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REPORT ON THE USE OF THE ASIA APPEAL MONIES FROM THE

ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN TO AID CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

AFFECTED BY THE TSUNAMI DISASTER

July, 2008

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INTRODUCTION

The scale of damage caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004 was

unprecedented. Eight countries were affected and over 250,000 people lost their lives.

Millions of people were made homeless and lost their source of income. Also

unprecedented in scale was the global expression of solidarity. Billions of Euros were

pledged internationally. Trócaire alone received €28.7 million from the Irish public

for its emergency relief and post-emergency operations, as well as €1.5 million from

the Irish government, through Irish Aid.

TRÓCAIRE’S RESPONSE

Trócaire responded through two mechanisms. The first and the biggest, was the

Caritas Internationalis response, a network of 162 Catholic humanitarian

organisations. The second way Trócaire responded was directly through other smaller

local partners, both church-based and secular. These partnerships provide us with vital

local knowledge and context, enabling our work to be carried out in a cost effective

and culturally sensitive way. The initial response focused on providing emergency

relief supplies such as food, water and sanitation, temporary shelter, trauma-healing

and food through emergency relief programmes which spanned four countries,

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The focus has now shifted from the

provision of emergency relief to longer term rehabilitation and livelihood programmes

which incorporate securing jobs, permanent shelter, healthcare and school

reconstruction and education in addition to reducing future vulnerability through

disaster risk reduction programmes.

Following the tsunami, Trócaire opened an office in Indonesia to manage the long-

term response in South East Asia. The office monitors and supports the work of

Trócaire’s partners in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. It is likely that

Trócaire’s Tsunami funding will be spent by mid 2009.

December 2007 marked the three-year anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

With this in mind Trócaire started a lesson learning process in order to take stock and

learn from our response, inform our supporters and partners, and document our

achievements and the challenges.

ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN ASIA TSUNAMI PROJECT

In response to the disaster in Asia, the Bishops of Ireland announced a national appeal

to tackle this emergency and to respond to the crisis. Trócaire as the agency of the

Irish Catholic Church received the funds generated and committed to spending them

in Asia to bring help and aid to the people devastated by the tsunami. When

announcing this appeal, Archbishop Martin asked that the parishes of the Archdiocese

of Dublin would particularly remember the plight of children affected by the disaster

in the collection held throughout the parishes of the Archdiocese on Saturday, 8th

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January and Sunday, 9th

January, 2005. The parish collections from the Archdiocese

of Dublin in response to this appeal reached a remarkable total of € 4,095,331

This report to the Archdiocese is the second report submitted by Trócaire to feedback

on how we have used the monies for projects that respond to the plight of the

children. As part of Trócaire’s approach these funds have been used for both short-

term and long-term needs of communities. This report covers 10 separate projects in

Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand and includes immediate response projects,

school reconstruction and school equipment projects, vocational training, trauma

recovery and integrated shelter and livelihood projects. The total spend on these 10

projects to date is €3,945,331 which is 96% of the total budget. Since the last report

was submitted to the Archdiocese in November 2005 there have been changes to

many of the projects. This is for many reasons, including the worsening of internal

conflict in Sri Lanka and the difficulty in accessing remote and inaccessible locations.

As is detailed below, the Archdiocese funding has been spent on the continuation of

projects reported on in the last period and on some additional projects.

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CURRENT STATUS REPORT

INDONESIA

While the tsunami resulted in extensive destruction across South East Asia, Aceh in

Indonesia was the worst hit region, with official data showing 131,934 fatalities and a

further 37,000 missing in addition to widespread destruction to property and

infrastructure. 600,000 people in Aceh province alone lost their source of livelihood.

A series of earthquakes hit both Aceh Province and Nias Island and in total, 2,240

schools were destroyed. Following the immediate relief assistance, Trócaire

contributed to repairing and replacing buildings and livelihoods assets. Given that

Indonesia is affected by many different and frequent natural disasters we aimed to

ensure that houses and schools were built back better and safer and that communities

were able to reduce the risk of natural disasters in the future.

Project 1 Post-tsunami reconstruction and re-establishment of schools (INS06-01-05) CORDAID

Project Components:

• The reconstruction of 65 schools destroyed by the earthquake/tsunami

• The provision of water and sanitation for schools on the island

• The re-equipping of damaged and destroyed schools with school equipment

• The facilitation of disaster preparedness drills and hygene-sanitation

education/campaign

Project Period: February 2005-May

2008

Beneficiaries: 20,000 children aged 5-18

Trócaire is cooperating with CORDAID on this project, which aims to normalise the

lives of 20,000 children of school attendance age on Simeulue Island through the

reconstruction of their schools. In close collaboration with local authorities 65 schools

were chosen and a design developed that consisted of light-weight but strong material

to make them more resistant to earthquakes in the future. On 20 February 2008, an

earthquake,7.3 on the Richter Scale, tested the quality of some schools which were

completed earlier. Not a single crack was found in the schools.

It was originally planned that 100 schools would be built, however due to the increase

in costs and logistical constraints of transporting goods to the island, this had to be

revised.

The schools are fully furnished, and two of them are provided with laboratories.

CORDAID also produced educational materials for both students and teachers in

relation to preparing students and staff for future disasters.

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Funding and current status: Trócaire has spent €680,769 from the Dublin

Archdiocese funds and €750,000 from the Irish Government funds. The building of 65

schools was completed in May 2008 and handed over to the school committees on 14

May 2008.

Pictures of school buildings, laboratory and educational materials

Simeulue Island: Beautiful but

Vulnerable

Front view of a newly completed

kindergarten

New furniture for kindergarten students

Educational Materials to Anticipate Future Disasters

‘snakes and ladders’ to learn DRR First Aid: What to do if your

friend is hurt?

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Project 2 Integrated permanent shelter and livelihood restoration in Aceh INS06-01-25 by CORDAID Project Components:

• Construction and repair of standard housing units, including water supply and

sanitation facilities

• Restoration of village infrastructure in 6 villages

• Livelihood restoration (sewing, vegetable growing, farming etc.)

• Income generation through construction of village units

• Home Gardens (vegetable and herbal) and grey-waste management, using

permaculture (permanent-agriculture) techniques, in which no chemicals are used

Project Period: March 2005-October

2008

Beneficiaries: 1,050 families

Seunuddon Sub–District in Aceh, was one of the worst hit areas in the district. Six

coastal villages in this Sub-District were largely destroyed. Not only affected by

Tsunami, Seunnudon was a heavy-armed conflicting area during the martial law and

military operation, which ended with the Peace Agreement signed on 15 August 2005

(seven and a half months after the Tsunami hit the Province). Despite the Peace

Agreement there has still been some local conflict affecting communities and the

rehabilitation work.

These houses are equipped with toilets and water facilities, as a result of Cordaid’s

advocacy to the District Drinking Water Company (PDAM). Recipient families have

been trained in home gardens, in which mostly women were involved. Youths have

also been trained in sewing and furniture making.

Funding and current status: Trócaire has spent €1,400,000 on this project, in which

€1,000,000 was from Archdiocese funds. 648 houses are built and handed over to the

communities, while 2 are under construction.

Houses in Seunudon

Model I

Model II

Furniture

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Project 3 Psychosocial support to enable trauma recovery among communities INS00094 ICMC Programme Components:

• Identification and assessment of vulnerable community members

• Socialisation programme to allow survivors to voice their experiences

• Formation of and training for support groups

• Awareness-raising of psychosocial issues through the use of posters, leaflets,

speakers and recreational activities

• Organisation of recreational activities for children

Project Period: 1 January 05- 30 April

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Beneficiaries: 677,481 vulnerable individuals

The emotional effects and the mental health consequences of the tsunami are

considerable and it is estimated that as many as nine in ten survivors are likely to

suffer from varying degrees of psychological trauma. The Tsunami survivors did not

only have to cope with the loss of the loved ones, but also their belongings and

homes.

As much as physical health-care was needed, so too was proper psychosocial support,

especially during the period of living in barracks/temporary shelters. This project

aimed to provide trauma care for most vulnerable members of the community

including the elderly, the disabled and children. Many project activities focused on

awareness, support and recreational activities for children, including establishment

and training for support groups.

Funding and current status: Trócaire has funded this project with €400,000 from

Archdiocese funds towards Trócaire’s total funding of €496, 533 for this project.

From January 2005 – April 2007 14,804 activities were carried out in 46 sites in 5

districts of Aceh. These activities ranged from childrens’ recreational activities to

psycho-education and supporting group sessions. For awareness raising/campaign,

ICMC had used creative media, through radio drama, comic books, leaflets and gift

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packs to help people understand that the trauma was normal and something to cope

with together, rather than blaming themselves and secluding themselves from the

society.

Situation in one of the temporary shelter in Sigli, Aceh Province.

Women’s group meeting for psychosocial

awareness raising

Training of Support Group

Project 4 Housing Project in Hilimbaruzo- Caritas Sibolga Programme Components:

• Housing for 123 families

• Community toilet facilities for each sub-village

• Water supply system using rain-water collection for each house

• Personal hygiene and sanitation awareness raising and education

Project Period: 18 April 2008 – 30 June

2009

Beneficiaries: 123 families

Nias Island was not affected seriously by the Tsunami, but in March 2005 it was hit

by a strong earthquake with destroyed most of the poorly built houses on the Island.

In Nias one third of the population live below the poverty line and live in remote

areas. Health conditions are very poor, mainly due to the lack of access to clear water,

poor sanitation and limited understanding of communities of nutrition and sanitation.

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The area that these houses are being built is called Hilimbaruzo. Communities living

there are very isolated and poor. It is located on the hill 6 kilometres from the road.

The villages only have one primary school. Roads will have to be built to reach these

communities and light but strong materials will have to be carried by communities

themselves to the construction site.

Funding and current status: Of the total €184,000 that Trócaire disbursed to this

project, €100,000 was made possible by the donation from Dublin Archdiocese. A

further €200,000 pledge has been made, and one half of this is from the Archdiocese

Funds. The construction was initiated on June 10, 2008, and it is expected to finish by

the end of July 2009.

In addition to the intervention to support recovery in Nias, Trócaire also supports

community initiatives in disaster risk reduction.

Project 5 Scholarship for Poor Nias Students – Caritas Sibolga Programme Components:

• Tuition fee to attend junior or senior high school

Project Period: August 2008-July 2011 Beneficiaries: 240 children

One of the underlying causes of poverty in Nias has been poor education and lack of

access to information. For a majority of people on Nias, they have only ever received

primary education. There is also a preference to only send boys to school beyond this.

Following the earthquake, many children lost their opportunity to go to school at all,

because they lost their parents, and/or their parents lost their livelihoods assets during

the earthquakes.

Therefore, Caritas Sibolga has been providing scholarship for them since the early

stage of emergency response.

Funding and current status: Trócaire has given a pledge to Caritas Sibolga of

€50,000 from Dublin Archdiocese funds. To complement this, Caritas Sibolga has

launched another project to give special scholarship for talented (poor) students to

attend university and to take an internship with Caritas Sibolga.

CURRENT STATUS REPORT

SRI LANKA

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In Sri Lanka, part of the Western Coast and the entire Eastern Coast were affected by

the tsunami, resulting in more than 31,000 fatalities and displacing 500,000 people

from their homes. Many young people have been left without their parents, homes and

schools. In recent years the devastation caused by the tsunami was made worse by

ongoing conflict. Not only has the conflict caused greater loss of life and displaced

thousands of people, it has inhibited the reconstruction efforts following the tsunami.

The renewed conflict has caused great risk for people working in the North of the

country in particular, and also resulted in increased costs and delays in transporting

goods and materials around the countries. Despite this Trócaire’s partners have

achieved a lot in the circumstances.

Recognizing the complexities of the situation in Sri Lanka, Trócaire’s current and

future focus in the country is to finalize the reconstruction of houses and to strengthen

communities so they are less vulnerable to future disasters. Trócaire also recognises

that without peace the lives of many thousands cannot be improved and is therefore

also working to support conflict-affected communities.

Project 6 and Project 7 Vocational Training for Internally Displaced Youths SRL00162 and Rebuilding and Equipment for Tsunami Affected Schools SRL00163 EMACE

Project Components: • Setting up of up training facilities

• Employment of identified instructors

• Identifation of course participants

• Training of skilled labourers with the capacity to support families and local

communities

Project Period: May 2005 – August

2006

Beneficiaries: 1860 youths

Project Components: • Construction and repair of 17 schools

• Provision of equipment to schools (tables, chairs, desks)

• Provision of science laboratories to schools

Project Period: May 2005 – December

2005

Beneficiaries: 9162 schoolchildren, 5000

families and 1306 teachers

As was described in the last report submitted to the Archdiocese, Trócaire has

contributed €172,648 to our partner EMACE in Sri Lanka. This funding has

contributed to 1860 youths receiving training, and the rebuilding of 17 schools and

provision of educational material in tsunami affected region such as Batticaloa,

Jaffna, Ampara, Kalmunei, Trincomalee, Colombo and Hambantota.

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These projects have since been completed in August 2006. No further funding had

been directed to these projects since the last report.

Project 8 Tsunami Recovery Programme SRL06-02-1 (new reference number) by Caritas Sri Lanka (SEDEC)

Project Components:

• 6,755 transitional houses were built

• 18,700 items such as books, pens and uniforms were distributed to school children

• 9 orphanages were rebuilt

• 6,033 new houses were built

Project Period: March 2008 – Dec 2008 Beneficiaries: Approx. 28,000

As was detailed in the last report, Trócaire supported SEDEC to carry out an

immediate relief project aimed at providing support to vulnerable families in the

North, South and East of Sri Lanka with emergency shelter, tool kits, medicine,

trauma counselling and fishing boats. An important component of this project was

also to enable 4,500 tsunami-impacted children to return to school. Since the last

report, Trócaire has continued to support SEDEC with their longer-term Tsunami

Recovery Programme, despite the challenges of the escalation of the conflict in Sri

Lanka a great deal has been achieved. Our partner SEDEC won a presidential award

for the quality and quantity of its transitional shelter.

Funding and current status: Trócaire has funded this project with €991,914 from

Archdiocese funds towards Trócaire’s total funding of €3,788,462 (of which €200,000

came from Irish Aid)

STORY OF CHANGE: Replacing of Fishing Boats brings back life

“My name is Yadukondalu. I am from the Pedaminavani village in Narasapurum Mandel. This is in

West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. I am 40 years old. I am married and have three children--

two girls and one boy.

I was happily living until December 26 last year when the terrible tsunami washed away my village.

The waves destroyed our livelihood materials such as boats, nets and acres of saltpan. It was a

terrifying experience for all of us who have witnessed the disaster.

I completely depended upon fishing. I had no other means of living. During the tsunami, I lost my boat

and was unable to meet my daily needs. I also had a fiber engine boat, but it was partly destroyed and I

was not able to meet the expenses towards its repair. Having lost everything in life, I was desperate. I

did not know how to take care of my family. Then, immediately after the disaster, help came in from

Caritas India We managed to live on it, but could not survive for more than a month. Soon after the

relief operations, the Social Service Centre took up the rehabilitation programme in the same area.

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I was lucky to be selected among the beneficiaries. I was paid Rupees 4,333 on June 18 2005 towards

the repair of my boat. With this money, I was able to repair my boat.

Yadukondalu, from Pedaminavani village in Andhra Pradesh, India.

I am now able go for fishing regularly and my daily income is about Rupees 1500, which is to be

divided between five people who are my partners. I feel my life has been blessed now because of the

generous help. I am now able to meet my daily expenses and also able to save some money for the

future of my children. I have joined a saving group and save Rupees 30 per month. I am very happy

for the timely help I received. I also feel confident of the future now. I am able to encourage others

who are still finding it difficult to manage their lives after the tsunami disaster.

Photo & story: Caritas India

CURRENT STATUS REPORT INDIA

The tsunami hit the coastal region of southern India, specifically Tamil Nadu state and

the villages of Nagapattinam district, resulting in 12,405 fatalities and 5,640 missing.

An additional 647, 600 people were displaced as a result. Among those killed and

injured by the waves was a high proportion of women and children. It has been

estimated that seventy five percent of the fatalities were women and children and 480

children were orphaned.

Project 9 Emergency relief, housing construction and boat building support for Tsunami affected communities IND 05-02-03 (new reference number) by Caritas India Project Components:

• Immediate humanitarian relief. Provision of food, clothing, sleeping materials and

water sanitation support for 60,000 families

• Intermediate resettlement relief. Provision of temporary shelter, household kits,

access to clean water and sanitation, training of counsellors and food for work

programmes for 25,000 families.

• 12,991 permanent houses have been repaired and reconstructed.

• Cluster Welfare Committees were set up.

• Provision of school kits, educational materials and equipment to 22,526 children.

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• Nine children’s activity centres have been reconstructed and 3225 children registered.

• Child related groups activities with 13,636 children participating.

Project Period: January 2005 – June

2007. Emergency phase: January – June

2005. Rehabilitation phase to June 2007

Beneficiaries: 60,000 families and number of

children supported 22,526

The impact on immediate coping mechanisms and livelihoods has been dramatic with

housing and fishing equipment assets having been destroyed. In the immediate relief

phase following the tsunami, this programme aims to enable tsunami-affected families

in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and the Andaman/Nicobar

islands meet their basic needs. Trócaire has continued to support Caritas India’s

recovery work.

Funding and current status: Trócaire has funded this project with €500,000 from

Archdiocese funds towards Trócaire’s total funding of €3,769,231 million for this

project. This project is now complete.

Permanent housing

STORY OF CHANGE: Permanent Shelter brings Social Changes

Caritas India has constructed a township for 329 tsunami affected families. It took nearly two years to

level the low-lying saltpan and subsequently to construct the shelters. The ceremony to mark handing

over of these houses was held on 12 July 2007. Within days, all the families hitherto suffering in the

temporary shelters aftermath the tsunami struck - relocated themselves to new shelter site.

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New Permanent Houses have brought social change, which is empowering women (India)

Caritas India has also supported the formation of 16 Cluster Welfare Committees (CWCs). These

Committees coordinate Solid Waste Management systems. Awareness trainings and meetings are

planned in such a way that people take the responsibility of managing themselves as one unit. It is

hoped that the settlement will be model for many neighbouring villages.

Mariammal, (42 years) says “we were living for years at the northern bank of saltpan. There were only

mud and water inside the pan for years. We could not cross it in monsoon season and it was so deep.

Our children not had enough space in front to play. Also it was dangerous to live at the bank of

erstwhile saltpan. After Caritas India started levelling this saltpan, the value of the entire landscape is

changed forever. The land value went up drastically. Government also approved our lands.

Mariapushpam (59 years) residing at house number 268 has an entirely different version to share. Pre-

tsunami, she owned a petty shop which was washed away on 26 Dec 04. She has received a subsidised

loan from Caritas India to restart her only income source which she had started near her temporary

shelter site. But the income was very nominal. Her fortune changed after shifting to this new permanent

shelter. Mariapushpam thankfully says, “now my family income has improved very much…my daily

profit now is between Rs.50 to Rs. 75. I sell idly, boiled tapioca along with dry fish at my doorstep.

The new shelter location is really a boon for me…”

Photo & Story: Caritas India / Catholic Relief Services

CURRENT STATUS REPORT Thailand

The Tsunami that devastated many coastal villages in Thailand, caused huge loss of

life and damage to livelihoods. Officially in Thailand, 5,395 people were reported

dead and 2,817 a missing, many of whom were from the poorest fishing families. An

estimated 50,000 children were affected by the Tsunami and according to the Ministry

of education, an estimated 1,480 children lost one or more parents. In responding to

the Tsunami in Thailand, Trócaire has focused our response on marginalized groups,

such as elderly, single parents, sea gypsies and ethnic groups.

Project 10 Support for families to rebuild their lives and homes following the Tsunami THA00064

Funding and current status:

As reported in November 2005, €100,000 of the Archdiocese funding was allocated

towards our partner Human Development Foundation (HDF) in Thailand. This

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funding was used to support repair and rebuilding of homes, provision of well, water

purification for villages, provision of boats and fishing equipment and tuition

assistance and school lunches to enable children to return to school. This project

finished in August 2005 and supported 2,400 families.

Funding summary of Archdiocese Funds

Indonesia 5 projects: Total € 2,180,769

Sri Lanka 3 projects: Total € 1,164,562

India 1 project: Total € 500,000

Thailand 1 project: Total € 100,000 TOTAL SPENT TO DATE: €3,945,331.22 Monies Allocated to ongoing projects: Indonesia: Project 4 Indonesia – €100,000 allocated

Project 5 Indonesia - €50,000 allocated

TOTAL ALLOCATED INTO FUTURE - €150,000 Summary Monies from Archdiocese: € 4,095,331 (100%) Monies Spent to date on 10 projects: €3,945,331 (96%) Monies allocated on 2 projects: €150,000 (4%) Total: €4,095,331 (100%) Monies yet to be allocated: € 0 (0%)