December Situation Update: One Year Later

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Nearly one year ago, an underwater earthquake and tsunamis devastated Southeast Asia, taking the lives of 232,000 people and displacing five million.

In the spirit of the Jewish principle of Tikkun Olam ("Repair of the World"), JDC and its Federation partners raised $18.5 million to carry out a disaster relief and longer-term development program in the four most severely affected countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. Below is an overview of JDC’s projects, which are implemented in partnership with local and international organizations and in coordination with local authorities. Tens of thousands of lives have been impacted through these efforts.

Emergency Assistance to the Internally Displaced
In Indonesia, where over 520,000 were displaced and many survivors sought refuge in camps for "internally displaced persons" (IDPs), JDC partnered with the Dwiyuna Jaya Foundation to provide emergency supplies in Aceh Province and donated two custom-built ambulances to a local hospital. JDC and the Dwiyuna Jaya Foundation are now restoring clean water, repairing roads, and upgrading facilities for 20,000 persons residing in displaced persons camps, as well as providing assistance to an additional 17,000. The Indonesian Government is considering replicating camp improvements in additional locations.

In India, JDC is partnering with various local NGOs in the hard-hit states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Work with the Disaster Mitigation Institute (DMI) provided emergency items, shelter, and re-established livelihoods. Over 500 shelters were constructed in three districts of Tamil Nadu, and temporary shelters in 12 villages were reinforced to withstand the monsoon season. Additionally, a partnership with Vardhman Sanskar Dham (VSD Trust) enabled JDC to provide shelter to 567 families in Aayampettai Village, Cuddalore.

A partnership with Caritas/Catholic Relief provided 750 families in Vypen Island, Kerala with food, and 500 families with kitchen utensils. Food was provided to 4,500 families in Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Five hundred children were given kits, uniforms, exercise books and bags that enabled them to return to school. Re-Establishing Livelihoods
In Sri Lanka, over 518,000 were displaced, and many of the affected families lost their sources of income. JDC is working primarily with the renowned local organization, Sarvodaya, in the most severely affected districts of Ampara, Kalmunai and Batticaloa on the east coast, and in Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern tip.

JDC and Sarvodaya are addressing the psychosocial and economic needs of tsunami survivors in 20 villages. Utilizing over 140 volunteer "leaders," empowerment activities are providing psychological support and skills training in areas such as sewing, handicraft production and gardening. Self-help support groups are ongoing. This program has been extended through March 2006; over 47,000 individuals will benefit from these activities.

In India, JDC and the Disaster Mitigation Institute are implementing a "cash for work" and livelihood rehabilitation program to fortify the economic security of 1,200 families in 10 villages. Local experts are training young women for occupations in skill sectors such as basket weaving, tailoring and candle-making, as well as in marketing techniques so that they may earn income to support their families.

JDC funding to Caritas/Catholic Relief and the Pondicherry Multipurpose Service Society (PMSS) has established computer centers in two fishing villages in Pondicherry and one in Cuddalore. Over 400 young men and women are being trained so that they have new skills with which to pursue employment.

In Thailand, JDC’s partnership with Chabad is now supporting a livelihood-retraining project to provide former fishermen and farmers living in displaced persons camps with skill training in woodworking.

Training in the Provision of Psychosocial Support Services
A new partnership with UJA Federation of New York and the Israel Trauma Coalition in Sri Lanka provides training in psychosocial support service provision to teachers, local professionals and community leaders.

In Thailand, a partnership with the Prince of Songkla University and Mom Dusdi Paribatra (President of the Asia Europe Association) allowed JDC to organize two trauma relief seminars led by Israeli trauma experts in the hard-hit area of Phuket. During these five-day workshops, experts trained 185 participants — local professionals as well as teachers, social workers and psychologists from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore — in post-disaster support.

JDC is partnering with the renowned local Thai organization, Population and Community Development Association (PDA), to conduct a series of two-day workshops in which teachers learn how to provide psychological support to their students. The first workshop was held in May for 25 teachers from 25 villages in the Krabi and Phang Nga Provinces. Six additional workshops are currently being planned.

Assisting Children
In Indonesia, JDC and the Dwiyuna Jaya Foundation are distributing school uniforms, and children’s playgrounds are being constructed for use by IDP camp residents. JDC is also partnering with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Aceh to provide child protection and psychosocial support services. Teacher training is a main focus of this work.

In Sri Lanka JDC and Sarvodaya provided comprehensive school kits, including uniforms sewn by local villagers through a cash-for-work program, to 2,000 children from 20 villages. JDC has also committed to constructing three preschools in Galle.

JDC and Sarvodaya are partnering with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to construct as many as 80 children’s playgrounds, several of which will be located in villages where JDC is already active. A $1 million matching grant has been secured from the Bush/Clinton Tsunami Fund.

In partnership with Rotary/Sri Lanka and on land donated by a Buddhist monastery, JDC is rebuilding and equipping a primary school (grades 1-5) in Galle that was completely destroyed. The new school will help to restore a degree of normalcy to the 800 students, who currently receive their lessons in makeshift huts on the temple grounds.

In India, JDC support is enabling World ORTand its local partner, Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS), to conduct the three-year "Educational and Training Project" in schools on Middle and South Andaman Islands. ORT will help to update the curricula and professional development programs in four schools.

At Ban Khao Tong School in the Muang District of Krabi Province in Thailand, a Computer Center was established for use by students during school hours, and offers computer training to adults in the evenings, providing opportunities for income generation. Further, JDC is partnering with PDA to build playgrounds in 20 Thai villages devastated by the tsunamis.

JDC and PDA are conducting 10 one-week "healing camps" for 500 Thai youth. When participants return home, follow-up activities allow them to take on leadership roles and work with other youth to revitalize their communities. Forty-five Muslim youth Krabi and Phang Nga participated in the first camp session. The fourth camp will be taking place at the end of November.

Rehabilitating Communities
Through the "Rehabilitating Homes in Galle, Sri Lanka" project, JDC and Sarvodaya are supplying 100 lower-middle class families — namely teachers and civil service workers — with furniture, bedding and other needs so that they can return to their homes. By assisting this group who provide the services that allow communities to function, the partnership is helping entire villages return to a more normal life.

Planning has begun with Sarvodaya for the construction of five multi-purpose community centers (MPCCs) that will each house programs such as preschools, community banks, arts and cultural centers, day centers for the elderly, libraries, welfare society offices, and vocational training sites. A total of 5,000-7,000 tsunami-affected residents along the southern coast will utilize these centers.

JDC is also providing a mobile medical unit to be operated by Sarvodaya that will serve as a health facility, providing laboratory services and disease management in the IDP camps and communities.

In India, JDC’s collaboration with the Meenakshi Mission Hospital provided health care and pharmaceuticals through mobile clinics in the state of Tamil Nadu. With JDC and Magen David Adom support, a partnership with Brit Olam/Topaz enabled Israeli medical volunteers to work with their Indian colleagues from the Hospital for three months, reaching approximately 60,000 individuals in nearly 350 villages.

In Thailand, JDC, PDA, and community leaders are rehabilitating the village of Bang Pat in the Phang Nga Province, where fishing had been the main source of income. The tsunamis damaged homes and washed away fishing equipment and boats. School scholarships, meals, clothes, and supplies were distributed and income-generating activities are being.

JDC and PDA are also restoring the water system in Ban Taling Chan and Ban Klong Krai Tai villages, with plans to expand to a third village. MASHAV, the international development arm of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, conducted a water survey in three areas, with JDC support.

The Jewish Coalition for Asia Tsunami Relief
JDC has convened and is coordinating the 39-member Jewish Coalition for Asia Tsunami Relief that allows primarily North American Jewish organizations to coordinate efforts, avoid duplication, and make the best use of donor dollars. To date, $865,000 has been raised, and three projects are underway.

To contribute to JDC’s non-sectarian earthquake relief efforts, please send a check to: JDC: South Asia Tsunami Relief at JDC: Tsunami Relief - South Asia, P.O. Box 321, 847A Second Avenue, New York, New York 10017, donate online or call 212-687-6200.

December 2005