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USAID Rebuilds Lives After the Tsunami
Update - October 12, 2005
In December 2004, a major earthquake followed by a tsunami hit Asia and Africa, devastating many coastal areas. Almost 200,000 people in eight countries perished in a few hours, and over 100,000 are still missing. Many more had their homes and livelihoods swept away. The coastal areas of Indonesia and Sri Lanka and two Indian island chains bore the brunt of the calamity. They will require significant repair and reconstruction. In response to a Presidential request, Congress appropriated $907.3 million in long term U.S. support to help the tsunami victims rebuild their lives. $656 million was allocated for USAID’s Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, with $25 million committed to Avian Flu.
USAID's historic commitment to these countries, 40 years of expertise with disaster assistance, and solid working relationships with the region's governments meant we were able to respond immediately, providing life-saving food, water, medical care and shelter.
Now, standing side-by-side with the survivors, we are rebuilding communities and lives. Our cash-for-work programs give families incomes. Loans, business advice and training in job skills help develop new businesses and sources of income. Longer-term projects to reconstruct water systems, roads and other critical systems are underway. The success of our work is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, learning from experience and the power of partnerships between nations.
| Total USG Humanitarian and Recovery Assistance Pledged 12/31/04: | $350,000,000 |
| Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund: | $631,000,000* |
| Total USAID Humanitarian Assistance Committed: | $101,550,957 |
| Total USAID Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Assistance Committed: | $474,236,034 |
| Other USG Humanitarian Assistance Provided: | $237,900,000 |
| *$656 million was approved for the Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, but $25 million is
committed to Avian Flu. |
Reconstruction Update #27 (PDF - 224kb)
TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION
INDIA
10/12/05
Communities will be better prepared for the next disaster
 USAID is helping communities affected by the tsunami to be better prepared for and have confidence in facing future disasters. The disaster risk management program is helping vulnerable communities to organize disaster management teams, which plan and prepare evacuation routes and are trained in early warning, search and rescue, and first aid.
In these seaside communities, drowning is always a potential cause of death during disasters. The disaster management teams have been trained on how to use local materials such as empty oil drums to create devices that can save people from drowning.
THAILAND
10/12/05
Portland, Oregon city officials support community emergency preparedness in Phuket
 More than 250 city officials, emergency response volunteers, and staff members from relief organizations, medical units and tourist centers in Phuket province participated in an emergency preparedness workshop focusing on how community members can help in the first critical 72 hours immediately following a disaster while city officials restore infrastructure and services. City officials received additional advice on the preparation of emergency management plans with emphasis placed on communications, utilities, critical response operations and recovery activities. Two trainers from the City of Portland shared Portland’s model that works with communities through a neighborhood emergency team to carry out emergency response efforts, such as evacuation planning, a building inspection system, and search procedures.
10/12/05
Partnership produces clean drinking water for Phang Nga
 USAID helped build a coalition of partners, including the Crisis Corps, U.S. businesses, the Thai government, and NGOs, to assist one of Thailand's most tsunami-affected communities, Phang Nga. Parkson Corporation, an American producer of water purification systems, donated the equipment valued at $400,000. Other public and private donations paid shipping costs and are supporting continuing technical assistance to get the new water treatment system fully operational. About 800 households will be served.
SRI LANKA
10/12/05
New machines cut coir processing time
USAID funding is introducing small businesses to new technology to improve coir processing, benefiting more than 540 families. Coir is the fibrous husk of a coconut, which is woven to produce products for domestic use and export. New equipment will accelerate production by eliminating the six months of soaking time traditionally needed to soften coconuts. New and wider looms will help processors produce a larger geo-textile mat for the export market and traditional products such as mattresses, rugs and twine. In addition, 300 entrepreneurs who lost their businesses in the tsunami received coir spinning wheels, bicycles, lace drums, and sewing machines.
INDONESIA
10/12/05
Acehnese youth learn technical trades
 Forty-eight students graduated from the Politeknik Caltex Riau Center on October 4, completing three month courses in electronic wiring and masonry. Now they are ready to take these valuable skills back home and help with the reconstruction process. This is the first group of graduates supported by USAID’s partnership with Chevron that will train a total of 330 individuals by the end of 2005. Other students are studying computer applications, bookkeeping, and welding under this alliance.
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