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USAID Rebuilds Lives After the Tsunami
Update - December 2, 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* |
| India: | $17.9 million |
| Indonesia: | $397.3 million |
| Maldives: | $8.7 million |
| Sri Lanka: | $134.6 million |
| Thailand: | $5.1 million |
| Regional, other countries and program management: | $33 million |
| *$656 million was approved for the Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, but $25 million is
committed to Avian Flu. |
Reconstruction Update #28 (PDF - 224kb)
TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION
INDIA
12/02/05
Villagers recycle waste, learning life-long skills
Maintaining healthy living conditions in temporary settlements is a high priority. Recycling waste in the settlements contributes to keeping communities healthy as well as improving agriculture.
Pazhapalayam, a village of over 1,100 families in Nagapattinam District in southern India, has become a ‘zero-garbage’ village, thanks to a USAID recycling project,carried out in cooperation with Exnora, a local Indian organization. Villagers have learned to segregate dry (recyclable) and wet (organic) waste into two coloredbuckets provided for that purpose. The segregated waste is collected by volunteers each day. Wet waste isbrought to the composting facility for processing. The compost is used by locals as fertilizer for their fields. The recyclable waste is sold in the market, and the revenue is used to run the facility. The village plans to expand the composting yard to handle waste from neighboring villages.
12/02/05
Training in rope-making increases family income
 A team of five people trained as part of tsunami relief and reconstruction are operating a rope-making facility at Pudupattinam in Nagapattinam District.
The facility meets the rope requirements of the local fishing community. Loganathan, a fisherman with poor eyesight, along with Indira, Geetha, Muthamma and Kavitha, all fromdifferent fishing families received rope-making training. On completion of successful training for a period of one month, they started this facility to produce around 500 – 600 Kgs of ropes a month making Rs. 12,000 ($266) per month. They plan to expand their facility as there is good demand from neighboring villages.
THAILAND
12/02/05
Villagers donate daily wages to complete water system
 A team of citizens, international donors and local authorities combined efforts to establish a permanent source of fresh water for 100 homes in a newly constructed community for displaced tsunami survivors in Hat Prapat, aremote village in Ranong Province, Thailand.
USAID paid 34 villagers to dig trenches to lay water distribution pipes from the central (donated) water system to individual homes throughout the community. The villagers donated the wages they earned for digging the trenches to buy the pipes, and local authorities helped install the system.
INDONESIA
12/02/05
Changing lives in Aceh Province
 Encouraged by a USAID leadership training, Pak Husaini decided to tear down his own barriers and take hold of his destiny by opening up his own store. On the side of the store, he wrote “Manusia dilahirkan untuk berhasil bukan untuk gagal,” which means, “Human beings are born to succeed, not to fail.” This is one of the key messages that he learned in the training. Another important message he learned is that, “whatever we think, we must do. For sure we will succeed, if only a little bit.” Pak Husaini may have lost his wife, children and belongings to the tsunami’s powerful waves, but today he has a renewed outlook on life.
Village heads and female leaders in tsunami-affected communities attended four days of training focused on personal empowerment and essential leadership qualities, including integrity, confidence, willingness to engage, benefits of taking necessary risks, accepting responsibility and perseverance in the face of adversity. As a result, Pak Husaini is changing his situation.
12/02/05
Aceh magazine begins publication
The first magazine ever produced in Aceh has been released. Aceh magazine is focused largely on the peace process and reconstruction efforts, serving as a communications tool to get information to those internally displaced from the tsunami.
With a price tag of zero, “gratis,” Aceh magazine is likely to reach its intended population, with an estimated circulation of 40,000 to 60,000 recipients.
The magazine is written, produced and distributed by the Aceh Recovery Forum, a consortium of NGOs and international organizations established in February 2005. The forum’s mission is to increase the participation of the public in the reconstruction of Aceh and monitoring progress. The first few issues of Aceh magazine, to be published
monthly, will be funded by USAID. Printing thereafter will be dependent on future funding and cooperation with other donors.
12/02/05
Cleaner and cheaper water for Meulaboh
 The director of the
largest water treatment plant in Meulaboh is pleased. For the
first time, on-site training has made a tangible impact on
operating costs. The Tirta Meulaboh water treatment plant now
produces better quality water, with fewer chemicals, saving on
average $750 per month.
The crew of water treatment operators improved their skills in chlorination and mixing chemicals through a USAID training program. The training built practical skills in making water treatment solutions, calculating correct dosages, doing water
quality tests and calibrating pump strokes. The results were appreciated almost immediately as operators saw that their chemical stocks could be stretched much further than before. The Aceh Barat District Officer-in-Charge has also expressed great satisfaction with the results.
The Tirta Meulaboh operators and others in the region will continue to build their skills over the next few years as reconstruction proceeds.
SRI LANKA
12/02/05
Livelihoods restoration on track to exceed target by 33 percent
 - Grants and loans were given to more than 25,000 households in the tsunami-damaged south and east of Sri Lanka.
The program began by providing cash-for-work opportunities for 7,200 households, and microfinance assistance for another for 4,700 families. By last week, 14,000 households had received training and materials for their small businesses.
Since the disaster, USAID has expanded its work
from making loans to teaching local organizations how to provide complementary training
entrepreneurs need to make their businesses a success. The ultimate goal of the program is to
help people affected by the tsunami restart their livelihoods or initiate new ones.
12/02/05
Helping children recover
Helping children recover – USAID will provide the equipment for 85 playgrounds in tsunami-damaged communities. The playgrounds will be erected for the physical and psychological benefit of children traumatized by the disaster.
The $2 million project is a joint undertaking of USAID, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Clinton-Bush Fund. Meanwhile, Sarvodaya, a local organization, works with USAID to obtain approval from local authorities on the
parks’ placement, use and maintenance. In addition, training is provided on the proper installation of the parks in conformity with international safety standards.
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