Oxfam America

Tsunami Update: Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India

24 June 2005

Sri Lanka

Oxfam is currently working in 7 districts in Sri Lanka: Killinochi, Mullaitivu, Trincomallee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Matara, Hambantota. Oxfam had previously worked in Galle district as well. There are currently 303 Oxfam staff (265 national + 38 international) in Sri Lanka.

What Oxfam has achieved so far in Sri Lanka...

Water and Sanitation:

  • Oxfam has distributed 5,000 water filters for household use across the country. Oxfam is planning to distribute another 15,000 water filters and demonstrations to families on how the filters should be used.
  • Oxfam has supported more than 65,000 men, women and children with safe water through the provision of hundreds of water tanks; many people were helped within hours of the Tsunami hitting land.
  • Oxfam is managing and coordinating the delivery of 700,000 litres of clean water per day in seven districts, working with the Government, other International NGOs, smaller local groups and affected communities.
  • Oxfam has a team of 48 qualified technical engineers staff in Sri Lanka, both national and international personnel.
  • Oxfam has constructed bathing cubicles, women's changing rooms and gender-sensitive washing facilities, and laundry areas.
  • Oxfam has provided 750 emergency, transitional and permanent latrines—safe and appropriate for use by all populations.
  • More than 3,000 wells have already been cleaned twice and water testing is ongoing (350—700 water samples are collected across our field offices every month for quality testing).
  • 20,000 Hygiene Kits have been distributed across the country. The kits include basics required for maintaining personal hygiene such as soap, menstruation cloths, nail clippers, combs and buckets to carry water in.

Public Health:

  • Public Health Promotion (PHP) is being carried out in over 30 Transitional shelter sites in collaboration with community members who have formed committees and selected camp motivators to facilitate public health promotion; this work is being undertaken in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
  • Oxfam has trained camp motivators and public health assistants (from Oxfam and national partners) who share health messages through camp-level campaigns, role-plays, songs, murals and sports.
  • Partnership and linkages: Oxfam has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with district offices of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to help facilitate solid waste management and control of disease vectors in temporary shelter sites. Oxfam is supporting the immunization of children living in some Transitional shelters identified by the MOH, including Batticaloa district.

Transitional shelters:

  • Oxfam is currently involved in the construction 3,043 Transitional shelters out in the South and East (4 districts).
  • Oxfam is putting up model temporary shelters so that other NGOs and local communities can see them first and adapt or reproduce them.
  • From the very start community members have also been part of the decision-making process and have contributed towards the design and construction of their future homes. The priority is to ensure that there is a 'people-centred approach' rather than a 'technology centred process'.
  • Oxfam develops innovative solutions. Transitional shelters are durable and removable, they use appropriate materials but aim to not cause a local shortage.
  • Upgrading the shelters with Do It Yourself Kits have been developed to transform a 'shelter to a home.' Many people may live in these shelters for up to three years, so Oxfam has provided a budget to each family to purchase items such as household materials (kitchen items, basic furniture, lanterns, stoves, basic tools for maintenance and paint).
  • In coordination with 3 international NGOs, UNHCR and local authorities, Oxfam has initiated a pilot Public Information Campaign in Matara district on Shelter Rights and procedures. Nearly 1,000 applications were received over the last few weeks by families still living with relatives/host families.
  • Oxfam chairs a Shelter and Settlement Forum which conveys 15 lead agencies to provide guidance to the local authorities on habitat issues.

Livelihoods

  • Oxfam is helping to restore livelihoods through the replacement and/or repair of fishing craft and gears, provision of Cash Grants for income generating activities, re-establishment and organizing rehabilitation of community infrastructures and beach clearance through Cash for Work schemes.
  • The objective of our cash transfer activities is to provide affected families with money so that they can rebuild their lives quickly while empowering and giving them choice on the way they want to use the assistance provided. However, for the rehabilitation of the fishing fleet Oxfam is directly distributing the boats/fishing nets because of complicated logistics in the procurement of these items, and because of the close collaboration needed with the Ministry of Fisheries for the sustainable management of the limited aquatic resources available.
  • 28,771 individuals have been supported with Cash for Work, 1,613 Cash Grants provided, over a hundred boats and engines repaired as well as 130 new boats and 336 fishing nets distributed.
  • Cash for Work activities focus on beach clearance, road repairs and the replacement of community assets such as wells and fishing boats, people are also paid to build their own transitional shelters. A daily cash wage (same amount for men and for women) is paid.
  • Affected families used to be involved in several income generating activities, such as small-shops, livestock and poultry rearing or home gardening that they lost with the Tsunami. These families are now re-establishing these small-scale but essential activities through the cash grant initiative.
  • However, Oxfam wishes to further improve the livelihoods of affected families by also giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and on the job training. In Batticaloa for the construction of transitional shelters, Oxfam is organising training in masonry and carpentry to those affected people interested. Following the training, participants have a remunerated job in the construction of temporary shelters.
  • In Matara, Oxfam is supporting 2,000 women and men who work in the coir (coconut husks) industry—the coir pits have been repaired and new materials provided to make coir products. In addition, Oxfam supported the renovation of 5 coir mills to ensure a regular supply of the raw materials.

Gender

  • Oxfam is providing gender sensitive bathing, sanitation and shelter facilities that give women and girls privacy and safe access (e.g. by providing solar lights in washing areas for security) in Ampara, Batticaloa and Kilinochi.
  • Oxfam is targeting the needs of women by including a high proportion of women in Cash Grants, providing market access for goods and strengthening skills needed for sustainable livelihoods.
  • Oxfam is training 'camp management' to deal with gender issues, particularly gender based violence in Ampara, Batticaloa and Kilinochi.
  • Oxfam is monitoring and offering referral mechanisms in camp for gender based violence in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee.
  • Oxfam is mobilizing camp communities to understand gender issues in Ampara, Batticaloa, Kilinochi and Ampara.
  • Oxfam is involving both men and women in consultations (all offices) and technical management of facilities in Kilinochi and Batticaloa.
  • Oxfam is advocating with other agencies and state actors in addressing gender needs during Tsunami relief and rehabilitation in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Kilinochi.

Partners we are currently working with:

Koralaipattu North Development Union (KPNDU), Batticaloa
People's Welfare Association (PWA), Batticaloa
Thirupperunthurai Community Development Organisation (TCDO), Batticaloa
Eravur Social Development Foundation (ESDF), Batticaloa
Community Development Foundation (CDF), Batticaloa
Meesan (new), Batticaloa
Social Development Foundation (SDF), Ampara
Affected Women's Forum (AWF), Ampara
Marumalachi (new), Ampara
Al-ameen (new), Ampara

Key issues at a glance

  • In Mandani camp, Ampara, an outbreak of Hepatitis A (18 cases within two weeks) has been reported. Oxfam, the Ministry of Health, and two international NGOs conducted an assessment to identify the potential sources of the outbreak. From the findings of the assessment a joint intervention (increased water quality analysis and synchronized hygiene and sanitation activities) and a surveillance plan was developed. The cases of Hepatitis A appear to be linked to poor hygiene practices in the area. The vacation of emergency shelters has led to open defecation by children within the camp. Oxfam has responded with closer monitoring of water quality and has specifically increased hygiene promotion activities in response.
  • Discussions between the National Dengue Control Unit, Health Education Bureau and Oxfam about how to prevent dengue are underway. The three organizations plan to map out why community members knowledge on dengue prevention is not getting translated into practice.

Community Participation

  • Public meetings are now being held to explain the purpose of Oxfam's programs in Hambantota, targeting key groups and identifying community issues. Oxfam is also actively promoting the formation of community groups and supporting discussions on collective action and social issues that include gender inequality, the exploitation of the poor and working towards ethnic reconciliation. A total of 35 groups, each with between 4 to 6 members, have formed during this month. Since the emphasis is on mutual support and awareness-raising, these groups attract the most vulnerable people in the community, the people most in need of support.

Providing Adequate Shelter to Affected Communities

  • In Ampara, progress on transitional shelter construction is being made. Concerns about the availability of land and other related issues have slowed the pace of work in some cases.
  • However, so far, Oxfam has handed over 445 Transitional shelters to residents in Akkaraipattu, Thrukkovil and Sainthamaruthu, in Ampara. If partners are able to continue at their current speed, it is expected that the construction of all temporary shelters will be finished at the beginning of July. Oxfam also is providing support in livelihood recovery to some of the men and women living in these shelters.
  • As part of Oxfam's Cash for Work activities there is a plan to start an internal gravel road to cleaned areas in Ralodai, Batticaloa. Also, in the same village, an "on the job" training program began in June 2005. Carpentry training was held and masonry training will start once the carpentry training is completed.
  • In Hambantotota, 248 Transitional shelters have been completed and handed over to occupants, some of which are receiving electricity. Recently, more and more displaced families wish to move out from the houses of neighbours and relatives, swelling the demand for Transitional shelters.

Helping Rebuild Livelihoods—Cash for Work Activities

  • A system of insurance and pension schemes has been developed among affected populations with the assistance of Fisheries Inspector, Fisheries Cooperative Societies Union (FCSU) and Assistant Government Agent (AGA) in Killinochi. Oxfam has identified interested beneficiaries including women headed families for the above scheme. Oxfam has planned to distribute cash grants to widows according to their needs. These will enable them to have an immediate livelihood source while also having an opportunity to participate in the Cash for Work program. Once these initiatives are in process, a portion of the earnings will be contributed to the pension scheme.
  • In Ampara, Cash for Work activities involving shelter construction and associated work have been ongoing in Maliyakadu, Komari I and Komari II camps involving 113 individuals, of which 40% are women. Oxfam's partners SDF and AWF have now identified 110 groups, each averaging five members, who are eager to start collective livelihood activities.
  • This month in Hambantota, Oxfam provided the necessary components for two nets that will enable 40 people to recommence madhal (dragnet fishing). Oxfam also supplied materials for the making of conventional nets by another 47 people and a machine to enable one group of three to manufacture coir rope.
  • Demand for support to re-start or instigate income-generating activities is increasing, with families coming to Oxfam with ideas for non-conventional ventures such as mushroom growing. Oxfam is now seeking the necessary expertise that can support these activities. We are also using local organisations such as Farmer's Market to find outlets in Colombo for handcrafts traditionally produced in Hambantota.
  • Also, in Hambantota, Oxfam is now using a community-marketing program (CAMP) to source raw materials in other provinces. For example, four groups, each comprised of about five members, have come up with an idea to promote the re-introduction of traditional nets, commonly used by poor families for lagoon fishing. These special nets are recognised tools of the trade and were, in the past, registered with the government, but have fallen out of favour largely because of the shortage of a particular plant leaf from which they are made. This plant has been located in Ampara where it is not used and links are now being established between the communities.

Water, Sanitation and Public Health Activities

  • A water and sanitation meeting was called for by the Program Development Secretariat (PDS) in Killinochi which resulted in the formation of a water and sanitation committee. During this meeting is was agreed that representatives from Tamil Relief Organisation (TRO), UNICEF, ICRC and Oxfam will be look at relevant water and sanitation issues for the 3rd phase of relief operations.
  • In Eachchilampattu district, Trincomalee a new filtration system has begun. It is expected to produce 60-70,000 litres of water per day. This will be enough to supply the entire Eachchilampattu area with water.

Gender and protection

  • As the response shifts to livelihood re-establishment in Ampara there is a danger, even among our partners, of overlooking or ignoring opportunities for women. Oxfam is encouraging our partners to actively promote the formation of women's groups through which women can address their livelihood needs collectively.
  • Support service for single fathers: Oxfam's psychosocial referral point has started to function at Vaharai, Batticaloa. Since May 27th, five single fathers and three single mothers were referred to the counselling centre for counselling support.

Oxfam Helps Get Fishing Boats Back on the Water in Sri Lanka

Prior to the Tsunami Manjula Puspakumara, who now belongs to the group, owed the village shop Rs.15,000 (£189). After the Tsunami Manjula was unable to continue his livelihood as a fisherman as the muthalali with whom he had worked had lost his boat and nets. Like many others, Manjula also lost his possessions and in order to get by he became further indebted to those around him.

In April this year Oxfam gave the six fishermen fishing equipment. Each man received a small net and two lobster pots suitable for fishing in the lagoon. With three to a boat they now fish for themselves and the income from the sale of their catch is shared amongst them.

Oxfam started working in Siriyagamma in February 2005. Every month the fishermen set aside 250 rupees (£3.00) from their salary in case of an emergency or to fund future income generating ventures. Through the assistance given to him, Manjula has now repaid the 15,000 rupees he owed his local shop and he now has enough money to rebuild his business".

Indonesia—Aceh and Nias

Oxfam is currently working in 6 locations across Aceh: Banda Aceh/Aceh Besar, Lamno, Meulaboh, Calang, Lholseumawe and more recently in Nias, with 585 staff (528 national and 57 international).

What Oxfam has achieved so far in Indonesia...

  • Over 219,503 beneficiaries in Aceh Besar, Lamno, Meulaboh, Lhokseumawe, Calang and Nias have benefited from Oxfam programs.
  • Oxfam is now reaching over 52,155 beneficiaries across Nias with assistance, which includes; water, sanitation, food, shelter and the distribution of non-food items. We have supplied more than 40 million litres of water since the March 28 earthquake.
  • Livelihoods and Cash for Work programs have assisted around 62,532 people in all areas. These include cash grants to restart small businesses. Apart from the cash, the groups participating in the Cash for Work projects also receive essential tools. The average daily payment of Cash for Work is 35-40,000 Rupiah (£2,30) per person per day.
  • Oxfam engineers have repaired and decontaminated more than 1,425 wells that were damaged by the Tsunami.
  • In Meulaboh in one week, 4,100,000 litres of water have been delivered through the tankering operation. Also, 9 wells have been cleaned and 72 latrines emptied.

Partners we work with:

To date, Oxfam has partnerships with 48 local NGOs. Of these 48, the following partners received grants in the past two weeks.

Kata Hati—Based in Banda Aceh. Oxfam will support them in their aim to set up a clearinghouse to provide information to civil society organizations and communities.
Free Voice—Covering Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Lhokseumawe and Pidie. Support for media development, capacity building for media institutions and reconstruction of radio stations. Local partners are Jakarta based Radio 68H, Independent Journalist's Association and Local Independent Broadcasting Commission.
Yasindo- Banda Aceh based, with a focus on livelihood activities and construction of water and sanitation facilities.
SABDA—Medan based NGO, which will act as an information center and advocates community participation in reconstruction, with particular emphasis on rights of IDPs.
SORAK—Banda Aceh based NGO, which advocates the rights of IDPs.
LSM Bina Anuek Nanggroe—Based in Pidie. It supports the distribution of boat making and weaving tools.
YICM –Focus on rehabilitation of livelihoods for the population in Mesjid Raya sub district of Aceh Besar.

Key issues

  • According to a recent scientific finding, the Indonesian island of Sumatra is now at risk from two potentially major earthquakes that could generate waves at least 10 metres high. The research team is headed by the same expert who predicted the earthquake that struck Sumatra on 28th March, three months on from the 26th December Tsunami earthquake. The research was published in the journal Nature on June 6th. Lead author John McCloskey, a professor of environmental sciences at the University of Ulster and his team fear the next earthquakes may be as high as 7.5 and 9 respectively on the Richter scale.
  • There have been 7 earthquakes in the Aceh-Nias region in the past week, which have ranged from 5.0 to 6.1. There has been some panic on the island of Simeleu after two earthquakes, one measuring 5.1 and another at 6.1, 3 days apart.
  • In Nias, two earthquakes on June 3rd and June 11th have sparked fear among residents and local and international staff, with many people unwilling to sleep in buildings. As a result, people are taking shelter under thatched roofs, which provide little protection from the rain.
  • A large number of people are moving back to their villages or to government barracks from their Internally Displaced People camps and this has meant that Oxfam teams have to adapt their plans and approach. Also, heavy rains are expected in July/August, which puts pressure on teams to meet deadlines.
  • The peace talks between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian Government concluded on June 9th in Helsinki without reaching an agreement.
  • People have started moving back into their villages in Aceh Besar, Meulaboh and Lhokseumawe which has put a greater pressure on Oxfam teams to follow them with appropriate water and sanitation activities and shelter projects. People are returning due to a combination of factors—better Cash for Work opportunities that have helped clear their villages or made them more accessible, shelter and water and sanitation plans that have been made.
  • Cash for Work programs are being replaced by livelihoods recovery in Meulaboh with a focus on reviving agricultural activities and in assisting women with traditional work, such as sewing.
  • In Calang, the team is shifting into longer-term, sustainable alternatives in the water and sanitation, public health promotion, shelter and Cash for Work sectors. The shelter and livelihoods programs in Lhokseumawe have started coordination meetings to better understand how to best implement a holistic approach to building communities

Public Health Promotion at its best

With an estimated 500,000 people displaced from their homes due to the Tsunami, public health and the sharing of information are fast becoming crucial subjects. Worsening weather conditions and harsh circumstances add to the difficulty of living in makeshift tentcommunities.

Most people, the Public Health Promoters say, are unsure of how to adjust to their new living situation. In most cases people do not need to be taught the basics, such as how to wash their hands or safely prepare their food. Instead, they want practical tips, how and where to get rid of their rubbish, how to build simple drainage systems to avoid sewage and water collecting in areas and how to keep their children safe from diseases.

The channels through which Oxfam transmits its health messages are what make the Public Health programs unique. In the settlement of Lampaya, for instance, Oxfam has built a notice board outside the community centre displaying leaflets detailing health messages. Just a few yards away, at the barrels intended for solid waste are colourful information posters about disposing garbage. Around the corner, in a small area of the Oxfam warehouse, the children of the village are earnestly concentrating on colouring in the drawing sheets handed out to them by public health engineer Mindy Weimer. These colouring sheets have pictures about simple health ideas such as washing your hands before meals, which help instil important behaviours in children in an entertaining way. Watching them, Hamdiah, says, "I came to learn something for myself. I think the children also benefit from this."

Water, Sanitation and Public Health activities

  • A bridge has been built in Jeulingke village in the Central area and another is being repaired in Gano village to facilitate the return of villagers. Land drainage has also been completed in Gano village, as the area was still flooded. Land rights, however, have still not been clarified and this has hampered any plans for building shelter and developing sustainable water sources for the community. Transportation of materials is a problem for the team working on the remote Pulo Aceh islands.
  • At the Samudra camp the Oxfam team have worked to improve the health environment of the residents of the camp. Soakaways have been created to improve drainage around water tanks and to stop disease from spreading through stagnant water. Waste bins and handcarts to transport rubbish have also been distributed at this camp and Oxfam will work with the Department for public works to remove waste every two days. This work has been greatly reinforced by Public Health Promotion activities.
  • In Meulaboh the population in the Internally Displaced People camps has decreased as people move back to their villages or settle in government barracks while they wait for permanent housing to be built. Water continues to be distributed to around 40,000 people to meet their immediate needs, however, the team is establishing longer term solutions including digging a tube well and installing a water tower in Lapang I. There are plans to sink tubewells in the camps of Lapang II and Peurembe to provide permanent sources of water. A tube well damaged by the Tsunami has been rehabilitated in Johan Palawan and a water reservoir was also repaired.

Helping Rebuild Livelihoods—Cash for Work Activities

  • In Aceh Besar, around 999 people took part in the Cash for Work programs in the past two weeks. This is more than double the figure that usually participate. This can be attributed to the large number of people who have already returned to their villages or are planning to do so. The activities centred on rehabilitation of villages, including building community centres, cleaning common areas and rice fields. Six villages were part of this period's Cash for Work and almost 40% of the workers were women.
  • The livelihoods programs have been running in some villages with Oxfam-supported activities ranging from doormat making to a pedicab driver. Grants have already been approved in 12 villages for 428 women and 418 men.
  • In Lhokseumawe, the Cash for Work program served a dual benefit, focusing on restoring livelihoods activities through providing immediate jobs for people. In the current period, residents of 5 villages participated in the program, which integrated Cash for Work schemes and livelihoods recovery as well as hygiene activities. In 3 areas as part of the Cash for Work scheme, 990 villagers cleaned the local fishpond damaged during the Tsunami that had been a major source of income in the area. Once the project is complete the population can resume fishing. Another 385 people have cleaned and rehabilitated a rice field and the canal, after which they will use the land to cultivate rice.
  • In Calang the Cash for Work activities have made it easier for people to return to their villages because it offers them a chance to earn some money. More importantly, they can participate in rehabilitating their village by clearing land or building bridges and roads.
  • There are 10 ongoing projects being carried out in 7 villages, most of them involve clearing the village of debris.

Public Health Promotion

  • In Aceh Besar hygiene promotion used the new approach of a competition for the cleanest tent at Mon Ikeun camp. Prizes were distributed to the winners and the health messages were emphasized by information on good hygiene practices. The initial response from the community has been positive and this idea may be transferred to other camps.
  • In Nias, health promotion messages, such as, boiling drinking water, diarrhoea prevention and control were spread in 10 camps.
  • The Public Health Promoters have stimulated a lot of interest from communities due to their intense program on health education and community participation in Meullobah. As a result, environmental clean-ups have become a regular activity after Friday prayers at all locations.

Partners

  • The Partners Support Unit visited Lhokseumawe and set up a partnership plan. Four local NGOs: Sahara, YSIA, RPUK and Birata have been assessed and their proposals are being reviewed. Sahara and Birata plan to work in water and sanitation and health promotion, YSIA will work on livelihoods programs while RPUK will provide training and capital for tailoring groups. A visit from the Partners Support Liaison Unit is urgently required in Nias for the program to facilitate assessing local partners.

South India

Oxfam is currently working in 16 locations in South India—Chennai, Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramnad, Thiruvalluvar, Tuticorin and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu; Prakasham, Vizhakapattinam and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh; Alleppy and Kollam in Kerala; and in the union territory of Pondicherry. There is a main office in Chennai and sub-offices in (Karaikal) Pondicherry and (Nagercoil) Kanyakumari, excluding the office in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Oxfam has a total of 38 staff (31 national and 7 international staff). Oxfam is working in partnership with local NGOs to implement Public Health, Water and Sanitation and Livelihoods programs to support the Tsunami affected population.

What Oxfam has achieved so far in South India...

  • Cash for Work programs have been completed in 24 villages of Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanyakumari, benefiting more than 4,200 people, of which at least 60% were women.
  • Oxfam has distributed 65 FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polytherane) boats in Cuddalore district, as part of restoring livelihoods to the fishing communities. Most of the boats have been distributed as part of a common ownership program with six individuals owning and running a fishing boat.
  • In the coastal regions Oxfam modified the existing temporary shelters so that they can withstand natural elements during the rainy monsoon season. 180 shelters in Cuddalore are finished and work is almost complete on 348 shelters in Kollam.
  • 348 pedestal fans have been distributed to the residents of the temporary shelters in Kollam, Kerala. This was done so as to alleviate the harsh living conditions (summer heat and humidity) that the people face in the temporary shelters.
  • Oxfam supported 4,000 families in the affected regions by providing them with household items (Cooking utensils and other necessities), at a cost of 2,000 (£25.00) rupees per kit. At the moment over 1,500 household kits, women's kits and hygiene kits are being distributed in Alleppy, Kerala.
  • Oxfam has also supported 16,000 families with food supplements as part of its emergency response soon after the Tsunami. They were mostly supported with Rice—100 kg. Dal—5 kg, and biscuits—150 grams x 20.
  • Livelihood restoration grants were issued to 508 Self Help Groups in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry.

Partners we are currently working with:

Oxfam is working in India on the Tsunami response with a total of 19 partner organizations:

Bless, KESNIK, SEVAI, CARD, CCD, FACE, CEE, BUILD, Don Bosco, Sumanahalli, DHAN, Prepare and NESA.

The East Coast Development forum consists of:
Shanti Dan Pengal Munnetra Sangam, Tamilnadu
Shanti Dan Uzhaikkum Pengal Nala Sangam, Pondicherry
Irulas' tribal Women's Welfare Society (ITWWS), Tamilnadu
Social Awareness Society for Youth (SASY), Tamil Nadu
HOPE, Pondicherry
Raja Kesavdas Foundation Swayam Sahaya Sangam (RKSS), Kerala

Key issues at a glance

  • Tidal surges leading on from the monsoon season continue to hit the South Eastern Coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, but on a smaller scale. Most of the displaced people living in the camps in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have returned to their own homes or to relative's homes after conditions improved. The government provided a one-time relief support to the displaced families an aid of 2,000 rupees (£25) and 1,000 rupees (£12.50), respectively, followed by minor food supplements. The majority of camps have been closed down as of now and only one camp accommodating 100 families is operational in Mullorthorai. Oxfam provided water storage tanks in one of the camps in Kanyakumari.
  • As the monsoon season set in both Kerala and South Western parts of Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari) it was anticipated that monsoon preparedness initiatives would be taken up by the government authorities. Although, its current focus is on the construction of permanent shelters, Oxfam hopes the government initiates activities that will ease the conditions of those living in the temporary shelters.
  • Also in Kerala, fishermen face difficult times, as a trawler ban to be implemented in the monsoon season will put a stop to their already affected livelihoods for another two months. The ban applies to any boats with a motor, not just large scale trawlers. With an imminent trawling ban coming up soon, the fishing communities in coastal Kerala do not know whether they should support the ban or not. The trawling ban is a yearly phenomenon initiated and enforced by the government during the monsoon season so that the fish population in the ocean would have time to reproduce and repopulate. This year's fishing ban starts from the June 15th and will last for 50 days.

Helping Rebuild Livelihoods—Cash for Work Activities

  • Bunds (dykes) ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 meters have been constructed to prevent seawater intrusion in two villages of Kumarakkudi and Keelaiyur, in Nagapattinam.
  • In Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam the extension work for interlinking canals in the saltpans is to begin on June 14th as a continuation of the Saltpan Reclamation activities that have been completed. 112.6 acres of saltpans and the interlinking channels were repaired, approximately 1,000 labourers and 129 leaseholders have benefited in the process. Activities are expected to last 7,456 labour days.
  • In Cuddalore we aim to benefit 1,927 families through promotion agricultural reclamation activities and women's micro-enterprises. Similarly we are targeting 79 Dalit (the most marginalized and disadvantaged community) families in Nagapattinam and providing them with income generating activities.
  • Oxfam is currently partnering with DHAN Foundation who are working in the regions of Nagapattinam district particularly in Kelaiyur, Vedaraniyam, Thalinayiru, Sirkali and Kollidam Blocks. In this regard a total of 3,540 metres of drainage channels have been desalted. This benefited more than 100 farming families and generated a total of 525 days of employment. As part of dewatering farm ponds approximately 800 have been completed. In addition to these agricultural ponds around 31 common ponds were dewatered in the Karaikal region of Pondicherry.
  • Oxfam is partnering with the East Coast Development Forum (ECDF), a twelve member NGO network organisation. Based on community consultations, the program focus will be livelihood restoration. Working through Self Help Groups, beneficiaries will be supported to make their own choice in how they re-establish their livelihoods.
  • In Chennai, livelihoods activities have started with 1,300 families in Durai Pakkam. The aim is to restore people's former livelihoods or, when not possible, to create opportunities for alternative ones. The project will provide replacement tools lost or damaged by the Tsunami and the provision of means of transport to people who are not able to reach their job place/market area. For the creation of alternative livelihoods, the intervention will include the provision of skills training for alternative job opportunities according to the job market availability.

Providing Adequate Shelter to Affected Communities

  • As the Monsoon season sets in Kerala, the living conditions in the temporary shelters of Kollam remain stable. Oxfam is involved in monsoon preparedness activities in the shelter sites and will continue to monitor the situation.
  • A disaster preparedness workshop will be held on 13th June 2005. It is being jointly organised by the Kollam district administration and Oxfam. This will focus on government and NGO coordination, insurance of new houses and meeting internationally recognized (sphere) standards.
  • Oxfam is at the moment following up on the construction of 98 permanent shelters in Nagapattinam. We received authorization from the District Collector for its construction but the details of the exact land allocation have not yet been confirmed.

Water, Sanitation and Public Health Activities

  • Monsoon preparedness activities have been completed in 12 temporary shelter sites in Kanyakumari. Activities towards monsoon preparedness have also been initiated in both the temporary shelter sites in Kollam. The interventions aim towards adequate drainage to reduce standing wastewater, maintaining clean and hygienic surroundings.
  • After detailed consultations with the government officials, monsoon preparedness and public health promotion activities have started in Allepey. Oxfam will be partly operational in the program and will also be supported by a local organisation, Kerala Rural Development Agency (KRDA).
  • SEVAI a partner of Oxfam is involved in providing public health promotion activities in 13 villages of Nagapattinam. They have completed the data collection for a baseline survey and are in the process of forming water and sanitation and children's committees.
  • A comprehensive assessment of HIV/AIDS issues relating to the aftermath of the Tsunami has been carried out. The overall objective of this was to assess what factors increase the risk of HIV infection and spread within Tsunami affected populations. The assessment results will be used to review the work of Oxfam and our counterparts to identify opportunities for integrating HIV/AIDS in our existing programs. The assessment team visited most Tsunami affected areas of Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Karaikal and Nagapatnam) and Kerala (Kollam).

Andamans and Nicobar Islands

What has Oxfam achieved so far in Andamans and Nicobar Islands...

  • Oxfam has provided 70 tents to local schools, and will aim to provide 30 more as soon as possible.
  • In Campbell Bay, Oxfam has completed 562 washroom units out of the 604 it has planned to construct. Teams are building an additional 42 units at present.
  • 210 toilet units are completed of Oxfam's goal to build 355 such facilities, 145 more units under construction now.

Key issues

  • Oxfam signed an agreement with All India Radio (AIR) to air public health messages over the next six-months to improve hygiene and sanitation on the islands. A total of 4 spots a day will be heard on the Nicobari Program broadcast in the Nicobari language, the regional language of Nicobari people living in Southern Andaman.
  • The Public Health Team, in collaboration with the Creative Art Division of West Bengal Volunteer Health Association (WBVHA), an Oxfam partner, carried out an assessment and submitted a proposal to Oxfam outlining the need for health education and the development unconventional materials for public education and communication efforts.
  • With the onset of the rains, communication links between the mainland and other islands is problematic, hampering the distribution of building materials and slowing next steps in Oxfam's Cash for Work programs.
  • Oxfam has helped bring together several Government organizations, NGO and international NGOs that are working in the islands to improve joint coordination. A Memorandum of Understanding is in the process of being agreed between UNICEF and Oxfam to formalize coordination of their relief and rehabilitation activities on the islands.

Helping Rebuild Livelihoods—Cash for Work Activities

  • In Sholbay, South Andamans, Oxfam's program is being implemented through Oxfam's partner Sholbay Panchayat. Oxfam is responsible for overall monitoring of the project. Cash for Work activities focused on debris removal and covering stagnant water points in preparation for the coming of the monsoon. The program benefited over 1,000 participants living on these islands. Other Cash for Work activities taking place in the same village include, digging ponds, building fences schools, levelling the grounds at local schools, and building defences against further saltwater flooding.