, the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and the Muslim community were to agree jointly on reconstruction priorities for the North and East of the country. This gridlock has impeded long-term reconstruction work in the North and East of Sri Lanka. It is hoped that a solution will be found following the Presidential elections that took place on 17 November.

Maldives

Humanitarian aid: €2.7 million has been used to install water tanks in damaged schools, repair sewage systems, support facilities in damaged hospitals, repair houses and restart activity in the fishing and agricultural sectors.

Reconstruction: €900,000 has already been contributed for rehabilitation under the RRM. By the end of the year, €16 million will have been allocated, mostly to support the Government's efforts at developing "safe islands" better protected from natural disasters.

India

Humanitarian aid: €10 million has funded the reconstruction of small boats, provision of fishing gear, safe water, tools and construction of material for shelter support in fishing.

Thailand

Humanitarian aid: the European Commission immediately allocated €500,000 in humanitarian aid to help villagers resume fishing activities and rebuild their livelihoods. In addition, €240,000 funds were directed towards post-tsunami reconstruction, leading to the establishment of the Andaman Forum, which helps assess the needs of communities and speed up aid delivery

Asia Regional Support

As part of its €15 million post-tsunami facility, the European Commission's Asia Pro Eco programme is providing grants in all areas of Asia hit by the tsunami for projects to help tackle major issues linked with environment protection.

African tsunami response

Immediate needs have been covered by the rapid and flexible use of existing humanitarian programmes in Somalia with €9 million made available for relief operations.

Reconstruction: €2 million has been allocated for water and sanitation programmes with €1.2 million for health and livelihood reconstruction. €0.7 million has been released for rehabilitation in the Seychelles to help with reconstruction of roads and bridges.

For more information:
The Indian Ocean Tsunami - The EU Response:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/tsunami/index.htm


¹ http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/tsunami/docs/com2005_153_en.pdf

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