Tsunami reconstruction and re-building in Aceh, Sri Lanka

By Source: Union Aid Abroad www.apheda.org.au

Banda Aceh. A bustling centre flattened. The writing says “People who own this house still alive".

As well, unions have organised a large number of worksites or companies to assist their members to make a payroll donation.

Funds contributed to Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA appeal are going to northern Sri Lanka, southern Sri Lanka and Acheh.

Aceh - slow recovery

The scale of destruction following the December 26 2004 tsunami cannot adequately be described in words.

The media has brought pictures of Aceh into our living rooms, but what is missing is the over-powering smell of dead bodies rotting in the tropical heat which continues to linger to this day, five months after the waves hit Aceh.

It is estimated that 514,150 people are living in temporary shelter. Some survivors clearly wish to return to their land to rebuild their homes and lives, while others are too frightened to go back. There are also stories of lost souls and ghosts haunting familiar places. This deters people from returning to their homes.

The biggest scarring is probably not the one we can see in the landscape but the invisible wounds carried in the hearts and minds of the surviving population. Everyone has a tragic story to tell and many carry physical reminders of the tragedy. Some have injuries that have not healed. The bodies and minds of the people have been severely traumatised.

It is clear that any community-building program will have to include a strong component of psychological healing.

The Indonesian government's master plan for Aceh was finally released in April. It will provide the blueprint for rebuilding and reconstructing Aceh for five years from 2004-2009 based on four values: "universalism, Indonesian values, Acehnese values, and Islamic values". The master plan indicates that the government will establish area divisions ranging from restricted settlement to commercial business districts. The coordinating agency of the government responsible for the implementation of the master plan was formed in early May. This will now allow the reconstruction process to begin, and this body can provide the necessary clarification of the master plan to the United Nations and International NGOs.

Aceh is still facing a civil emergency. There are security codes for operation including a midnight to 5 am curfew. Access to certain areas are restricted, and there are no-go zones. It is hoped there will be a negotiated outcome between the independence movement, GAM, and the government, to allow the security situation to settle.

Another factor that impacts the rebuilding process is the sheer scale of the destruction. Infrastructure has been destroyed and the people with skills and expertise to help with the work are no longer living. Over 1,500 teachers and 150 nurses were killed. In some communities, almost the entire female population has been wiped out.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has provided medical assistance to support the initial emergency phase of the disaster, and will now focusing its activities in Aceh on supporting livelihood projects that are sustainable. However, the road to recovery for the people of Aceh will be a very slow one.

APHEDA is determined to stay the course and help provide the aid necessary and ensure that it goes to the needy. The generosity of our members enables AHPEDA to work effectively on the ground.

Sri Lanka

APHEDA staff and Jagath Bandara from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union are visiting Sri Lanka on May 8-23 to assess effectiveness of funds sent from Australian unions and ongoing needs during reconstruction.

In January APHEDA sent funds to the Ceylon Teachers Service Union to be used with an alliance of volunteers from a range of unions providing emergency medical and food support in the southern and eastern coastal regions.

Funds were also sent, via the SOLIDAR international alliance of trade union based-humanitarian aid agencies, to Norwegian Peoples Aid, which immediately after the tsunami had redeployed hundreds of local staff from an existing landmines program to emergency response in the northern Vanni region.

Immediate support was given for recovery of bodies, medical and emergency help to victims, drinking water delivery and transport.

The Solidar alliance agencies, including as well as the Norwegians, affiliates from Germany and Switzerland, after the emergency phase are supporting four temporary camps for 445 families made homeless by the tsunami in Maruthankeny, Thallaiyady, Arasady and Vathirayan. This includes:

• removing landmines and unexploded ordinance from camp areas
• building 260 semi permanent shelters, with fire points, kitchens, fences & walkways
• building 45 latrine units with a total of 225 toilets
• building a pre-school and community centre in each camp

In other areas, the Solidar alliance is helping with:

• providing electricity (114.5 KVA generators) for 34 camps, with lights and wiring
• a Tsunami Education Project (TEP)
• 10 boats, engines & nets to restart fishing in Thallaiyady area
• 675 wells have been cleaned in the southern Galle area and 220 in Ampara district
• first aid training in camps - St Johns
• continued distribution of non-food relief items (NFRI)

In the coming longer-term reconstruction phase, the Solidar agencies will support:

• debris clearance and ground preparation, and building of:
• permanent houses (current aim is 1,000)
• individual & public wells and cleaning of existing wells
• individual & public toilets
• drainage facilities
• schools and pre-schools
• rural health centres
• community halls
• children's parks

The Solidar coordination also plans to help with:

• furniture & equipment for schools
• provision of machinery, equipment, and furniture for health centres
• staff training & support for health centres
• the establishment of boat yard for fishermen
• micro-finance and women's livelihoods training
• a nutritional program
• a sustainable housing program
• continuing removal of landmines from affected areas

Union Aid Abroad will assess proposals from community organisations and union alliances in Sri Lanka for ongoing support for post-tsunami reconstruction projects.

Health

In particular, with support from health sector unions in Australia, we will discuss with an alliance of health service unions in Colombo how we can assist rebuilding and re-skilling primary health care structures in affected areas.

Training

With support from the AMWU in Queensland, we'll assess how we can help in a program in eight coastal districts training trades-people and providing tools for masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, boat mechanics and boat-builders.