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Indian Ocean disaster: Australia's response - 25 Jan 2005

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Fifth Australian Civilian Medical Team to Depart

A fifth, 24 person civilian medical team is due to depart Australia for Banda Aceh on 28 January 2005. The team comprises surgeons, medical support, a microbiological laboratory plus public health experts. The team new will be co-located with the ADF medical presence in the Abidin General Hospital in Banda Aceh. See 'on the ground in affected areas' below for more information.

Australian volunteer teachers head to the Maldives

A group of Australian volunteer teachers departed for the Maldives on 25 January 2005 to play a part in helping the country and in particular its children, recover from the devastating Boxing Day tsunami. The teachers have volunteered their skills for six months to help the education sector get back on its feet. For more information see media release [external website].

Tsunami curriculum pack for Australian teachers

Leading aid agencies have teamed up with educators and State and Federal Government to develop a Tsunami Education Kit for primary and secondary teachers. The kit, produced by AusAID, World Vision and the Australian Red Cross in collaboration with Curriculum Corporation and the Australian Council for Educational Research are available on line from 24 January at no charge for the start of the school year. The kit is available on the Global Education website [external website]. See also Media releases[external website]

Australian Coral Reef Assessment Mission to the Maldives

A team of Australian marine experts departed Australia on 23 January for the Maldives to assist the Government of the Maldives undertake a rapid assessment of damage to the coral reef structure and associated ecosystems resulting from the tsunami. Australia's expertise in the management of coral reefs and fisheries will be used to assist the Maldives plan the repair of its marine resources which are fundamental to the country's economic life.

Normandie Express sails with Tasmanian donations for Tsunami relief

In a joint response by the Federal and Tasmanian Governments to the humanitarian needs of the people in Banda Aceh affected by the tsunami, the Normandie Express left Hobart on 22 January carrying donations of much needed items required in the initial phase of the disaster relief.

Engineers depart for the Maldives

Four engineers departed Australia on 21 January 2005 for the Maldives on an AusAID funded mission to assess the structural safety of at least 80 schools in the Maldives. The structural safety of school buildings following the tsunami is a priority concern of the Maldives government before the start of the new school year for more than 100,000 children. See more information on assistance to the Maldives.

Boat aid saves lives

In contrast to the massive international airlift of emergency relief to the devastated city of Banda Aceh, the first relief supplies for tsunami supplies on islands off the coast of Aceh were delivered by a small flotilla of six-metre boats provided by AusAID. See Boat aid saves lives.

Return of AusAID staff member from UNDAC team to Phuket

Neryl Lewis (AusAID) was part of a 5 person United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team that arrived in Thailand 3 days after the tsunami hit. The international team worked closely with Thai authorities from the second day and was responsible for assessing the humanitarian situation on the southern Thai coastline. Full briefing transcript

Death toll now estimated at more than 225,000

The Indonesian Health Ministry has raised the country's death toll to 166,320, which pushes the total number of people killed from the 26 December 2004 tsunami to more than 225,000. More information on the human toll.

Background to the Indian Ocean Disaster

On the morning of Sunday 26 December a severe earthquake in the ocean off the coast of northern Sumatra caused tsunamis (tidal waves) that devastated communities in neighbouring countries and other countries in the Indian Ocean. The earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter Scale, the world's most severe in 40 years.

The tsunamis resulted in a disaster of extraordinary proportions. The death toll is now put at more than 225,000 (United Nations and media estimates). The casualty list continues to grow and it is acknowledged than an exact death toll will never be known. The UN estimates that the tsunamis displaced one million people and deprived five million of basic services.

More information on the human toll

Related links

Australia's response

Immediate

While the magnitude of the disaster was still unfolding, in Canberra and posts of countries in affected areas, the relief effort began immediately:

In the first 36 hours following the disaster:

  • an emergency task force of senior officials was established in Canberra at 6 pm on Sunday 26 December to coordinate Australia's response;
  • the AusAssist Plan, a standing AusAID disaster response plan, was activated on 27 December 2004;
  • essential supplies from the AusAID emergency store were sent to Indonesia on four RAAF C-130 Hercules, departing on 27-29 December;
  • the flights also took two AusAID funded medical team to conduct health assessments and provide primary treatment;
  • AusAID funded the immediate deployment of four participants in United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams to Thailand and Indonesia;
  • AusAID staff from posts in affected countries were dispatched to disaster areas to assess the impact of the tsunami; and
  • additional staff from Canberra were sent to Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka to support post.

Relief packages

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Downer, made the first of three Australian Government aid announcements on 27 December, announcing an initial contribution of $10 million. A subsequent $25 million in relief aid was announced on 29 December, and another $25 million on 31 December 2004.

The funding allocated for direct relief includes assistance for Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles and for Australian non government organisations (NGOs) and to support the relief work in other countries. As well, there is provision for the deployment of Australian technical and coordination specialist personnel.

In support of the United Nations (UN) response to the Asian tsunami, $25 million of the initial contribution of $60 million was allocated to UN agencies.

The following tables outline the allocation of Australia's initial contribution of $60 million by target country or group:

Indonesia - $33 million
Amount Purpose
$12.5 million Health and water sanitation
$8.25 million Coordination and support services
$7 million Food and non-food items
$5.25 million Shelter

Sri Lanka and the Maldives - $14.25 million
Amount Purpose
$4 million Food and non-food items
$4 million Education
$2.5 million Health and water sanitation
$2.25 million Environment
$1 million Shelter
$0.5 million Coordination and support services


Australian Non Government Organisations - $12 million

This includes contributions to the Australian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Seychelles and other affected areas - $750,000

Australia will provide $500,000 to a UN Flash Appeal to help the Seychelles recover from the Indian Ocean tsunami. The contribution will provide shelter for families and also be used to rebuild infrastructure and help with general economic recovery.

See also the timeline of Australia's aid announcements.

The Australian Government will continue to work with international partners to assess and identify effective ways to assist those most affected by the disaster.

Reconstruction

$1 billion package for Indonesia

On 5 January 2005, the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard announced the $1 billion Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (APIRD).

The APIRD, a 5 year commitment, is the largest single aid package in Australia's history.

The package will consist of $500 million in grants and $500 million in concessional loans over 40 years with no interest and no repayments of principal over the first 10 years.

The AIPRD is additional to Australia's ongoing Development Cooperation Program and Defence Cooperation Program. The initiative will bring the provision of aid to Indonesia to a total of $1.8 billion over five years.

The grants will be used for short term restorative projects to re-establish social and economic infrastructure in affected areas, including a large scholarship program, providing training, and support in areas such as engineering, health care, public administration and governance.

The concessional loans will be used for reconstruction and rehabilitation of major infrastructure.

The Prime Minister and Indonesia's President will oversee the implementation of the initiative.

A Joint Commission will be established including the Foreign Ministers and economic ministers, and supported by a Secretariat from both countries.

This partnership lays the groundwork for a closer and cooperative relationship between Australia and Indonesia and for a brighter, more stable and stronger future for the people of Indonesia.

The Prime Minister and Mr Downer attended the ASEAN Tsunami Disaster Summit in Jakarta on 5 and 6 January.

Key outcomes of the Tsunami Summit included:

* Agreement to urgently mobilise further, additional resources to meet the emergency relief needs of victims in the affected areas

* Agreement to establish a regional early warning system such as a Regional Tsunami Early Warning Centre in the Indian Ocean and the Southeast Asia region

In addition, the Australian Government has agreed to join other creditor countries in offering an immediate postponement of scheduled debt repayments for the governments of tsunami-affected countries following a meeting of the Paris Club on 12 January.

On the ground in affected areas

Indonesia

Australia and the Government of Indonesia have agreed to form an Australian-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development committing $1 billion over 5 years. This is in addition to the $33m that Australia has already committed toward the relief effort including $18m for key UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO, WFP and IOM) as well as funding through Australian, international and local NGOs.

To date an estimated 390 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid has been provided to Tsunami victims in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, including food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment, principally with the assistance of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) and UN Joint Operations Centre partners, as well as through small aircraft and boat charters.

The focus of Australia's assistance in the emergency phase will be on health and water and sanitation with most assistance going to Banda Aceh as well as some small scale assistance for the North West coast including the outlying islands of Nias, Batu, Banyak and Simeulue.

Australian (AusAID) assistance to date includes:

  • Two civilian medical teams, (working with a 10-strong ADF medical team) and 24 pallets of medical supplies aboard a 707 aircraft departed on 29 December 2004;
  • Since the original deployment, two subsequent medical teams have been deployed, with the composition of the team gradually shifting from surgical to public health;
  • A fourth team of 18 Australian doctors, a microbiologist and two laboratory technicians are currently working in Banda Aceh to provide urgent medical assistance. The team leaders have been instrumental in improving co-ordination among hospitals and medical teams, chairing a multi-national World Health Organisation (WHO) sub group for hospital co-ordination;
  • A fifth team is planned to arrive at the end of January, and will continue to have a microbiology laboratory sub group. This team will be based alongside the Australian civilian medical team at Fakinah Hospital with links to the 90 bed ADF field hospital;
  • An AusAID funded medical supply warehouse leased by the Provincial Health Department began operating on 18 January;
  • Provision of 119,000 20L water containers, with a further 10,000 containers to follow;
  • On-going transportation of critically important supplies for a range relief agencies;
  • Boat-based delivery of food and water to the coastal areas and islands near Singkil;
  • Provision to Aceh and western Sumatra of food items including rice, noodles, high protein biscuits and canned fruit, tents and tarpaulins, fuel and battery supplies, medical supplies including tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus toxoid for the treatment and prevention of tetanus, telecommunications equipment and technicians;
  • Deployment of 6 logisticians, two shelter experts, a fleet and a telecommunications specialist from RedR deployed with WFP, UNJLC and UNHCR. Responding to a request from UNHCR, an additional 12 are expected to depart late January, with expertise in shelter, water sanitation and environment and logistics;
  • A civil engineer is working with Caritas and a water & sanitation expert with the Red Cross (both RedR). In order to respond to other UN and NGO requests, additional Red R personnel on standby with expertise in water sanitation, road and shelter, site planning, logistics, public health workers and humanitarian managers;
  • A coordination expert has been placed with United Nations Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC);
  • In addition, an AusAID funded health assessment team comprising a health assistance co-ordinator, child protection specialist, infectious disease specialist and pharmaceutical and medical supplies specialist are working with WHO and UNICEF on the ground. This team has developed a list of recommendations for ongoing assistance in this area. A final report to be released soon;
  • AusAID had a health specialist participating in a WHO-led assessment mission in Aceh Province. The final report was released on 21 January 2005;
  • Placement of an infectious disease specialist with 'Mentor', a non government organisation working on malaria prevention and control;
  • Approval of funding for a program of psychosocial support in conjunction with local health authorities;
  • Funding for a water and sanitation specialist to work with UNICEF and other partners to improve sanitation in Banda Aceh;
  • A Simuelue Island assessment team;
  • In-principle support for the restoration of basic Islamic education through the AusAID funded Learning Assistance Program for Islamic Schools;
  • Planning for the placement of a number of Australian volunteers to be sourced from volunteer agencies (including logisticians, translators, water and sanitation specialists and paramedics);
  • AusAID currently has 15 aid personnel on the ground in Medan, Padang and Banda Aceh helping to coordinate the relief effort.

Australian Defence Force assistance includes:

  • Four Australian C-130 Hercules had arrived in Indonesia by 30 December 2004;
  • Aircrews have been provided to ensure 24 hour use of the C-130 Hercules. The C-130 Hercules carried food, power generation and water purification equipment, shelter and medical stores in response to a request from the Indonesian Government. The aircraft are available to assist Indonesia carry out other relief tasks;
  • Two Antonov aircraft and one IL-76 aircraft arrived in Aceh on 3 January carrying four ADF general purpose utility helicopters and a light Field Hospital located in Banda Aceh with 90 beds. Two Antonovs are on call for deployment to the region;
  • HMAS Kanimbla arrived in Banda Aceh on 13 January 2005 with helicopters, landing craft and an engineering team;
  • A water purification plant generating up to 480,000 litres of water per day.

Australia's longer term assistance will focus on economic reconstruction and development. Funding will consist of equal parts of grant assistance and highly concessional financing. Grant assistance is expected to encompass small-scale reconstruction to re-establish social and economic infrastructure in affected areas, human resource development and rehabilitation. It will also include a large scholarship program, providing support and training in areas such as engineering, health care, public administration and governance.

Bantuan Australia untuk Korban Tsunami di Indonesia [external website]

See also Boat aid saves lives

See also Aid coordination in Aceh

Sri Lanka

The Australian Government has committed $10 million for vital relief in Sri Lanka. The assistance package to Sri Lanka is focused on addressing urgent food aid, shelter, public health issues and delivering water and sanitation in the aftermath of the tsunami.

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that its assistance reaches those in need in all areas of the country.

Australia's aid to Sri Lanka includes:

  • The deployment of a medical team on 30 December 2004 with expertise in infectious diseases and public health;
  • Four tonnes of medical supplies including protective gowns, gloves, syringes, surgical masks, mosquito nets and mobile phones;
  • Eight tonnes of medical equipment arrived in Sri Lanka on 21 January 2005.

The Australian High Commission has also approved several immediate Direct Aid Program grants totalling $19,000 to help families affected by the disaster in Hikkaduwa, Batticaloa, Sainthamarutha and Tricomalee.

Two additional AusAID staff have been sent to Colombo, and one AusAID staff member has been seconded to UNICEF to assist with the coordination of relief efforts.

See also transcript of briefing by Dr Graeme Peel on AusAID medical team deployed to Sri Lanka on 30 December 2004

Maldives

A team of Australian marine experts arrived in the Maldives on 23 January 2005 to assist the Government of the Maldives undertake a rapid assessment of damage to the coral reef structure and associated ecosystems resulting from the tsunami. Australia's expertise in the management of coral reefs and fisheries will be used to assist the Maldives repair its marine resources which are fundamental the country's economic life.

Fifteen primary and secondary teachers will be deployed to the Maldives at the end of January in time for the start of the new school year. Australia will also work with the school authorities to play a part in repairing schools damaged or destroyed by the tsunami.

Four engineers departed Australia on 21 January 2005 for the Maldives on an AusAID funded mission to assess the structural safety of at least 80 schools in the Maldives. The structural safety of school buildings following the tsunami is a priority concern of the Maldives government before the start of the new school year for more than 100,000 children

Australia continues to provide support to the WFP for food aid and logistical operations.

A 16 person medical team returned from the Maldives on 7 January 2005 after a successful mission. In the Maldives they worked as 2 teams to treat people affected by the disaster.

Seychelles

Australia will contribute $500,000 to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Flash Appeal to provide shelter for families and also be used to rebuild infrastructure and help with general economic recovery. The funds will be channelled through the United Nations Development Programme.

Child Protection

Australia is deeply concerned about the pressing needs of children affected by the Indian Ocean disaster and is doing what it can to assist.

Australia absolutely supports the position taken by UNICEF and the Indonesian authorities that adoption or removing children from their communities is highly inappropriate. Australia is supporting Australian and international agencies to assist children re-establish their lives in their home regions.

Australia recognises the importance of supporting national efforts to address the issue. The Indonesian Government has put in place a number of measures to protect children, including a ban on adoption of children from Aceh, and is an active participant in regional child protection and anti-sex tourism activities.

Australia's strategy is to direct money to agencies with a mandate to deal with child protection. The United Nations Children's Fund - (UNICEF), works with national child protection authorities and key partners including the Red Cross, Save the Children and other non-government organisations.

The Australian Government is already funding action to address the needs of children:

  • In Indonesia and Sri Lanka, AusAID is providing funding to UNICEF which is providing emergency health and education kits to victims of the disaster, with psychological counsellors on standby to work with UNICEF in its programme to assist traumatized children.
  • In Aceh, AusAID is working with non-government organisations to set up children's centres in camps for displaced people, and has deployed a child protection officer to assess immediate and longer term needs
  • AusAID is funding Australian Volunteers International to send 15 school teachers to the Maldives. They will receive pre-departure briefings on the special needs of children traumatized by the disaster.

AusAID is in close communication with our partners and remains ready to assist in meeting the needs of children who require protection.

How you can help

The Australian public's generosity to the Tsunami Disaster Relief has been overwhelming.

The most effective way members of the public can support the relief effort is by cash donation to one of the many non-government agencies that are appealing for support.

Unfortunately no matter how well-intentioned, gifts of clothing, tinned food, surplus goods and medical supplies are not always practical. It is important that the offers of assistance from the Australian community are carefully matched with priority needs identified by the countries affected by the disaster.

The Australian Government recognises the important contribution that individuals and companies with specific skills can make to our relief effort.

In order to assist with the efficient and effective management of offers of assistance, below are the contact details for offers of assistance:

Australian Council for International Development

For cash donations, see the Australian Council for International Development website for a current list of appeals http://www.acfid.asn.au/campaigns/asiaearthquake.htm#appeals [external website]

Australian Volunteers International

Those wishing to volunteer or offer goods and services should contact the Australian Volunteers International hotline on 1 800 331 292. See also www.australianvolunteers.com.au [external website]

Austrade

Companies and individuals wishing to register their interest in future reconstruction should contact Austrade on 13 28 78. See also www.austrade.gov.au [external website]

Companies are also advised that commercial opportunities will appear on the AusAID website (Business section) as they become available.

AusAID

For advice on what category your offer may fall into or for all other offers of assistance contact AusAID on (02) 6206 4539