TRINET
Weekly News October 2, 2006

New
TRINet's October Newsletter which focuses on sanitation is available at
http://www.trinet.in/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?cid=35&lid=251


General
Two moderate quakes hit North Andamans: Two moderate intensity quakes shook
the North Andaman sea floor near Barren Island on Thursday. The quakes,
which measured 5.0 on the Richter scale, hit within 90 minutes of each
other, informed the Meteorological Department. Met Department officials
ruled out the possibility of a tsunami stating that the quakes were of a
moderate intensity.
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Two+modera\
te+quakes+hit+North+Andamans%0D&id=93940


Tsunami relief code soon: Chennai: A comprehensive relief code and
rehabilitation policy for tsunami recovery should be formulated soon in line
with international standards and with a strong focus on social equity, a
two-day high-level consultation meet to take stock of tsunami recovery has
recommended. The meet, that was attended by senior Union and State
government officials, district collectors, representatives of the World
Bank, United Nations, Asian Development Bank and NGOs, also recommended
constituting an independent team to monitor and facilitate social equity in
tsunami recovery, comprising women and human rights organisations. The team
will work in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and other
NGOs.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092507210500.htm


India: Final set of recommendations of the Consultation on Tsunami
Recovery - The past, the Present and the Future held on 22nd & 23rd
September 2006 at Chennai:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/VBOL-6U3HW5?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=\
TS-2004-000147-LKANo transfers of EU vessels to countries hit by 2004 tsunami,
says EuropeanCommission report: Member States of the European Union (EU) have
notidentified any possibility for transfers of vessels to countries hit by
thetsunami in 2004, according to a report from the Commission of the
EuropeanCommunities to the Council and the European Parliament. The report,
preparedin accordance with Article 18(b)(2) of the amended Regulation (EC)
No2792/1999 requiring the Commission to report to the European Parliament andthe
Council on transfers of vessels on the basis of information provided byMember
States, mentions that Member States have not identified anypossibility for
transfers of vessels. The reasons invoked by Member Statesin their replies to
Commission's requests for information are that therehave been no appropriate
vessels available among the vessels to bedecommissioned, that decommissioning
was not foreseen or that the incentivesprovided for the transfer of vessels were
not sufficiently
attractive.http://www.icsf.net/jsp/english/externalnews/newsDetails.jsp?id=30483\
Coral reefs survive tsunami but not cyanide bombs: The impact of a tsunamion a
coral reef is minimal in comparison to human-caused damage according toa new
study published in the journal Atoll Research Bulletin. The research,conducted
less than 100 days after the massive Indian Ocean tsunami ofDecember 26th, 2004,
found limited damage to coral or reef fish communitiesacross 49 reefs surveyed
in northern Aceh, Indonesia. The researchers saythat human use of explosives and
poison for fishing has taken a heavy tollon reefs in the region but that reefs
managed in the traditional Acehnesesystem were effective in protecting coral
ecosystems.http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0927-coral.htmlThe tsunami: Reflecting
on our efforts - Report of the seminar: On Friday 4August 2006, Australian
Council for International Development (ACFID) held aseminar in Sydney for its
members to discuss common challenges and lessonslearnt from their response to
the humanitarian emergency caused by theIndian Ocean tsunami of December 26th
2004. Thirty-nine participants from 21member agencies, 2 non-member agencies and
ACFID took part. The seminarcomprised an introduction, three sessions, each
followed by a plenary, and afinal general discussion session drawing together
the main themes, lessonsand suggestions for action by the sector, followed by an
evaluation of theday. The three sessions covered shelter projects, evaluation
studies, and arange of projects with a focus on gender, disability, children and
theenvironment. Full report is available
athttp://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2006/acfid-sas-aug06.pdfhttp://www.\
reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6TZ2YM?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=TS-2004-000\
147-LKATsunami changes ward profile: Nagapattinam: The killer tsunami has left
itsimpression in many things in Nagai district including the recent local
bodyelections. Particularly, a ward in Nagapattinam Municipality has undergone
adrastic change in its profile due to the killer wave. Ariyanattu Street,which
was once a busy fishing hamlet in Nagapattinam has been classified asWard number
24 of Nagapattinam Municipality. Prior to tsunami, this ward hada population of
around 3000 and a voter strength of around 1200. This wardwas one among the
worst-hit parts in tsunami attack and today, this ward hasonly a scattered
houses here and there. Many of the people who were livingin this ward were
shifted to the temporary shelters at Kadambadi and later,they were provided with
the permanent houses at the same place. Only thepeople whose houses withstood
the attack of tsunami are living in this wardnow. During the last municipal
elections in 2001, this ward had around 1200voters. For the ensuing elections,
the total voters for this ward is merely116. It is said, about 20 persons among
the 116 voters working in abroad andhence the effective voter strength goes
below
100.http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060930235818&Page=T&Title=S\
outhern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0Machines make drinking water from not-so-thin
air: As emergency officialsponder how to better help their residents after
disasters, some companiesare pushing machines that pull the humidity from the
air and turn it intodrinking water. A few are also touting the machines as a
potential solutionto the clean water shortages that plague the Third World,
pushing asideconcerns that the machines are inefficient and require fuel that
also mightbe scarce. The biggest machines can make 5,000 liters of water a day,
enoughto provide about a gallon to 1,250 people. Small units cost several
hundreddollars, while the biggest, most elaborate cost a half-million. "Tap
watersystems get knocked out, bottled water often disappears even before
thestorm shows up ... so this becomes a way to get drinking water that you
cancount on no matter what," said Jonathan Wright, president of Ogden,Utah-based
AquaMagic, one of the companies selling the machines. Untilrecently, there's
been little interest in the technology because water isgenerally easy to get
from streams or underground wells and, even in poorcountries, it's cheap. Air
Water's machine was used after the 2004 Asiantsunami, and the military in India
has recently signed on to send it
withtroops.http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061001/NEW\
S/610010372/1004FINANCEGreek contribution to the Southeast Asia countries
stricken by the tsunami:Greece was among the first to mobilise immediately after
the announcement ofthe earthquake and the tidal wave in the region of Southeast
Asia. Duringthe first phase it sent humanitarian aid amounting to approximately
16million euros, through four air missions with C-130s, as well as through
amajor naval operation mission of humanitarian and medical aid (floatinghospital
where more than 2,000 women and children were examined) atTrincomalee in Sri
Lanka. During the second phase it provided ten millioneuros to the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of HumanitarianAffairs (OCHA) for specific
programmes of specialized UN organizations. Nowwe are in the third phase of the
Hellenic Aid Programme for Sri Lanka andIndonesia that includes actions for the
reconstruction of the region. TheForeign Ministry drew up a programme of
specific actions in cooperation withthe governments of Sri Lanka and Indonesia,
the materialization of whichwill be undertaken by Greek non-governmental
organizations. A list of NGOsand projects is also
provided.http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6TYGSR?OpenDocument&r\
c=3&emid=TS-2004-000147-LKALearning from cash responses to the tsunami:
Livelihoods recovery: Thetsunami had a devastating impact on livelihoods. The
majority of aidprovided to help people to recover and rebuild their livelihoods
wasin-kind. Some types of livelihoods were open to a simple in-kind
response;fishermen, for instance, could be provided with boats and nets,
tailorssewing machines and farmers seeds. But given the huge diversity
oflivelihoods, and given the difficulties in providing equitable in-kind
aid,cash grants were an obvious alternative, and cash started to be
providedfairly early in the tsunami response, from about May 2005. This Issue
Paperlooks at the use of cash in support of livelihoods recovery and is
availableat
http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2006/odihpg-gen-29sep.pdfhttp://www.r\
eliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-6U4H7U?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=TS-2004-0001\
47-LKALearning from cash responses to the tsunami: Cash and shelter:
Shelterresponses after disasters have tended to focus on providing
temporaryshelter in camps, and then assisting in the rebuilding of permanent
housing.Predominantly, this support is given in the form of inkind aid:
governmentsor aid agencies supply temporary shelters for people in camps,
providebuilding materials for permanent homes, or rebuild houses
themselves,usually through local contractors. In the light of some of the
problemscommonly associated with the in-kind provision of shelter -
poor-qualitytents, for example, or badly designed or inappropriate housing -
givingpeople cash to help them obtain temporary shelter or rebuild their homes
canbe a viable alternative. This Issue Paper highlights some of the key
factorsto consider in thinking about the role of cash in shelter responses and
isavailable
athttp://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2006/odihpg-gen-29sep2.pdfhttp://ww\
w.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-6U4HD8?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=TS-2004-0\
00147-LKAIsles banks reiterate their commitment to isles economic development:
PortBlair, Sept 23. A meeting of the Union Territory Level bankers Committeeheld
at Hotel Bay Island today discussed threadbare issues, among other, thematter
relating to sanction of various loans to tsunami affected people,Rajiv Gandhi
packages for tsunami affected fishermen, loans to priority andagriculture sector
and bank lendings under various govt. sponsored schemes.The meeting, which was
attended, by representatives from RBI, Kolkata,higher authorities from NABARD
and banking sectors besides officials fromgovt. departments and development
agencies.http://www.and.nic.in/sunday.htmLIVELIHOODS341 tsunami survivors get
jobs: Pcorayar, Sept 27: Manpower Inc, a leadingUS-based employment services
agency, has said it has given vocationaltraining to as many as 591 youth in
tsunami-hit Nagapattinam district inTamil Nadu and helped 341 of them find jobs.
Apart from skills training, theproject aims at seeding self-help groups that
would help women start smallbusinesses in 70 different fields, he added.
Manpower has two vocationaltraining institutes in the district, the second one
being in Nagapattinamtown. Both the institutes are managed by Hope Foundation,
an
NGO.http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B9B853003-444C-4E\
88-9C98-465E07C4A54C%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Tamil+NaduTraining programme for fishermen
begins: Tuticorin : A five-day training in`value-added fishery products'
organised by the Fisheries College andResearch Institute (FCRI) for the
tsunami-affected fishermen commenced onits premises here on Monday. As part of
the programme, training was firstimparted to eight `master trainers' on the
subject, who, in turn, woulddisseminate the information to larger number of
fisherfolks along the TamilNadu coastline later. Under it, trainees were taught
methods of fishpreservation, hygienic handling of fish catch, preparation of
value-addedfish products and marketing of various fishery products, by a team
ofinstructors headed by P. Velayutham, Head, Department of Fish
ProcessingTechnology, at the
institute.http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/26/stories/2006092604250300.htmTrust to
help Indian fishermen: Shetland is investing £33,000 in aninnovative scheme to
refloat impoverished family fishing businesses insouthern India after they were
devastated by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.The cash, which comes from surpluses
generated by investment in localindustry by funding agency Shetland Development
Trust, will be used toprovide more than 600 small loans to people in the Tamil
Nadu area. Thetrust is paying the money to the islands' social enterprise firm
COPE tooversee this support programme for fishermen in Tharagambadi, a small
partof the region which Shetland has
adopted.http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/pages/newsstories/09_2006/trust_to_help_i\
ndian_fishermen.htmA gift from the United States for the tsunami-hit fisherfolk:
Kollam: Thefirst batch of ten fibreglass reinforced plastic fishing vessels to
bedistributed as a gift from the U.S.-based Brunswick Corporation to thetsunami
affected members of the fishing community arrived in Kollam onMonday. Each boat
is 36.6 ft. long and 5.7 ft. wide. It has a 120 HP dieselengine. The vessel is
capable of carrying 13 persons and can achieve speedof 12.5 knots (23.15 kmph)
with a load of 2,000 kg. The vessels are equippedwith a fish hold to preserve
the quality of the
catch.http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/27/stories/2006092708200400.htmHOUSING AND
INFRASTRUCTUREGovernor inaugurates houses for tsunami-hit: Cuddalore: Tamil Nadu
GovernorSurjit Singh Barnala has called upon Non-Governmental Organisations to
wipeout alcoholism among fisher folks in tsunami affected hamlets of the
State.Governor inaugurated 161 houses constructed jointly by the group of
SikhAssociations across the country. The project - 'Partners in Relief' -Leprosy
Mission Trust India, Guru Nanak Sikh Welfare Council, GurumatParchar Charitable
Trust, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Study Centre, Habitat forHumanity-India, IM Soir
Sweden, Schlumberger and Round Table SquareInternational Services - India.
District collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi saidseveral associations had purchased
5.92 acres of land at a cost of Rs 13.64lakh. As many as 161 houses for fisher
folks who were rendered roofless bytsunami, a community hall, fish market and a
school building wereconstructed in Muzhukuthurai hamlet. Infrastructures
including road,electricity and augmentation of drinking water supply have also
beenestablished.http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060928125513&Pa\
ge=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0Operation Rainshine: The earthquake
and tsunami of December 2004 devastatedthe Andaman and Nicobar Islands, wiping
out most water supply systems andpipelines. But a simple method for harvesting
rainwater restores andimproves access of the island population to clean water.
The tropicalclimate of Andaman & Nicobar itself dictates the logic of promoting
rainwater harvesting. Given that the islands typically receive up to a
quitesubstantial three metres or between 120-150 days of rain annually,
thelargest and perhaps the most underused renewable water resource israinwater.
Through Operation Rainshine, an abundant and renewable naturalresource has been
tapped into to provide water security to the communities.In peak monsoon time,
when torrential rains sweep across the island, a tankcan be filled in only 20 to
30 minutes. A 1000 litre tank provides watersecurity for a family of 5 persons
for an additional 20 days. 5000 litrestanks increase the per household storage
capacity dramatically to 50 days ata relatively low cost. With 120 days of
rainfall and with two monsoons peryear, it means that the rain water harvesting
system can supply for a totalof 320 days per year. This has not only increased
water security but hastaken tremendous pressure off piped and other water supply
systems.http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/progressreports/unicef6.aspWOMENTsuna\
mi rehabilitation work continues: Nagapattinam: The DevelopmentPromotion Group,
a Chennai-based non-governmental organisation, hasestablished 160 women
self-help groups (SHG) and provided Rs.29 lakh tosupport to these groups. The
SHG members were also given training onleadership, concept and maintenance of
SHGs.http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/27/stories/2006092702680600.htmCHILDREN27
school going Carnic students get bicycles: Car Nicobar, Sept 25. Prayas,an NGO
has distributed bicycles to 27 High School-going children of Tee TopVillage in
Car Nicobar. Ever since the Tsunami, and the village having beenshifted 2.5 km
inland from its original location, the children of thevillage have had to walk
about 3.5 kms and back (7 Kms totally), to the HighSchool at Sawai. Prayas
decided to help make the journey for these childrenby giving each one of them a
bicycle.http://www.and.nic.in/tuesday.htm400 creche units to be set up in
tsunami-hit areas: MADURAI: As part of itsbid to empower the tsunami-affected
children in the State, the Tamil NaduSocial Welfare Board (TMSWB) has sanctioned
for additional 400 creche unitsto be established for those below five years in
the affected areas, saidJoint Secretary of the Board, S Kumara Prasad.
Addressing a gathering of NGOofficials, Kumara Prasad said that the main aim of
such units is to providehygienic environment and nutritious food and altogether
a safer place tolive in. The facility, he added, would ensure that those who are
nurtured inthese units would not end up as school dropouts in a later stage of
theirlife.http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060923232449&Page=T&T\
itle=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0INDONESIA3,000 new homes for tsunami
relief: Three thousand new homes have been builtand will be shipped to
tsunami-ravaged Indonesia as part of a joint venturebetween BCIT, Forestry
Investment Innovation Ltd., Britco Factory BuiltBuildings and Save the Children.
The first phase will be delivered beforethe end of the month and BCIT instructor
Doug Betts will teach volunteersand locals how to assemble the new homes in
Indonesia. According to Britcosales manager Randy Plewes, the pre-fabricated
homes cost $7,200 US each tobuild and ship. Plewes also said that they are
currently negotiating withnon-governmental organizations to send more
pre-fabricated homes totsunami-stricken
countrieshttp://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2006/09/26/1899254-sun.htmlElections
won't threaten Aceh peace - analysts: Peace in Indonesia'sonce-restive Aceh
province should hold even if former separatist rebelsrunning in December's local
elections fail to win any posts, analysts saidon Thursday. Acehnese are due to
vote in the region's first direct electionsfor governor and other local offices
on December 11, more than a year afterJakarta signed a peace deal with the
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) toend decades of bloodshed. The accord paves
the way for limited self-rule inAceh, which was devastated by the 2004 Indian
Ocean tsunami.http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK303758.htmPopular
post-tsunami radio show signs off in Aceh, Indonesia: On September8, after 364
programs, the groundbreaking Peuneugah Aceh (News from Aceh)radio program went
on air for the last time. In an emotional final week ofprograms, the production
team featured the comments of a broad range ofAcehnese who expressed regret that
the program had to end. "I often listenat 10 AM and 5 PM. My favorites are news
on tsunami and conflict victims,and news about peace," said a listener from
Blang Mangat in North Aceh. "TheAceh people need information. If Peuneugah Aceh
is ended, from where willpeople get the good
news?"http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/VBOL-6U3J8X?OpenDocument&rc=3\
&emid=TS-2004-000147-LKATsunami-hit Aceh faces corruption, security problems:
Corruption,bureaucracy and heavy-handed security forces remain obstacles to
economicdevelopment in Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province, the head of the
agencycharged with rebuilding the region said on Monday. The police and
militarystill operate according to rules drawn up to counter a separatist
insurgencyeven though there has been peace since last year, said
KuntoroMangkusubroto, director of the Aceh reconstruction agency, or
BRR.Mangkusubroto said creating a business-friendly climate and overhauling
acorrupt system were some of the challenges Aceh faces in the coming
years.http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK316906.htmSRI LANKAU.N. envoy
for tsunami recovery seeks revival of talks in Sri Lanka:COLOMBO: The United
Nations Secretary-General's Deputy Special Envoy forTsunami Recovery has urged
the Sri Lankan Government and the LiberationTigers of Tamil Eelam to "cease
hostilities and return to negotiations." Ina statement released here on Friday,
Eric Schwartz said he was deeplydisturbed by the report of the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that over200 civilians were killed and thousands
displaced over the past two months."In parts of the north and east, the tsunami
recovery process has ground toa halt, and significant investments in
reconstruction, so generouslysupported by donors around the world, are now
imperilled. More importantly,many thousands of civilians are at grave risk, cut
off from regular suppliesof food and other assistance. It is critical that all
parties to theconflict ease current restrictions on access to affected
populations, ceasehostilities and return to
negotiations."http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/30/stories/2006093001621300.htmAid
workers in Sri Lanka face escalating risk and red tape: Internationaland local
aid workers dealing with the humanitarian crises created by theconflict as well
as the 2004 tsunami worry about the steadily shrinkingspace for them to work in
Sri Lanka. Currently, they say, access toconflict-ridden areas is difficult, and
escalating security concerns andgovernment red tape are creating a stranglehold.
On top of that, they oftenfeel caught in the middle of the conflict. Since the
conflict reignited thisyear, at least 215,000 people have been displaced and
1,900 killed. That'son top of the 325,000 displaced and 40,000 killed by the
2004 tsunami.Besides safety concerns, new bureaucratic formalities are stymieing
aidagency efforts. In the wake of the ACF killings in August, the Sri
Lankangovernment asked expatriate staff to apply for work permits. Creating
moreconfusion, last month the government also made it mandatory for
expatriatestaff of agencies to register with the Defense Ministry. After failing
toissue the registration, the government reversed the mandate - but didn'tinform
security forces manning government
checkpoints.http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6U24PV?OpenDocumen\
tMALDIVESHealing the hurt in the Maldives: Memories of the 2004 tsunami may be
fadingas the world remembers other disasters, and newspapers report on new
crises.However, on the Maldives almost two years on, people who witnessed
thehorror of that day still - literally - wake up screaming. Walking throughthe
centre for displaced people on Ugoofaaru Island early in the morning,just as
children are getting ready for school, women are sweeping the leavesand men are
chatting about the issues of the day, this seems like anyvillage community
anywhere. The difference is that these people, some 1,800of them are in limbo,
their lives on hold while they wait for a newcommunity to evolve. Ali Ibrahim, a
traditional healer says that hisservices have been in high demand since the
tsunami, especially a potionmade with rose petals and spices that eases
depression. "There's a lot ofpsychological wounds here. People have nightmares
or get frightened whenthey hear a loud noise. But I also treat headaches,
fevers, urinary tractinfections, heart disease, arthritis, cuts, fractures ... I
see the symptomsin people eyes, in their hands and in their
feet."http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/HVAN-6TYPR6?OpenDocument&rc=3\
&emid=TS-2004-000147-LKA