This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 COLOMBO 002130 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, RTHAYER, BDEEMER 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA 
DCHA/FFP FOR LAUREN LANDIS 
DCHA DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR WILLIAM GARVELINK 
ANE DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD 
BANGKOK FOR OFDA SENIOR REGIONAL ADVISOR TOM DOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER 
GENEVA FOR USAID KYLOH 
ROME PASS FODAG 
NSC FOR MELINE 
CDR USPACOM FOR J3/J4/POLAD 
USEU PASS USEC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AEMR PREL PGOV CE
SUBJECT: TSUNAMI RELIEF IN SRI LANKA -- OFDA WRAP-UP AND 
TRANSITION PERSPECTIVES 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR SRI LANKA 
IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DECEMBER 2004 TSUNAMI DISASTER 
WAS SPEARHEADED BY USAID/OFDA WITH THE IMMEDIATE 
DEPLOYMENT OF A DART TEAM AND RAPID FUNDING OF A 
PORTFOLIO OF EMERGENCY PROJECTS.  NOW LARGELY COMPLETED, 
THE PROJECTS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SETTING THE FRAMEWORK 
FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL RELIEF 
EFFORT.  AGAINST A DISASTER SCENARIO OF 35,322 DEAD, 
516,150 DISPLACED, AND OVER A MILLION AFFECTED IN THE 
COUNTRY?S COASTAL COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE NO DEATHS DUE 
TO STARVATION, LACK OF MEDICAL CARE, OR EPIDEMICS.  THE 
GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA HAS REPORTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF 
CHILDREN ARE BACK IN SCHOOL; AT LEAST HALF OF THE 
TSUNAMI-DISPLACED POPULATION HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN 
 
SIPDIS 
MORE THAN 50,000 TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS (WHILE OTHERS HAVE 
BEEN TAKEN IN BY RELATIVES); AND A COMBINATION OF SHORT- 
TERM AND LONGER-TERM CASH AND EMPLOYMENT INTERVENTIONS 
HAVE ASSURED AT LEAST SOME INCOME TO THE FAMILIES OF THE 
200,000 PERSONS WHO LOST THEIR LIVELIHOODS. 
 
¶2.  SUMMARY CONTINUED:  AS THE FOCUS OF ASSISTANCE 
PROJECTS AND GOVERNMENT PLANNING SHIFTS TO LONGER TERM 
RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, A NUMBER OF PROGRAM 
AND POLICY ISSUES ATTENDING THE TRANSITION CONTINUE TO 
IMPEDE PROGRESS IN MAKING THE TRANSITION, MOST NOTABLY 
THAT OF RELIEVING BUFFER ZONE RESTRICTIONS.  RESOLUTION 
OF THESE ISSUES WILL REQUIRE AN APPRECIATION OF THE 
DIFFICULTIES AND FIXES ADOPTED IN THE PAST 11 MONTHS TO 
ACHIEVE COORDINATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, DONORS, 
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS 
(NGOS).  DISASTER PREPAREDNESS REMAINS AN OUTSTANDING 
CHALLENGE FOR A COUNTRY THAT EXPERIENCES HUMANITARIAN 
EMERGENCIES ON AN ALMOST ROUTINE BASIS. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  OFDA RESPONSE:  OFDA RESPONDED TO THE DEVASTATION OF 
THE DECEMBER 26 TSUNAMI IN SRI LANKA WITH SAME DAY 
FUNDING OF $100,000, PROVIDED THROUGH THE USAID/SRI LANKA 
MISSION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AMBASSADOR?S DISASTER 
DECLARATION.  THIS WAS FOLLOWED WITHIN 24 HOURS BY THE 
ARRIVAL OF USAID/OFDA?S REGIONAL ADVISOR FOR SOUTH ASIA 
TO INITIATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF A USAID DISASTER ASSISTANCE 
RESPONSE TEAM (USAID/DART) THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS 
BROUGHT UP TO 25 EMERGENCY RELIEF EXPERTS INTO THE 
COUNTRY AT A TIME.  DART MEMBERS, INCLUDING TECHNICAL 
SPECIALISTS, PROGRAM OFFICERS, INFORMATION OFFICERS, 
MILITARY LIAISON OFFICERS, AND LOGISTICS OFFICERS, 
CONDUCTED ASSESSMENTS OF AFFECTED AREAS, PARTICIPATED IN 
THE OVERALL COORDINATION OF RELIEF ACTIVITIES, MONITORED 
RELIEF COMMODITIES? DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION, AND MADE 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DISASTER RELIEF 
RESPONSE. 
 
¶4.  OFDA RESPONSE CONTINUED: USAID/OFDA FUNDING PROVIDED 
BY THE DART WITHIN WEEKS OF THE DISASTER ULTIMATELY 
TOTALED $36.5 MILLION AND ENGAGED OVER 20 INTERNATIONAL 
AND NATIONAL AGENCIES IN RELIEF EFFORTS THAT RANGED FROM 
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS TO ADDRESSING SHORT-TERM 
INCOME AND SHELTER NEEDS TO LONGER TERM SUPPORT FOR 
LIVELIHOODS? RESTORATION PROGRAMS.  AS OF DECEMBER 1, 
2005, ALL BUT TWO OF THE DART-FUNDED ACTIVITIES WERE 
COMPLETED.  ALTHOUGH USAID GRANTS REQUIRE RESULTS 
REPORTING ONLY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, MOST OF THE AGENCIES 
FUNDED BY THE DART AGREED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON A 
MONTHLY BASIS USING A TWO-PAGE FORMAT TO TRACK OUTPUTS 
AGAINST 17 INDICES OF PERFORMANCE.  DRAWING FROM THAT 
REPORTING, A MATRIX WAS DEVELOPED BY USAID MISSION AND 
OFDA TDY STAFF TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF PARTNER 
AGENCIES AS WELL AS TO IDENTIFY CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THE 
OVERALL RELIEF PROGRAM.  USAID/OFDA-FUNDED INTERVENTIONS 
HAVE PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING CUMULATIVE RESULTS TO-DATE: 
OVER 400,000 VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI RECEIVED VARIOUS 
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES IN THE DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE 
DISASTER; MORE THAN 250,000 BENEFITED FROM WATER AND 
SANITATION PROJECTS; CLOSE TO USD 6.5 MILLION WENT INTO 
CASH-FOR-WORK PROJECTS WHICH HELPED RESTORE THE LOCAL 
ECONOMIES OF DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES THAT HAD LOST ALL 
MEANS OF LIVELIHOODS AND DAILY COMMERCE; MORE THAN 
200,000 PERSONS RECEIVED PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORT OR ANTI- 
TRAFFICKING INFORMATION; NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE WERE 
PROVIDED WITH TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS (TEMPORARY HOUSES 
THAT MAY BE THEIR HOMES FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE); AND AS 
MANY AS 40,000 FAMILIES WERE GIVEN NEW HOPE BECAUSE AT 
LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD WAS PROVIDED WITH 
TRAINING AND FINANCIAL OR COMMODITY SUPPORT TO GIVE THEM 
THE MEANS TO EARN A REGULAR AND SUSTAINABLE INCOME. 
 
¶5.  OFDA RESPONSE CONTINUED: BEYOND ATTEMPTING TO 
QUANTIFY THE IMPACT OF OFDA?S EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDING 
OF RELIEF ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA, A QUALITATIVE 
ASSESSMENT ALSO WOULD SUGGEST THAT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DART 
ACCOMPLISHED A NUMBER OF OTHER OBJECTIVES.  THESE 
INCLUDED STAFFING AND COORDINATING CRITICAL NEEDS 
ASSESSMENT MISSIONS TO TSUNAMI-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, AND 
PRIMING THE RELIEF RESPONSE PUMP BY QUICKLY IDENTIFYING 
AND FUNDING EXPERIENCED AND CAPABLE RELIEF AGENCIES SO 
THAT THEY COULD IMMEDIATELY COMMIT RESOURCES TO SETTING 
UP THE CRITICAL PERSONNEL AND LOGISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 
REQUIRED TO RENDER EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE.  RELIEF AND 
RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS GAINED THEIR INITIAL MOMENTUM AND 
CREDIBILITY FROM A CORE GROUP OF INTERNATIONAL AND NON- 
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ? MANY OF THEM MOBILIZED FOR 
START-UP IN-COUNTRY BY THE DART. SUCH STRATEGIC 
COORDINATION AND LEVERAGING OF FUNDS HAD A SIGNIFICANT 
AND BENEFICIAL IMPACT UPON THE LONGER-TERM RELIEF EFFORT 
IN SRI LANKA, FUNDED IN AMOUNTS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 1.7 AND 
3.1 BILLION DOLLARS. WHILE THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF THE 
EVENTUAL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE TSUNAMI 
SIGNIFICANTLY COMPLICATED COORDINATION OF EMERGENCY 
RELIEF, THESE CORE AGENCIES IN FACT DID WORK SUPPORTIVELY 
WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS PRIVATE AID GROUPS 
IN SRI LANKA. 
 
¶6.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (SHELTER):  AS GOVERNMENT AND 
ASSISTANCE AGENCIES SEE THE RELIEF PHASE OF THE TSUNAMI 
RESPONSE CLOSING OUT AND A TRANSITION TAKING PLACE TO 
RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, SEVERAL ISSUES 
FOR THE TRANSITION ARE BECOMING MORE APPARENT, 
PARTICULARLY IN THE SHELTER, WATER/SANITATION, AND 
LIVELIHOODS SECTORS. OF OVERARCHING SIGNIFICANCE, THE 
POLICY ISSUE THAT WILL DOG RESOLUTION OF THESE CONCERNS 
CONTINUES TO BE THE DEFINITION AND INTERPRETATION OF 
GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING BACK IN BUFFER ZONES.  CLARITY OF 
GOVERNMENT POLICY IN THIS AREA IS A CRITICAL DETERMINANT 
FOR MOVING AHEAD NOT ONLY WITH PERMANENT HOME 
CONSTRUCTION, BUT RELATED INVESTMENTS IN THE UTILITIES 
INFRASTRUCTURE IN TSUNAMI-AFFECTED AREAS, AND MOST 
IMPORTANT OF ALL, EFFECTIVELY FOCUSSED INTERVENTIONS FOR 
THE RESTORATION OF LIVELIHOODS.  IN SHELTER, CARE AND 
MAINTENANCE OF TRANSITIONAL STRUCTURES ALSO LOOMS AS AN 
INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT CHALLENGE, BOTH BECAUSE THEY MUST 
WITHSTAND MONSOON CONDITIONS, AND BECAUSE THE PACE OF 
PERMANENT HOME CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN MANY 
OF THE DISPLACED FAMILIES HAVING TO REMAIN IN 
TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE.  SOME OF THE 
AGENCIES THAT ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED THE TEMPORARY 
SHELTERS HAVE ALREADY DEPARTED THE COUNTRY, WHILE OTHERS 
NO LONGER POSSESS FUNDS OR STAFF TO ADDRESS MAINTENANCE 
ISSUES OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD.  LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND 
OTHER SHELTER RELATED ISSUES WILL HAVE TO SHIFT WITHIN 
THE RELIEF COMMUNITY SINCE THE LEAD UN AGENCY FOR 
COORDINATION OF TSUNAMI-RELATED SHELTER ASSISTANCE, 
UNHCR, ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER THAT IT WAS 
DISCONTINUING ITS ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THESE PROGRAMS 
AND WILL RETURN TO ITS LONG-STANDING MANDATE WHICH 
INCLUDES ADDRESSING THE SHELTER ISSUES OF THE WAR- 
AFFECTED DISPLACED POPULATION IN SRI LANKA.  THE 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM), WHICH HAS 
BEEN ACTIVE IN BUILDING TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS, NOW HAS 
INDICATED THAT IT IS PREPARED TO TAKE UP A LEADERSHIP 
ROLE FOR SHELTER CARE AND MAINTENANCE, ASSUMING FUNDING 
AVAILABILITIES.  ONE NGO, WORLD VISION, ALREADY HAS 
FUNDED IOM FOR USD 500,000 TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR 
STRUCTURES THAT IT CONSTRUCTED FOR TSUNAMI DISPLACED. IOM 
HAS PREPARED A USD 33 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR IT TO 
EFFECTIVELY ASSUME A LARGER NATIONAL ROLE IN THIS AREA; 
MAJOR DONORS ARE LIKELY TO BE INTERNATIONAL NGOS WHICH 
STILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT TSUNAMI-SPECIFIC FUNDING IN THEIR 
COFFERS.  (NOTE:  THE NGO COMMUNITY IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE 
MORE THAN USD 400 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR PERMANENT HOUSING 
CONSTRUCTION, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY OF THESE 
ORGANIZATIONS ARE PREPARED TO FUND CARE AND MAINTENANCE 
PROGRAMS FOR TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT 
THEY HAVE NOT BUILT THEMSELVES.  END NOTE) 
 
¶7.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (WATER/SANITATION):  A COLLATERAL 
CONCERN WITH THE PHYSICAL MAINTENANCE OF TRANSITIONAL 
SHELTERS IS ENSURING THAT THE TEMPORARY INFRASTRUCTURE 
FOR WATER AND SANITATION IS SUPPORTED AND UPGRADED WHEN 
NECESSARY.  MANY SITES OF 10 SHELTERS OR MORE ARE STILL 
DEPENDENT ON POTABLE WATER TANKS, SERVICED BY WATER 
UTILITY OR NGO-SUPPLIED BOWSERS.  FUNDING WILL HAVE TO BE 
BUDGETED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS SERVICE. 
SIMILARLY, MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADING OF LATRINES AT THESE 
SITES MUST BE FUNDED, ORGANIZED AND OVERSEEN.  UNICEF 
WOULD APPEAR TO BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE FOR THE 
LATTER FUNCTION, AND HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM USAID, 
AMONG OTHER DONORS, TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS AREA. 
A BROADER SET OF CONCERNS, INCLUDING COHERENT PLANNING 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY 
NGOS WITH FUNDING FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, ESPECIALLY AS 
THEY COME UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM GOVERNMENT AND 
THE PUBLIC TO ACCELERATE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PERMANENT 
COMMUNITIES.  THE NGOS NOTE THAT SIMILAR PRESSURES TO 
EXPEDITE THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS 
EARLIER THIS YEAR LED TO BUILDING ON POORLY PLANNED AND 
SITED LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOW VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, AND 
IN SOME CASES TO ISOLATION FROM SERVICES OR LIVELIHOOD 
OPPORTUNITIES. 
 
¶8.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (LIVELIHOODS):  THE MOST 
INTRACTABLE PROBLEM AFFECTING THE TRANSITION FROM RELIEF 
TO RECOVERY PHASES OF ASSISTANCE IS CLEARLY THAT OF 
SUPPORTING THE RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS. 
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST EIGHT 
MINISTRIES AND OVER 100 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FUNDING OF USD 126 
MILLION FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES AS DIRECT CASH GRANTS, CASH 
FOR WORK, COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION, SKILLS TRAINING, 
CAPACITY BUILDING, AND MICRO-FINANCE, AT LEAST ONE-THIRD 
OF THE ESTIMATED 200,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED STILL DO NOT 
HAVE A SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD.  IN RECOGNITION OF THIS 
ISSUE, AN ONGOING USD 10 MILLION OFDA PROJECT WITH A U.S. 
CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE RECOVERY OF SMALL 
ENTERPRISES WILL PUT GREATER EMPHASIS IN COMING MONTHS 
UPON SKILLS TRAINING (E.G., FOR MASONS, CARPENTERS, 
WELDERS, ETC.) FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IN TSUNAMI AFFECTED 
COMMUNITIES WHERE USAID PLANS RECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 
THAT THEN CAN UTILIZE THEIR NEWLY LEARNED SKILLS. AT THE 
NATIONAL LEVEL, AN END OF YEAR REPORT DRAFTED BY THE TASK 
FORCE TO REBUILD THE NATION (TAFREN)HAS SUGGESTED THAT 
?AN ACTUAL FUNDING GAP TO RESTORE LIVELIHOODS HAS NOT YET 
BEEN IDENTIFIED?, BUT GOES ON TO OBSERVE THAT ?PERHAPS 
THE LARGEST CONCERN ABOUT FUNDING GAPS ARISES IN THE AREA 
OF SOCIAL SAFETY NETS. THE THREAT OF SOME TSUNAMI 
AFFECTED FAMILIES MOVING PERMANENTLY INTO POVERTY CANNOT 
BE RULED OUT ENTIRELY.?  A PRINCIPAL CHALLENGE IS SEEN IN 
THE ABSENCE OF SYSTEMATIC INFORMATION ON BENEFICIARY 
NEEDS, INCLUDING BENEFICIARY LISTS, AND THE ABILITY TO 
MATCH ASSISTANCE RESOURCES WITH NEEDS.  ACCORDINGLY, A 
CURRENTLY PLANNED IOM PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE 
REGISTRATION OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION TSUNAMI 
AFFECTED PERSONS (VIA THE USE OF MOBILE REGISTRATION 
CENTERS) FOR ENTRY OF THE DATA INTO A NEW NATIONAL 
DATABASE CENTER.  WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF BUFFER ZONE 
ISSUES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, HOWEVER, PROGRESS IN RESTORING 
LIVELIHOODS FOR THE POOREST MEMBERS OF THE TSUNAMI- 
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO LAG.  COMMENT: AT 
THIS TIME USAID DOES NOT IDENTIFY A FUNDING GAP RELATED 
TO LIVELIHOOD RESTORATION.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶9.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (COORDINATION):  COORDINATION OF 
THE DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORT HAS POSED AN UNPRECEDENTED 
CHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENT AND FORMAL ASSISTANCE AGENCIES 
ALIKE AS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GENEROSITY IN THE AFTERMATH 
OF THE TSUNAMI INDUCED A CORRESPONDENT INUNDATION OF 
FUNDS AND COMMODITIES UNDER THE CONTROL OF SCORES OF 
INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS. NOT ALL WERE EXPERIENCED IN 
EMERGENCY RELIEF OPERATIONS AND IN SOME CASES WERE LITTLE 
MORE THAN ?DUMP AND RUN? OPERATIONS THAT RESISTED ANY 
EFFORT TO PRIORITIZE OR MATCH ASSISTANCE WITH ASSESSED 
NEEDS.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH THE TASK 
OF ON-THE-GROUND COORDINATION TYPICALLY POSSESSED LIMITED 
EXPERIENCE OR CAPACITY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT ON SUCH A 
SCALE AND WERE FREQUENTLY OVERWHELMED IN THESE 
CIRCUMSTANCES.  NEVERTHELESS, OVER TIME AND WITH 
ASSISTANCE FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND 
KNOWLEDGEABLE NGO STAFF MOST LOCAL AUTHORITIES DID 
SUCCEED IN BRINGING GREATER DISCIPLINE AND IMPROVED 
MANAGEMENT TO THE PROVISION OF AID IN THEIR DISTRICTS, 
DIVISIONS, AND VILLAGES. 
 
¶10.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (COORDINATION CONTINUED):  AT 
THE NATIONAL LEVEL, SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT 
INSTITUTIONS AND STAFF HAVE SOUGHT TO FRAME GOVERNMENT 
PRIORITIES, CHANNEL INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE, AND WORK 
OUT EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE OR COORDINATION ROLES WITH 
LINE MINISTRIES AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS. AN INITIALLY 
ESTABLISHED CENTRE FOR NATIONAL OPERATIONS (CNO) GAVE WAY 
WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS TO A SERIES OF TASK FORCES INCLUDING 
THE TASK FORCE FOR RELIEF (TAFOR) AND THE TASK FORCE TO 
REBUILD THE NATION (TAFREN). DESPITE THE SUCCESS OF THESE 
TASK FORCES IN SEVERAL AREAS, INCLUDING PROVISION OF AN 
ACTIVE POINT OF CONTACT WITH INTERNATIONAL DONORS, AS 
WELL AS DEVELOPING A PLANNING AND DOCUMENTATION 
FRAMEWORK, TSUNAMI-RELATED DECISION MAKING CAME TO A 
STANDSTILL ONCE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS ANNOUNCED. 
IN CONSEQUENCE, TAFREN COULD NOT BRING CLARITY TO THE 
POLICYMAKING PROCESS OR CLEARLY COMMUNICATE POLICY 
DECISIONS TO GOVERNMENT AND RELIEF OFFICIALS WITH 
OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE GROUND REGARDING SUCH 
CRITICAL TRANSITION ISSUES AS THE DETERMINATION OF BUFFER 
ZONE RESTRICTIONS.  OF FURTHER CONCERN AT THIS TIME, 
HOWEVER, IS THE PREDICTED SHEDDING OF KEY STAFF FROM THE 
TASK FORCES AND THE ACCOMPANYING LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL 
MEMORY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT RELATING TO WHAT HAS CLEARLY 
BECOME A MASSIVE AND INEVITABLY COMPLEX RELIEF-TO- 
RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS. THE CHALLENGE OF MANAGING THAT 
PROCESS NOW FALLS TO A NEW RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 
AGENCY(RDA), WHICH WILL BE PRESSED TO BECOME FULLY 
OPERATIONAL QUICKLY AND TO ACHIEVE QUICK RESOLUTION OF 
BUFFER ZONE ISSUES. 
 
¶11.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (COORDINATION CONTINUED):  DATA 
FOR RELIEF COORDINATION HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY GATHERED, 
BUT NOT NECESSARILY PASSED ON OR ADEQUATELY ARCHIVED FOR 
SUCCEEDING INSTITUTIONS, A FAILING PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN 
THE TRANSITION OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES 
FROM CNO TO TAFREN.  THE GOVERNMENT?S DONOR ASSISTANCE 
DATABASE (DAD) DEVELOPED SINCE THEN HAS A SOPHISTICATED 
ARCHITECTURE THAT PERMITS TRACKING OF DONOR ASSISTANCE, 
CALCULATED AT OVER USD 1.7 BILLION AT THIS TIME (AND BY 
SOME ESTIMATES AT OVER USD 3.1 BILLION), BUT IT STILL HAS 
OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE WORKED OUT (E.G., 
SERVER CAPACITY) AND ITS FUTURE CARE AND MAINTENANCE IS 
UNCERTAIN IN THE POST-ELECTION DISSOLUTION OF TAFREN. A 
STRONG ARGUMENT MAY BE HEARD FOR TURNING OVER DAD 
MANAGEMENT TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, A NATURAL HOME FOR 
ITS FUNCTION IN RECORDING DONOR PLEDGES AND ACTUAL 
COMMITMENTS; ADDITIONALLY, SUCCESS OF THE DAD IS 
ULTIMATELY MOST LIKELY TO DEPEND ON THE ABILITY TO 
DISCIPLINE DONOR AND NGO REPORTING.  HOWEVER, THE DAD?S 
RELEVANCE AND UTILITY AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR 
RELIEF PLANNING PURPOSES COULD DIMINISH OVER TIME IF IT?S 
PRIMARY PURPOSE BECOMES THAT OF FISCAL RECORD KEEPING. 
THE OTHER MAJOR RELIEF INFORMATION RESOURCE SPECIFIC TO 
SRI LANKA WITH FUNCTIONAL UTILITY FOR COORDINATION 
PURPOSES IS OPERATED BY OCHA?S HUMANITARIAN INFORMATION 
CENTER (HIC). A NUMBER OF WEBSITES DEVELOPED AND 
MAINTAINED BY THE HIC OFFER EASY ACCESS TO UPDATED 
INCIDENT AND RESOURCE INFORMATION BY LOCALITIES.  THE 
FUTURE OF THESE WEBSITES IS UNCERTAIN, GIVEN OCHA CLOSE- 
OUT PLANS FOR MID-2006. 
 
¶12.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (COORDINATION CONTINUED):  THE 
ROLE OF UN AGENCIES IN COORDINATION HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN 
CLEAR AS IT HAS DEPENDED, PARTICULARLY AT THE FIELD LEVEL 
WHERE COORDINATION HAS BEEN MOST CRITICAL, ON THE 
PERSONALITIES AND ENERGY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES 
AS WELL AS THOSE OF UN STAFF.  UNHCR, FOR EXAMPLE WAS 
GENERALLY SEEN AS PROACTIVE AND VIGOROUS IN TAKING THE 
LEAD ROLE IN ASSISTING LOCAL OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
COORDINATING SHELTER AID.  HOWEVER, THE AGENCY?S 
EFFECTIVENESS VARIED FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, AND 
FREQUENTLY FAILED TO CLARIFY OR RATIONALIZE THE 
INSTRUCTIONS OR GUIDANCE PROVIDED TO NGOS WORKING IN THIS 
SECTOR.  ALTHOUGH REGARDED AS A RELATIVELY WEAK 
ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY AT THE OUTSET OF THE TSUNAMI 
RELIEF OPERATIONS, OCHA NOW MAY SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT 
LYNCHPIN FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN PRIVATE AGENCIES AND 
THE GOVERNMENT, GIVEN TAFREN?S DISAPPEARANCE AND NGO 
UNCERTAINTIES WITH RESPECT TO REPORTING PROTOCOLS AND 
POSSIBLE NEW IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR RELIEF AND 
RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE.  HOWEVER, AS NOTED ABOVE, OCHA 
PRESENTLY IS OPERATING ON THE PREMISE THAT IT WILL CLOSE 
DOWN AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT YEAR.  UNDP CAN BE 
EXPECTED TO NOMINALLY ASSUME OCHA?S FUNCTIONS WITHIN ITS 
MORE TRADITIONAL COORDINATING ROLE AS THE SENIOR AGENCY 
IN THE UN COUNTRY TEAM, ALBEIT WITH A PREFERENCE FOR 
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING OVER HUMANITARIAN RELIEF 
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES. 
 
¶13.  TRANSITIONAL ISSUES (COORDINATION CONTINUED):  DONOR 
AND NGO COORDINATION FORA APPEAR TO ABOUND IN COLOMBO, 
AND ARE STILL FUNCTIONING FOR SECTOR COOPERATION PURPOSES 
IN THE FIELD.  HOWEVER, MOST CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO 
SERVE AS SUBSTANTIVE COORDINATION MECHANISMS, RATHER THAN 
AS OCCASIONS FOR LONG-WINDED ATTEMPTS TO EXCHANGE 
INFORMATION.  MANY OF THE MAJOR PRIVATE RELIEF 
ORGANIZATIONS FORSOOK THESE MEETINGS SHORTLY AFTER THEY 
BEGAN BECAUSE THEY YIELDED SO LITTLE IN THE WAY OF 
ACTIONABLE DECISIONS AND REQUIRED INORDINATELY LARGE 
SWATHES OF TIME WHICH HARD PRESSED RELIEF MANAGERS COULD 
ILL AFFORD.   NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE KEY ISSUES ON THE 
AGENDA OF THESE GROUPS AT THIS TIME.  AMONG THOSE IS THE 
EQUITY ISSUE IN THE CONTINUED PROGRAMMING OF MUCH LARGER 
VOLUMES OF DONOR AID TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS THAN TO THE WAR 
AFFECTED POPULATIONS, AND THE PREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES IN 
HEIGHTENED INTRA-COMMUNITY TENSIONS AMONG VULNERABLE AND 
POLITICALLY VOLATILE COMMUNITIES.  ANOTHER FREQUENTLY 
DISCUSSED CONCERN IS THAT OF INFLATED LABOR AND MATERIEL 
COSTS FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHICH 
ARE NOW PROJECTED TO REQUIRE AS MUCH AS FOUR TIMES THE 
FUNDING ESTIMATED PRIOR TO THE TSUNAMI. 
 
¶14.  PREPAREDNESS:  DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE 
MANAGEMENT REMAIN CRITICAL CONCERNS OF GOVERNMENT AND 
RELIEF AGENCIES.  WITH A HISTORY OF FREQUENTLY OCCURRING 
FLOODS, CYCLONES, AND LANDSLIDES, SRI LANKA IS STILL 
WITHOUT A FULLY MANDATED AND STAFFED CENTRAL DISASTER 
MANAGEMENT AGENCY, ALTHOUGH TWO ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE 
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT APPEAR TO BE TITLED AS SUCH.  THE 
LIKELY LEAD AGENCY WILL BE THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTER 
HEADED BY MAJOR GENERAL GAMINI HETTIARACHICHI IN A NEWLY 
DESIGNATED MINISTRY OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT.  ALTHOUGH SET 
UP IN SEPTEMBER AS PART OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT, 
ELECTION-RELATED DELAYS IN AUTHORIZING THE RECRUITMENT OF 
STAFF HAVE SLOWED ITS ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL 
DISASTER ALERT AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE SYSTEM.  USG 
ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED TO THE CENTER FOR THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM AND DISASTER 
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES VIA FUNDING THROUGH THE INDIAN 
OCEAN TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM (IOTWS).  USAID/SRI LANKA 
STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM 
PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE IOTWS PROJECT, AND WILL PROVIDE 
CONTINUING LIAISON BETWEEN THE GOSL AND THE PROJECT?S 
PROGRAM MANAGERS IN BANGKOK. 
 
¶15.  END NOTE:  OFDA HAS MAINTAINED A TDY MONITORING 
PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA FOR MUCH OF THE TIME SINCE THE DART 
OPERATIONAL GROUP WAS DISBANDED IN LATE FEBRUARY.  WHILE 
OFDA?S IN-COUNTRY PRESENCE WILL EFFECTIVELY END WITH THE 
DEPARTURE OF A LONG-TERM TDYER MID-DECEMBER, REGIONAL 
OFDA OFFICERS IN KATHMANDU AND BANGKOK WILL CONTINUE TO 
PROVIDE BACKSTOP SERVICES FOR SRI LANKA.  OFDA HAS BEEN 
PARTICULARLY FORTUNATE IN THE STRONG SUPPORT IT HAS 
RECEIVED FROM THE EMBASSY, FROM TOP MANAGEMENT ON DOWN, 
AND IN THE EXCEPTIONAL COOPERATION OF THE USAID MISSION 
IN IMPLEMENTING THE EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM. SPECIAL 
MENTIONS NEED TO BE MADE OF THE OTI STAFF AND THE STAFF 
OF THEIR IMPLEMENTING PARTNER (DAI) FOR THEIR GENEROUS 
SUPPORT ON THE GROUND; AND TO THE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
STAFF OF THE MISSION FOR TAKING ON COGNIZANT TECHNICAL 
OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE MULTIPLE GRANTS MADE BY 
THE DART TO OFDA?S NGO PARTNERS. THE OUTSTANDING 
PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND 
THEIR ORGANIZATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE 
SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF TIMELY AND CRITICAL HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA?S TSUNAMI VICTIMS. 
CHARGE