Reconstruction efforts following the tsunami disaster

In Report No. 36 (2004-2005) to the Storting (Parliament), the Storting instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allocate NOK 1 billion to be used in the tsunami-affected areas. NOK 400 million was to be earmarked for emergency relief, and NOK 579 million for reconstruction. (An extra allocation of NOK 1 billion to aid is historic by Norwegian standards.) In addition the Ministry allocated NOK 100 million of ordinary emergency relief funds in the days immediately following the disaster. This money went to the UN system and to Norwegian and local NGOs.

General overview

* See detailed table below

Transitional aid

Applications for transitional aid (NOK 579 million) have been dealt with as quickly as possible so that the reconstruction could begin as soon as possible. Experience of other disasters confirms that this is important in order to alleviate the suffering of the local population.

One of the primary objectives is to enable as many people as possible to return quickly to normal life where they can provide for themselves and their families, and where the children can return to school.

Principles and priorities

Norway attaches great importance to co-ordinated assistance, where the national and local authorities of the recipient country as far as possible decide the focus of the measures and do not have to deal with a large number of individual donors. Norway is therefore favourably disposed to contributing funds to a multidonor fund if such a fund is established in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Norway has also chosen to channel almost half of the NOK 1 billion through UN agencies. We also have a close dialogue with the various UN agencies, national and local authorities and NGOs. In some cases, we have earmarked funds for specific projects, in others we are seeking to incorporate our priorities, for example, into multidonor funds.

Conflict intensity. Some of the tsunami-affected countries are torn by internal conflicts. The aid to these countries must be provided in a balanced and conflict-mitigating manner, and must benefit all those who need it.

Chaotic situations might arise in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, and we must therefore be particularly alert to the possibility of corruption and abuses. Openness and control combined with local knowledge and close follow-up are necessary for combating corruption.

The affected countries had a relatively good capacity before the tsunami struck. The Norwegian authorities encourage the use of local goods and other measures to strengthen local capacity. We also encourage co-operation with local organisations and civil society actors in order to strengthen their capacity.

Which countries are being supported in the reconstruction process?

The tsunami affected many countries around the Indian Ocean. Indonesia and Sri Lanka were the hardest hit, and are therefore being given priority in the reconstruction. But money will also be given to countries such as Thailand and Somalia, and to joint measures in the region.

Indonesia
It is believed that 236 000 people were killed, and 406 000 are homeless.

Which organisations have received funds?
UN agencies: Priority is given to measures ranging from searching for surviving tsunami victims to actively participating in fishing and agriculture, cleaning up disaster areas, etc. Importance is attached to measures targeted at disadvantaged groups and environmental measures, in keeping with the guidelines for long-term development co-operation.

Multidonor fund: Over half of Norwegian transitional aid to Indonesia is earmarked for a planned multidonor fund in which international organisations, national authorities and donor countries participate.

NGO: Because of the conflict between the liberation movement GAM and the Indonesian authorities, Aceh province was virtually closed to the outside world before the tsunami struck. The Norwegian position is only to give support to organisations that have already established a contact network in the area. There are a few who have done so, and their applications are currently being considered. Norway will give priority to organisations working with environmental protection, minorities, and women and children.

The Indonesian Mapping Agency: At the request of the Indonesian Mapping Agency, Norway has supported a digital mapping project in Indonesia, which covers the damaged areas. The maps will be used in the reconstruction and will, when possible, be made available to other actors in this effort.

Sri Lanka
It is believed that 37 000 people were killed in Sri Lanka, and 550 000 are homeless.

Here, too, the tsunami primarily affected poor fishing communities, small businesses and the tourist industry. The conflict between the authorities and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) did not impede the acute emergency relief. It is important that the aid for long-term reconstruction is provided in a balanced, effective manner. In the north and east, it will also be important to ensure a balance between the aid provided to the tsunami victims and that provided to the people affected by the conflict. Norway underlines that the aid should be conflict sensitive and that the funds should be distributed according to needs and local priorities, and that they should be used to support projects that bolster the peace process.

Which organisations have received funds?
UN agencies: Priority is given to UN projects in the fields of fisheries, primary health services and activities that will strengthen local organisations (capacity building).

Recipients:

NGOs, civil society and the private sector
Norwegian support will primarily be given to fishing projects, restoration of livelihoods and rebuilding of schools. Some support will also be given for rebuilding cultural monuments that are important to the people of Sri Lanka. The Norwegian authorities give priority to supporting co-operation between Norwegian and local organisations with a view to making local organisations and authorities better equipped to deal with the tasks ahead.

Multidonor fund: The international community is working to establish a multidonor fund that can co-ordinate international support to Sri Lanka.

Thailand and Somalia

Thailand
It is believed that 8 400 people died in Thailand, many of whom were foreigners. Thailand has not asked for humanitarian emergency relief, but has requested expert assistance, for example for reconstruction and rehabilitation of marine areas and the environment, and measures to prevent the salination of water sources, chart geotechnical damage and restore adequate living conditions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now considering these measures.

Somalia
It is believed that 300 people died in Somalia, and approximately 50 000 people were affected by the disaster in the form of damage to houses, drinking water sources and production facilities in small-scale fisheries. The disaster comes on top of a long period of drought and periodic flooding and a permanent lack of security. Norway has focused on meeting immediate humanitarian needs and helping the people regain the ability to provide for themselves through small-scale fisheries. This is being done through support to the UN agency FAO.

Joint measures in the region

Common warning system. The tsunami disaster confirmed the need for an extensive common warning system. Norway has already provided some funds for such a system through the UN/ISDR. UNESCO has been given responsibility for co-ordination, and the Norwegian authorities will consider providing additional funds.

UNPD. Support has also been given to UNDP at the regional level in order to strengthen capacity for planning rehabilitation and reconstruction. The target groups are national and local authorities and regional and local NGOs. The measures include co-ordination, risk analysis, capacity building and early warning systems.

Solidarity Fund. Norad’s Solidarity Fund was set up to fund small-scale projects. Most of this money has now also been used up.