SECTION 5 - GLOBAL UNIONS’ TSUNAMI MISSION TO INDONESIA AND SRI LANKA

1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

From 16 through 22 January 2005 Global Union representatives visited Indonesia and Sri Lanka to meet with trade union organisations and with victims of the Tsunami of 26 December 2004 who lost relatives and friends, and most or everything they ever owned including their homes. At the time of the mission the death toll crossed the 200,000 mark, while the number of displaced persons in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India reached 1.7 million.

In addition to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, member organisations in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Tanzania, Kenya, Malaysia and the Maldives have endured hardships as well. Most of the recommendations which the Global Union representatives make for assistance programs are also applicable to these countries. Indonesia and Sri Lanka were selected for the mission because these countries were hit the hardest. It was not possible for the representatives to meet with all trade unions and to visit all sites due to the scale of the disaster. The information they collected during the mission, most of which is contained in this report, is not complete.

Children have been the main victims of the Tsunami. As many as 70,000 may not have survived the disaster. The number of children who lost a parent or became orphans may be twice as many. Hundreds of thousands of children who survived the ordeal became displaced and are traumatized.

The poor are paying the highest price. Their houses were the first ones to be washed away, and with the collapse of the fisheries, coastal agriculture, trading and informal economies they have also lost their main sources of revenue.

These groups, the most vulnerable and the poor, should also be the prime targets of the trade union solidarity programs, with special attention to women and girls.

In both Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the immediate needs of food, sanitation and shelter seem to be addressed more or less effectively, and programs for recovery and reconstruction are now being put into place. The success of these programs will depend on the availability of the funds committed by the international community, together with the capacity and willingness of national authorities to spend these funds wisely and to enable civil society to participate. In this regard both national trade unions and global unions have an important role to play. It should be noted however, that the trade union movements of Indonesia and Sri Lanka have limited capacity to exert pressure on the national authorities and to be able to carry out solidarity assistance programs effectively.. This clearly implies that Global Unions must play a strong role in mobilizing international solidarity, and also help them protect human and trade union rights, while implementing the programs. The delegation recommends the establishment of a Global Unions presence in Aceh, where the need is perceived to be greatest, for up to three years.

The Global Unions’ mission identified four important targets.

1. For the thousands of displaced people to be able to return to their communities, assistance must be targeted at the re-establishment of their livelihoods and at job recovery1. It is important that the local economies be given a jump start and

1 The International Labour Organization Jakarta Office has developed a program for recovery and rehabilitation with immediate benefits for the affected population of the Aceh Province. The delegation is of the opinion that this program will greatly contribute to the relief of the people of Aceh. Trade union organisations in the industrial economies may wish to draw the attention of their governments to the program for which ILO seeks donor support ($ 18.5 million). The Mission recommends that similar programs be proposed for Sri Lanka and for other areas affected by the Tsunami.

that people become self reliant again. Global Unions and their members could contribute to the achievement of this aim by supporting vocational education programs, and assisting people in the fishing, agricultural and informal sectors to build organizations.

2. The return to school of the hundreds of thousands of children affected by the Tsunami will be crucial to the rehabilitation process. Not only will it facilitate the communities to return to normality, children will have a better chance of overcoming their traumas. Moreover, schools provide the best possible protection of children against exploitation by merciless traders, as well as against certain “acts of benevolence” undertaken by foreign organizations and individuals, such as the adoption of children. Some also claim to be “counselling” children when they are in fact proselytizing them. Global Unions and their members could contribute to the achievement of this aim by helping to reconstruct or repair school buildings and to provide school furniture and materials, by supporting scholarship programs for Tsunami orphans, and by sponsoring crash courses for local teachers in trauma counselling.

3. The reconstruction or repair of workers’ homes and of union offices is to be started immediately. There are a few assistance programs that will be more welcomed by the refugees than the ones that give them the perspective of adequate and permanent housing. This will not only help them cope with their traumatic experience, it will also generate economic activity, create employment possibilities, and bring confidence in the future. Global Unions and their members could contribute to the achievement of this aim by sponsoring housing programs, including the establishment of cooperatives, or possibly through loans.

4. Trade unions must help ensure a fair distribution of aid, and fight exploitation and violations of human and trade union rights as these occur in the wake of the Tsunami. National and local unions should be represented on bodies established by the authorities to coordinate recovery and rehabilitation programs. Global Unions could help achieve this aim by exerting pressure on the national authorities, as well as on the intergovernmental agencies and non governmental organisations involved in these programs. Also by sponsoring trade union training programs, by assisting unions organizing workers, and by helping them implement assistance programs.

Although the immediate needs of food, sanitation and shelter are being addressed by the public authorities and aid agencies, the delegation is of the opinion that the member organisations in the affected countries should be enabled through international solidarity to provide financial assistance to family of union members who have died, to members who have lost their jobs or their houses or whose houses have been severely damaged. The delegation was able to help member organisations of Education International, the International Metalworkers Federation and the Public Services International.

2. OBJECTIVES, COMPOSITION AND PROGRAM

The main objectives of the mission were:

to show the solidarity of the international trade union movement with affiliates in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the countries hardest hit by the Tsunami;

to assess the immediate needs of these organisations and their members in the devastated areas;

and to assess the most effective role for trade unions in the reconstruction process.

The following persons participated in the mission or part of it:

Fred van Chair GUF Conference, GS Education International (EI)

LeeuwenMamounata

CisseAssistant General Secretary ICFTU

Noriyuki Suzuki General Secretary ICFTU-Asian Pacific Regional OrganisationTom Hobart Vice President of the American Federation of` Teachers /AFL-CIO

Aloysius Mathews

Chief Regional Coordinator of Education International (EI)

Katsuhiko Sato Regional Secretary of the Public Services International (PSI)Arunasalam .P Regional Representative of the International Metalworkers’

Federation (IMF) T. Dyvadheenam Regional Representative of the International Metalworkers’

Federation (IMF) Harjon

UsmanPuaGS KAHUTINDO (IFBWW)

HM Rusli Yunus GS ITUC, Vice President PGRI (EI)Chusnul Savitri EI/PGRI Project Office Jakarta

The work program of the mission entailed meetings and consultations with member organizations of the ICFTU and the Global Union Federations in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and visits to disaster sites and refugee camps in both countries:

16 January JakartaMeeting with member organizations of Indonesian Trade Union CongressMeeting with ILO Office JakartaMedanMeeting with PGRI (EI) and PLN (PSI), Sumatra

17 January Banda AcehMeetings with PGRI and PLN, Aceh ProvinceMeeting with Education DepartmentVisiting disaster sitesVisiting refugee camp

18 January Meeting with PGRI, Aceh ProvinceReturn to Jakarta

19 January Departure for Sri Lanka20 January Colombo

Meetings with Sri Lankan trade union organizations21 January Visiting disaster sites

Meeting with the CWC22 January Departure from Colombo

3. INDONESIA

3.1. Meeting with ILO in Jakarta, 16 January 2005

Members of the delegation met with representatives of the ILO Jakarta Office, i.e. Alan J. Boulton, Director, Patrick Quinn, Chief Technical Advisor, International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and Asenaca Colawai, Associate Expert (Workers Activities). The delegation was informed about a proposal for an integrated recovery and rehabilitation program for which ILO is seeking funding ($ 18.5 million).

The main components of the program are: (1) Provision of emergency employment and livelihoods services, (2) Employment-intensive infra structure rehabilitation, (3) Restoration of livelihoods in vulnerable rural communities, (4) Protection of vulnerable children, (5) A special support program for youth, and (6) Women’s empowerment and counter-trafficking2.

2 Indonesia, Tsunami And Earthquake Response, January 2005, ILO Jakarta Office (hard copy available upon request)

Preparatory work is underway in Aceh so that interventions can start immediately when resources are available.

3.2. Meeting with member organizations of Indonesian Trade Union Congress in Jakarta, 16 January 2005

The delegation met with the following Indonesian trade union representatives: Rustam Aksam, President of ITUC; HM Rusli Yunus, General Secretary of ITUC; Harjon Usman Pua, General Secretary, KAHUTINDO (IFBWW); Djufni Ashari, President of FARKES; Indratjahya, President of ASPEK (UNI); S. Tavip, General Secretary of ASPEK (UNI); Sofyan, President of SP PAR ( Tourism Union ); Bambang Priyanto, General Secretary of SP ISI; H. Muhir Subagja, Secretary of Welfare and Trade Unionism, PGRI (EI), Unifah Rosyidi, Secretary of Education, PGRI (EI).

Also attending the meeting were Shigeru Wada, Regional Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); Rudy Porter, Field Representative ACILS and Hans J. Esdert, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Participants reported that due to the insurgency in the region, there has been little trade union activity. Those in operation were mainly public sector unions such as the teachers’ union PGRI and the electricity union SPPLN.

Below a summary of the effects of the Tsunami on the various sectors3

Public Services

Electricity:SP PLN (State Electric Power Company Workers’ Union): The union had 4,000 members in Aceh province. They received confirmation that 700 members and immediate family of members were killed, and that 1,000 were still missing. Many have been injured, and medication is rarely available in Aceh. Many rural areas remain without power. The President and other officers of SP PLN went to assess the situation within two days after the Tsunami. From Medan, the capital of the province south of Aceh, SP PLN organized teams of up to 200 volunteers to travel to Aceh Province on consecutive days with truckloads of food and to help find bodies. Travelling to Banda Aceh and sleeping in tents, SP PLN officers decided that the most important need of members is shelter. Within one week, the union raised $16,200 from members throughout the country to finance work on a large dormitory. They received a donation of the land in Banda Aceh on which to build the shelter. PSI contributed an additional $10,000, from their Asia/Pacific Regional Fund, towards construction of the shelter. SP PLN plans to send additional volunteer teams with food, as well as fresh water drilling teams. Transporting food supplies by truck overland to Banda Aceh is difficult because desperate villagers on the road from Medan are commandeering supplies. SP PLN established two base camps in Aceh and one in Medan. Main places of their activities are in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh, Sabang, Nias and Lhokseumawe. Building temporary houses, water supply and sanitation will be necessary in the mid-term and building an infrastructure will be important in the long-term. Treatment for injured people (including mental health) is also very important. For the family of the deceased, SP PLN is planning home stay of 300 people at the members’ houses in Jakarta.

(The following data was contributed by ACILS Indonesia Office on 4 February :) The union's main project remains to build temporary housing for its members and their families.  They want to build about 400 temporary shelters, which would be an upgrade from tents, but not intended as permanent homes.  No reconstruction is occurring yet, partly because title to land is not clear after the records were washed away.  Also, the government is debating various plans to reconstruct the city but has no decision yet.

3 Information provided by participants on 16 January was updated on the basis of reports received by ACILS Indonesia on February 4.

Meanwhile, the price of land cannot be predicted.  The electric company has land to use for temporary housing, but not enough for the number of homes needed.  SP PLN received morel contributions from PSI, members, and the company, and expects more from these sources.

Health:FARKES (Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Workers of Indonesia): FARKES had no members in Aceh, but its members in Jakarta are now taking care of many victims that have been evacuated to the capital. FARKES is appealing to pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia to supply free medicines, and asking members to travel to Aceh to provide care. The union ran a letter in the Tempo newspaper to ask for this assistance.

Postal services and telecommunications:ASPEK (Association of Indonesian Trade Unions – finance, post, and telecom workers): Of 141 members in the postal sector, only 60 are accounted for so far. At TAKAFUL insurance company, 18 members are missing. At the telephone company, Telkom, 147 are confirmed deadand at Antara news agency, 4 are dead. All members at the cell phone company, Telkomsel, survived the tsunami. ASPEK said coordination of assistance is very poor, and clothing donations are not well distributed. Plastic was needed to wrap dead bodies. They are still assessing needs to determine longer-term projects. UNI will assist ASPEK through the fund it set up, “Union Care.”

Although some essential public service workers including the police and the army have resumed working, many workers are not yet in any condition to return.. As the city centre was completely destroyed, many workplaces also disappeared. Some state owned companies announced that they would pay salaries to the victims including those who are still missing. However such arrangements for salaries and compensation are yet to be determined between the companies and the workers.

(The following data was contributed by ACILS Indonesia Office on 4 February :) The ASPEK leadership feels all unions should now be concentrating on longer term projects, since most people are getting the humanitarian aid needed.  The projects should concentrate on rebuilding the unions.  ASPEK proposes to set up a union care center. The idea is to coordinate the work of any unions interested in joining, and to have some staff in Aceh who could represent the interests of the unions, as well as keeping everyone outside Aceh informed about union activities. They anticipate a number of issues regarding reconstruction where labor interests must be pushed, and the union center will provide the advocacy.  Also, the center will guarantee to the unions in Jakarta and donors that projects are carried out transparently.  The Cement Workers support the center and will join. FES is interested in supporting the center.  The ILO has already made moves to establish a center that unions can use to rebuild.  The ILO rented a building already, although it is only partially usable now. There are many unanswered questions about how the ILO center will function and how it would interact with the union care center proposed by ASPEK.

Journalists

AJI (Alliance of Independent Journalists): AJI estimates that 50 journalists were killed, but most of these were not AJI members. AJI had 36 members in Aceh of a total 300 journalists in the province. 3 members are confirmed dead and 2 missing. AJI believes getting accurate information to the world is critical for the relief effort. Its members, however, now don’t have the basic tools to perform their work. Therefore, AJI plans to set up a media centre in Banda Aceh with computers and Internet connections. The Internet will be set up by wireless phone, as the landlines are still not working. AJI is already providing prepaid cell phone cards to its members in Aceh so they can file reports. AJI will also help other unions issue press reports about their relief efforts. (The following data was contributed by ACILS Indonesia Office on 4 February :) They received a large contribution from The International Federation of Journalists, which was divided into two parts.  First, with a majority of the contribution, they provided humanitarian aid to members and families.  The second part will be used to build the media center.  The

media center will also encourage reconciliation between the Government and GAM by emphasizing the needs of the people rather than the disputes of the past.  Also, the media center will help guarantee rebuilding meets the needs of the people rather than a few decision makers.  The media center can be used for meetings by other unions as well.  AJI is not clear about how fast they can move to set up the media center.  Right now, no construction is taking place, only cleanup, so it would have to be housed in an existing building.  Rents are skyrocketing because all the relief groups are snapping up space for headquarters.  Both FES and the Olaf Palme Center have expressed a positive interest, and IFJ says they will raise more to add to their previous contribution.

Teachers

PGRI (Association of Indonesian Teachers): PGRI had 50,592 members in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The education department of the province has reported that 1,532 teachers out of the 1,699 civil servants from the education department were killed or missing. This figure concerns 10 out of 13 badly affected districts. The number of teachers and civil servants killed is expected to further increase. More than 750 school buildings have been destroyed. PGRI has been collecting funds from its members all over Indonesia and will be donating to PGRI members in Aceh. Apart from helping rebuild teachers’ homes and schools, assistance is necessary to help teachers and children who are traumatized. The federal government has flown- in teacher trainees from neighbouring provinces to teach in the refugee camps.

Transport Workers4

RailwayThe Dutch built coastal narrow-gauge (0.75 metres) railway lines exist in North Sumatra, and there are 17 major railway stations. However, the operation was stopped in 1967. The government promised to resume operations by 1995, but the lines still remain closed. There were six employees of the Indonesian railways in Banda Aceh to look after the tracks and the property. As the railway office was damaged and the telephone lines are down, the Railway workers’ union has not received information of the casualties so far. Many ex-railway workers are living in the area and the union is trying in vain to gather information on their situation.

Civil AviationThere are no Garuda Indonesia crew based in Banda Aceh, when on flight duty they stay there between flights. 16 crew (3 cockpit and 13 cabin crew) were staying in a hotel in the city centre for the Hajj (Mecca pilgrimage) flights when the Tsunami came. The first floor of the hotel they were staying in collapsed with the earthquake, and immediately after, the lower floors were flooded by the Tsunami. Some crew were injured but all were safe, however one hospitalised cabin crew later passed away on 13 January. The Garuda Indonesia ground staff, airport workers and their families in Banda Aceh were also among the victims of the Tsunami. The airport itself was safe with no damage from the earthquake or the Tsunami. The aid operation centre for civil aviation workers has been set up in the airport. IKAGI, an ITF affiliate, and the APG (pilot union, non-affiliate) have raised donations from their members and sent food and medicine to Banda Aceh using their crew baggage allowance, the result of negotiations with the management. From 27 December 2004 to 3 January 2005, IKAGI and APG have managed to send in total 2 tonnes and 25 tonnes respectively, of emergency supplies.

MaritimePorts: Eleven local ports suffered heavy damages. Due to the time constraint and formalities to obtain military permission, we did not visit these ports. However one of our affiliates, a visiting SBSI representative, is gathering information on casualties and damages in the ports.

4 Contributed by Shigeru Wada, Regional Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Tokyo Office.

Shipping: In addition to two capsized vessels which were already reported by the KPI, we found one tugboat fitted with a generator, which was supplementing the city’s shortage of electricity before the Tsunami which had been carried into the town by the tidal wave and dumped three kilometres inland. Among the 16 crew members, 10 were killed and 6 survived. As you can see in the attached photographs, many fishing boats carried by the wave remain in the town’s streets. Casualties among the fishery workers seem to be very high. There is no organisation covering fishery workers in Aceh province and figures are not yet known.

Road TransportMany minibus and taxi workers were among the Tsunami victims. The city’s bus terminal was completely washed away by the Tsunami. However, there is no information available on the casualties among the road transport workers.

As far as road transport after the Tsunami is concerned, there has been a general hike of fares among minibus and taxi transport. It has been reported that the fares are more than ten times higher than before, which is preventing local people to use such public transport. We saw many cars hired by international agencies. Fleets of trucks and dumping trucks are in operation in Banda Aceh and many are hired by international agencies such as UNICEF and World Food Aid. In the first instance they are hired by TNT, an Australian logistics corporation, and then re-hired by the agencies. As far as the dumping trucks are concerned, they are all labelled WASKITA, the Indonesian state-owned company. The supply of vehicles seems to be dominated by the two above-mentioned companies in Banda Aceh.

TourismAlthough it was not a recommended destination for tourists due to the insurgency in the region, the west coast of Banda Aceh was increasingly becoming popular among Australian surfers. There were small hotels alongside the coast which were destroyed. Most of the travel agencies were located in the city centre and they were severely damaged by the Tsunami. Again, lack of trade union organisation in the region makes it impossible to find out the exact casualties and damages done to the workers in the industry.

Other industrial sectors

Indonesian Cement Workers’ Union: The union lost 683 members at the cement factory and at subcontractors of the factory. (The following data was contributed by ACILS Indonesia Office on 4 February :) Union officers surveyed the cement production facility.  It is a total loss.  This was the largest employer in Aceh and site of the largest number of worker deaths in the tsunami.  They still don't have a count because they aren't sure if people were killed or are living in other places with family.  When they visited, the facility was being openly looted and scavenged.  Renovation of the facility will take 2 years minimum.  During that time, there will be no production of cement there.  The parent company from France has committed to rebuilding, and so far says they will continue to pay surviving employees.  Many of the workers will move to Medan (outside Aceh) during the closure. The union is still contacting members to find out their needs.  Most do not live in the IDP camps, but have gone to stay with family. 

KSBSI (Indonesian Prosperity Workers’ Union Confederation):

Two members of the delegation, Mamounata Cisse, Assistant General Secretary of ICFTU, and Noriyuki Suzuki, General Secretary ICFTU-Asian Pacific Regional Organisation met with the KSBSI, the trade union center that is affiliated to the World Confederation of Labour (WCL). The representative of the KSBSI was Brother Tohap.

KSBSI has 1,062 members working at the Exxon-Mobil refinery in Lhokseumawe. They still have no estimate of the dead and missing. Tragically, many members were on holidays with their families on the island of Nias, which was hard hit. This makes accounting for members more difficult. After days with no contact, the central union

finally learned that the local union chairman had survived, although his house was destroyed. He confirmed that many, if not most, members lost their homes. KSBSI has collected $7,570 so far to assist members. In the medium term, they want to assist members to send children back to school, as this is important to help the children recover from the trauma of the destruction. Parents must pay fees to send children to school in Indonesia, which is a barrier even in normal times. The union estimates it needs to collect approximately $16,000 to provide fees for the children of all its members in Aceh.

(The following data was contributed by ACILS Indonesia Office on 4 February :) The confederation reports it has received over $300,000 from international unions in Holland, Belgium, Sweden and Japan.  They plan the following activities:  distribution of humanitarian aid to members and families, build a KSBSI office in Lhokseumawe (where the Exxon plant is located), build earthquake proof schools in the community, build a health clinic, and give scholarships to pay for children's education. KSBSI is interested in communicating with the other unions, but will conduct its own relief program - not interested in participation in the union care center.

3.3. Meeting with PGRI and SP PLN branches of North Sumatra, 16 January 2005

The President of SP PLN Daryoko, and the Vice President of the North Sumatra Provincial Board of PGRI FJ Pinem provides information about the rescue work undertaken by their unions. It is also reported that while there is no teachers dead or missing from Nias Islands, North Sumatra, twenty schools are damaged. In Tebing Tinggi a refugee camp has been built. In Asahan: 119 victims from Aceh are accommodated, 12 of them being students, In the District of Binjai which is the nearest district to Aceh Province, PGRI Binjai has opened a Humanitarian Aid Center and sent 2 trucks of humanitarian aid supply. Within 5 days they have collected more than 20 million rupiah, books, food and clothing. The PGRI representatives suggest that a trauma center be build and that volunteer teachers be sent to Aceh.

3.4. Meeting with PGRI and SP PLN branches of Aceh Province, 17 January 2005

PGRI: The delegation was received by the national and provincial leaders of the Indonesian teachers’ organisation PGRI. Three weeks after the disaster people are still in a state of shock. As the PGRI office was flooded, the meeting took place in the home of the President of PGRI Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province, Mr. Amudy. The members of the delegation also stayed overnight in Mr. Amudy’s home as there are no hotels in operation in Banda Aceh.

More than 1,500 teachers are dead. These are the official figures. However, the PGRI Vice President fears that the number will be as high as 2,500. Many more have lost children, relatives, friends, their houses, their schools. Tens of thousands of children have lost their parents. They are traumatized, as are many teachers… PGRI is of the opinion that the return to school provides the best opportunity for children to recover from their traumas. However, many schools have been destroyed or damaged and there are not enough teachers. In the refugee camps school classes are being taught by voluntary teachers and teacher trainees from neighbouring provinces and from Jakarta. School materials are provided by UNICEF. PGRI is of the opinion that assistance should be provided for the reconstruction of homes, schools and for school facilities.

The same view is expressed by the Head of the Education Department Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province. In a meeting with the delegation he provided figures of the number of teachers killed or missing and of school damage in 13 districts.

SP PLN: One of the members of the delegation, Katsuhiko Sato, Regional Secretary of PSI, visited the base camp of SP PLN which is located near the power plant in Luen Bata. The main activity of the union is to restore electricity in the region. The Tsunami

deposited a large sea vessel carrying a generator three kilometres inland where it now serves as a local power station.

SP PLN would like to build temporary houses for 400 members and their families (2000 persons). Members in Banda Aceh donated a property on which those temporary houses can be built. The union is seeking financial assistance to cover the cost of construction and have also requested that small generators be made available.

3.5. Visit of disaster sites and refugee center TVRI Banda Aceh

The delegation visited the parts of Banda Aceh which are extensively damaged. In an area of 80 square kilometres almost all houses, schools and other constructions have been washed away. There is a tremendous amount of debris including wrecked motor vehicles and boats. Corpses are still being found amongst the debris. They are being recovered mainly by army personnel and volunteers. In the main commercial and business areas most of the buildings are badly damaged, flooded and the streets are filled with mud and debris. The PGRI Office, a recently constructed building located near the offices of the provincial government was also flooded. All furniture and equipment on the ground floor has been ruined. Roads, bridges and communications are also destroyed hampering the delivery and distribution of relief. Some parts of Aceh can only be reached by helicopter.

The delegation visited one of the refugee centres located about 2 km from the disaster area. This camp, housing some 4000 refugees, is located at the grounds of the TVRI (Television station) compound. The refugees were accommodated in field tents that were pitched over large areas. The centre also had a small make shift school where some 200 students of different ages are being taught by volunteers and teacher trainees from neighbouring provinces.

“We met several families and heard their plight. Ibu Nonong, a 38 years old woman lost four of her children. Two were playing outside her house while two were inside. Their bodies are yet to be found. She prays for their safe return. “I used to sell food but now we have to survive on food donated by people,” she said. “I heard screams and saw people in panic, running in different directions. At first I did not understand what the panic was all about. I screamed at the top of my voice to safe my children, but the tide kept coming, and then I too ran as fast as my legs could carry. I managed to reach higher ground and when the water subsided I went back to my house only to discover that everything was gone. There was pandemonium among the survivors. I searched all over the place for my children but did not find them. I do not know whether Allah has taken them from me. My whole village is destroyed and we did not even live close to the ocean.

Her father, Zakaria Bin Adam, 78 years old, sitting besides her and holding one of his surviving grand children, thinks Allah has been unkind to him. “Why take my grandchildren and not me. We have lost our future, there is no house to stay, no jobs for us and what can we do in this condition. In this tent there are fifteen of us. Generous people are feeding my family otherwise we all die.”

Ibu Hajah Arjumainar, 46, school teacher, is one of the many thousands of Banda Aceh’s residents suffering from trauma. During the day she searches for her husband and four children who are missing since 26 December, the youngest five years and the oldest sixteen years old; at night, back in the camp, she stays awake praying for their return.

Like Arjumainar there are thousands who lost members of their families and friends. Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, had a population of 223,629. More than 80,000 are either dead or missing, according to governmental sources. Corpses are still dug up from the mountains of debris and pools of mucky and smelly stagnant water that is spread over an area of eighty square kilometres which was the home for over one hundred thousand people. Houses, schools and other buildings were swept away. The whole area smells of death. To date about 25,000 corpses have been recovered. In contrast to the tourist areas in Thailand were experts from western countries have been flown in to identify corpses, the local victims of Aceh are buried in mass graves.”

Contributed by:Arunasalam.PRegional Representative International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF)

3.6. Meeting with PGRI branch of Aceh Province, 18 January 2005

A final meeting was held with the Provincial Board of PGRI. The organisation is of the opinion that the reconstruction and rehabilitation process will be a matter of many years. To enable the assistance programs to be developed and carried out by or on behalf of the international trade union movement it is recommended that the Global Unions establish a permanent presence in Aceh. PGRI is willing to make part of its office building available for that purpose.

4. SRI LANKA

4.1. Meeting with member organisations in Sri Lanka, Colombo on 20 January 2005

The delegation met with the following Sri Lankan trade union representatives: M A Stanley Perera ACUGET, General Secretary; Mrs Ramanie Jayaweera, ACUGET, President; S Anton G.A. Fernando, ACUGET, Treasurer; T. Mahasivam, CTTU, General Secretary; S. Saravanapa Vananthan, CTTU, Administrative Secretary; Mrs. E.J. Mahendra, CTTU, President, Colombo; J. K. Rajapakse, SLITU, General Secretary; Mr. Gamage Bandula, SLITU, Treasurer; Miss Y.S. Malani Silva, SLITU, Ex. Committee Member; V. K. Weerawarne, ACUT(G), President; V. G. Karunaratne, ACUT(G), General Secretary; Mrs. S.M. de Silva, ACUT(G), Executive Member, National Contact Person W.N.W; Ms. Angela Wijesingh, ACUT, President, Mrs. K. N. Shafie Marikar, ACUT Secretary International Affairs; K. Balathasan, ACUT, General Secretary; P. Bertie Ranaweeraga, Education Services Trade Unions Alliance, Convener;

A.I.M. Zarook Khan, P.V.C. Union, Joint Secretary; P. A. Tukorale J.SS, Chief Organiser; Anton Marcus, Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union, Joint Secretary; K. Velacpudorn, LJEWU/NTUF, General Secretary; Rajah Sem, LJEWU/NTUF, President; Gamini Karunayate, USLTS, General Secretary; Mrs. G.H. Nandanie Puspha, USLTS, Treasurer;Leslie Devendue, SLNSS, General Secretary; D. L. Weerasekar, SLRVSS, General Secretary;

Also attending the meeting were Jay Bahn, PSI Representative; T. Kalasmayal, ACILS Program Consultant ; Ranjith Amerasingh, EI/UF Joint Project, Project Officer; Astrid Becker, FES Regional Representative; S.H.A. Mohamed, FES Programme Officer; Ms. Claudia Kuuljants, Director of the ILO Office, Sri Lanka. The trade union representatives reported on the situation in each sector and made suggestions for relief programs. According to the ILO Representative about 0.8 million people have lost their livelihood, which includes a loss of 400,000 jobs. The beachside tourism industry has been almost totally destroyed. Worst affected are the fisheries. Workers in other sectors including metal, transport, public services and education who were residing near the ocean have also been badly affected (See below). Young children

have been the main victims of the Tsunami. Education is badly affected. There are reports that unscrupulous elements are taking advantage and shipping out orphans to other countries for sale.

It is also reported that the Government of Sri Lanka has not invited civil society and trade unions to be represented on the task force teams which have been established for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Moreover, proposals are circulating to restrict core labour standards for a two year period. Furthermore, the Government is expected to establish regulations preventing inhabitants from reconstructing their houses within 100 meters from the seashore. Poor fishermen may be forced to vacate their places in order to make room for big fishing companies or for the hotel industry for whom these regulations may not apply. It is also noted that some countries including the European Union are proposing to waive or reduce trade tariffs on exports and imports from Sri Lanka. Some trade union representatives are of the opinion that if not properly regulated, only a few wealthy business men may benefit from these measures.

It was recommended to the delegation that the Global Unions help their national member organisations to ensure a fair distribution of aid, to prevent exploitation and violations of human and trade union rights as these occur in the wake of the Tsunami. In addition to be represented on bodies established by the Sri Lankan authorities to coordinate recovery and rehabilitation programs.

It was agreed that the Sri Lankan unions establish a national trade union coalition with the purpose of achieving a close cooperation in helping rehabilitate the Tsunami survivors. The coalition will be divided into sectors based on the affiliation to the Global Unions. Projects will be proposed on behalf of all organisations in each sector.

Below a summary of the effects of the Tsunami on the various sectors5

Public Services

The member organisations of the Public Services International reported that on 26 December they immediately went into action by collecting food, drinking water and other necessities and distributed it to the survivors. The nurses’ union said that they went in uniform by the road side, collected money, purchased medicine, and undertook relief work in the Tsunami area, including first aid. The organisations provided the following overview of members who died, have been displaced and/or whose houses were destroyed or damaged:

PSI MEMBER UNION No of deaths

Houses damaged

No. of deaths in family

Displaced union members

Displaced family members

Members who lost their households

Podu Sewaka SangMaya(PSS) 14 125 - 30 30 -Public Services United Nurses Union(PSUNU)

5 54 - - - -

Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters Union

- 7 5 24

Labour Officers Association - - 8 - - -C.W.C - - - - - -Sri Lanka Accountants Union - - - - - -Sri Lanka Nidhasa - - - - - -

5 ACILS Sri Lanka is expected to publish a report on the situation in each sector by the end of January. An overview of the numbers of victims published by the Government of Sri Lanka is given in the Annex.

Rajaye

Teachers6

The death toll among teachers is estimated at 300, while more than 2,000 may be displaced. The unions are still collecting information about the damage suffered by their members.

EI MEMBER UNIONS Displaced Deaths Injured Missing Damaged or destroyed houses Families in camps

All Ceylon Union of Teachers, ACUTAll Ceylon Union of Teachers (Government), ACUT (G)Ceylon Tamil Teachers’ Union (CTTU)Sri Lanka Independent Teachers' Union ( SLITU)All Ceylon Union of Government English Teachers (ACUGET)English Language Teachers' Union of Sri Lanka, ELTUS

Attention is drawn particularly to the situation of children - of the 31,000 people killed, as many as 10,000 may have been children. Many of the children who survived have lost one or more parent and are traumatized. Schools which have been used as refugee camps will resume classes soon. It is important that children return to school as soon as possible. Not only to help them cope with the ordeal they have experienced, but also to protect them against exploitation. Teachers and students from schools that have been destroyed or damaged will be taken in by other schools. There is a need for extra books, teaching materials, school uniforms and furniture. It is suggested that funds be established to provide scholarships to orphans or help local families adopting orphans. There is also a need for local teachers to be trained in counselling and in helping children overcome their traumas.

According to the Ministry of Education approximately 170 school buildings are out of use, of which 72 are fully destroyed (See table below7):

No District and ZoneTotal no of Number of schools Estim

cost (Rs Mn)

€No of

students in affected

schools

No of teachers in

affected schoolsSchools Students Fully

destroyedPartially damaged

Total

1 Hambantota 311 129,874 01 05 06 34.00 5,510 2242 Matara 375 165,411 05 06 11 118.00 7,843 4483 Galle 435 217,136 10 14 24 175.00 14,044 6234 Kalutara 415 192,052 02 04 06 24.25 6,987 2605 Gampaha 537 319,485 - 02 02 5.00 2,987 1036 Batticaloa 314 117,197 15 (12) 18 (24) 33 (36) 202.00 11,514 462

Batticaloa zone 04 (03) 09 (13) 13 (16) -Paddirippu zone 07 (06) 04 (05) 11 -Kalkuda zone 04 (03) 05 (06) 09 -

7 Ampara 388 153,408 14 (25) 24 (15) 38 (40) 211.00 17,927 680Kalmunai zone 04 (15) 11 (02) 15 (17) -Akkaraipattu zone 10 13 23 -

6 Precise figures not yet available7 Source: Education for All and MDG Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka

8 Trincomalee 259 94,236 05 (08) 14 (15) 19 (23) 106.00 4,089 167Trincomalee zone 00 (01) 04 (05) 04 (06) -Muthur zone 03 (07) 10 13 (17) -Kantalai zone 02 (00) 00 02 (00) -

9 Mullaitivu 102 26,965 00 (03) 12 (09) 12 (12) 3,353 119Mullaitivu zone 11 (09) 11 (09) 90.50

10 Killinochchi11 Jaffna 411 134,960 07 (06) 05 (04) 12 (10) - 2,907 109

Vadamarchchi zone 07 (06) 05 (04) 12 (10) 165.50TOTAL 3547 1,551,324 59 (72) 104 (98) 163 (170) 1131.25 77,161 3,195

Figures in parentheses are those updated as of 12/01/05

Other industrial sectors

Mammounata Cisse met with CWC’s Leadership and collected information about their organisational relief work.

Soon after the disaster the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) led by its President and former Minister Artimugati Thondaman, made available a number of bulldozers to help remove debris in various coastal districts.

The Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya, the Sri Lankan Metalworkers’ Federation, with members in the metal and transport sectors takes actively part in the relief work. On 27 December, almost immediately following the Tsunami, the union dispatched 6 lorry loads of foodstuff and other basic items to various districts were JSS members were affected. Most of the lorries however did not reach their destinations as the foodstuff was snatched along the way by displaced people who were starving from the previous day. The union has dispatched three teams to cover Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Trinco, Amparai and Batticaloa districts, where they provide urgent assistance. JSS placed advertisements in all Sinhalese newspapers calling for information about affected JSS members. They provided the following overview of members, who died, are displaced and/or who houses were destroyed or damaged:

IMF MEMBER UNION Displaced Deaths Injured Missing Damaged or destroyed houses

Families in camps

Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya 523 42 76 06 72 52

JSS Union offices of Tricco Port, Galle Port, Mineral Sands Corporation of Pulmudai and CTB Engineering workshop have been completely destroyed.

4.2. Visit of disaster sites and refugee camps on 21January 2005

The delegation - accompanied by Ms. Angela Wijesingh, President of ACUT, T. Mahasivam, General Secretary CTTT, J. K. Rajapakse, General Secretary SLITU, Gamage Bandula, Treasurer SLITU, - only visited the affected areas in the Southern and Western parts of the country. It was not possible to visit the Northern and Eastern parts which are reported to be the worst affected in terms of deaths and property losses. It is clear that the poorest of the poor who were living on the costal belts of Sri Lanka have suffered most. In Galle, the delegation met with a group of angry fishermen who criticised the government for not living up to its promises to help them restore their livelihoods. In that same town, as well as in Kalutara and Matara, the delegation visited damaged or completely destroyed school buildings, as well as a number of refugee camps. It talked to the people in the camps, and to teachers and students most of whom had endured serious losses. Some of the camps, many of which are housed in schools, temples and churches, had not been sufficiently provided with foodstuff. Some perceive that aid is not being distributed fairly.

In the third week of January the refugees were to leave the school buildings to enable classes to resume.

The school buildings that have not been damaged will accommodate as many students and teachers as possible from those that have been destroyed. The delegation was present at the site of a destroyed school building where children received instructions regarding the schools they were to report to the following days. Unexpectedly, a European woman entered the scene, climbed on the debris inviting everybody, children, teachers and parents to centre around her. With a loud voice and a strong German accent she demanded everybody to be silent and to listen up. “In three hours I want everybody to return to this place”, she shouted. “I will be here as well, with clothes, food and candy. Together we will then celebrate that we will leave behind the place where your school collapsed…” The audience, including the members of the delegation, were stunned. Apparently, the woman had taken it upon herself to provide counselling to the children of Sri Lanka to overcome their traumatic experiences.

A member of the delegation, T. Dyvadheenam, Regional Representative of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) made additional visits on 22 January to Morafuwa, Panadura, Kalutara, Payagala and Beruwala to meet with affected JSS members, including the family of a member who died while working in the Central Workshop CTB. The family’s house was totally destroyed and at present they are taking shelter in a church. He also met the Ceylon Quartz Computer Chips workers where 180 people were employed and the total establishment has been destroyed leaving their jobs at stake.

Another member of the delegation, Katsuhiko Sato, Regional Secretary of the Public Services International (PSI) visited a number of sites where members of public services unions had been affected (See box below).

“21 January - A team consisted of PSI Regional Secretary, Katsuhiko Sato, Jay Bhan and Mr Amraseena from the Station Masters Union visited a Railway Station at Payagora south of Colombo which was completely damaged, but where no loss of life was reported, except property of railway station employees. The Station Master supervising the repairs to the Railway track and station building said that they saw the tide coming, were able to run to a safer place and were saved. Following our route along the coast we saw many damaged fishing boats on the side of the road. At some places a foul smell indicated that dead bodies were still lying under the debris. We stopped in the small town of Kahawa where 75% of a total population of 2000 is reported dead. The survivors are living in tents and temporary shelters.

Hikkaduwa , a fishermen’s town, was also completely destroyed. From here we were accompanied by the General Secretary of the Labour Officers union. He informed us that the local Chief Labour Officer lost his two sons and his wife, a labour officer in the Palmadula district lost his father, one in Colombo North lost his son, one in Colombo Central his daughter, son-in-law and grandson. In Galle, we visited the Maternity Hospital which was ravaged and where 100 people were reported killed. Many more died waiting at the bus station where dead bodies are still believed buried under the debris which is being removed by the American Marines. We were told that here also 50 disabled children died. People here live in tents that were put up aid agencies. They told us that the government has given them 2500 rupees for buying vessels and that they receive food rations which are not sufficient. They have no drinking water, no electricity, and the school has been demolished. Children were asking for books and uniforms.

We proceeded to the coastal belt of Matra, a town 48 Km from Galle, where 1000 people died and where all the houses were washed away. The people were mainly fisherman, daily earners and poorest of the poor labourers. Many NGOs, like American Aid, American Salvation Army, UNICEF and many other agencies are working in the camps to distribute daily requirements to the sufferers. Those who survived live in camps situated in Buddhist temples and in some schools. We visited one of the temple camps where 51 families are living, mostly elderly women, children and girls. In this camp the American Salvation Army was distributing toys, baby feeders some food stuff and clothes. They informed us that they had obtained 244,000 acres of land from the Government to construct 2,000 houses and that at present they had pitched 1,000 tents for the refugees. In another town named

Kaggala all houses were destroyed and people are living in tents on the foundations of their dwellings. They complained not having received any assistance from the Government so far. Housed in this camp were 37 families, 259 persons, 90 school children. There is no school, no water, no electricity, and no food.

22 January - Mr. P.K .Parera President of the Water Board Union and one of the Officers accompanied us to Dehiwala. This is a town of fisherman and divers with a total population of 1400 families. All houses were destroyed. People live in camps situated close to their original houses. Reconstruction of homes, livelihoods, and schools were listed as being the most needed assistance. In Morstuwa, population 15,000, where all houses were destroyed l, we interviewed the chief of the tribe and Municipal Commissioner Mr. Milton D Mel. He informed us that the town was mainly fishermen, carpenters, low paid government employees and other daily earners. He gave us an account of the dreadful day of 26th December 2004 when the tsunami destroyed the entire costal belt of Sri Lanka, they saw a wave of six feet which entered into their houses, immediately another wave came of extremely high velocity which has destroyed the entire population who had lived on the costal belt for generations. People here also received 2500 rupees for buying utensils. The dry ration supplied by the Government authorized agents is not sufficient for the families. Their immediate need is employment, education for their children and housing. We advised them to organize all the fishermen’s community into one union and negotiate with the Government about the immediate needs of the Tsunami victims. The trade union would help them building their organization.”

Contributed by Jay Bahn,PSI Representative

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Advocate within the international community the interests of workers in the Tsunami disaster areas

The delegation is of the opinion that the Global Unions can make an important contribution to the relief of people in the affected areas by protecting their human and trade union rights, by fighting exploitation, including the trafficking of women and children, by ensuring that the national trade union organisations are involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process. Also, by advocating that international aid be targeted at helping the poor re-establish their livelihoods, at job recovery, and at restoring basic social services, including education.

To that end the Global Unions, (1) must play an active role in meetings of the international donor community and, when necessary, exert pressure on the intergovernmental institutions, aid agencies and national authorities, (2) mobilize their member organisations in the donor countries to ensure that the financial commitments made by their governments are realised, (3) propose assistance programs to the trade union donor organisations, including ACILS and FES, and (4) establish a close working relationship with like minded non governmental aid agencies such as Solidar and Oxfam, where appropriate.

5.2. Help trade unions develop and implement Tsunami rehabilitation programs

The strength of the trade union movement in Indonesia and Sri Lanka is limited. In the Aceh Province there are only a few trade unions, the largest ones in the services sectors, namely the teachers’ organisation PGRI (53,000) and the electricity workers union SP PLN (4,000). In Sri Lanka the trade union movement is divided along geographical, political, religious and ethnic lines. The trade union centre CWC does not cover all sectors. In each sector there are many small organisations and for example, in the education sector there are over fifty! Six organisations with a combined membership of 42,000 are members of EI. Yet, it is important that these organisations, which are democratic and independent civil society organisations representing many Tsunami victims, play their part in

rebuilding their communities. The Global Unions must help them play that role, by encouraging them to develop, propose and take responsibility for the implementation of rehabilitation programs.

In the light of the above the delegation recommends that the Global Unions: (1) establish their presence in Banda Aceh, where the need is greatest, for a period of

up to three years. A small office with three or four staff persons would serve as a workers’ centre. It would be entrusted with liaising between the Global Unions and the local and provincial organisations, to assist with and monitor the implementation of solidarity and relief programs;

(2) establish in Sri Lanka a coalition of all member organisations of Global Unions with the task to develop, to propose and to carry out assistance programs serving particular sectors.

5.3. Target Global Union solidarity programs in four areas:

(1) Immediate Relief

Although immediate needs of food, sanitation and shelter are being addressed by the public authorities and aid agencies, the delegation is of the opinion that the member organisations in the affected countries should - at their request - be enabled to provide

(a) financial assistance to family of union members who have died, and members who have lost their jobs and their houses or whose houses have been severely damaged

(b) legal assistance to victims and their families in obtaining their rights and benefits.

Note: The need for financial assistance, which has been provided by EI, PSI, IMF and IFJ, is expected to decrease. (2) Reconstruction or repair of workers’ homes and union offices

The delegation recommends that:

(a) cooperatives or loan programs be established, both in Aceh and in Sri Lanka, for the purpose of reconstructing houses (ICFTU)

(b) assistance be provided to SP PLN and other member organisations for the reconstruction of union members’ homes (PSI, etc)

(c) assistance be provided for repair work of offices of PGRI in Banda Aceh (EI) which can also serve as the Global Unions office mentioned above JSS Union Offices in Sri Lanka (IMF) and offices of other member organisations

(3) Re-establishment of workers’ livelihoods and job recovery

The delegation recommends that:

(a) a vocational education center be established in Banda Aceh to provide training programs for the unemployed and for those working in the informal sectors (ICFTU)

(b) people in the fishing, agricultural and informal sectors of the Aceh Province and the coastal areas of Sri Lanka to be assisted in building organisations enabling them to defend their interests (ITF, IUF)

(4) Return to school

The delegation recommends that:

(a) programs be established for the reconstruction or repair of school buildings and the supply of school furniture and materials, including school adoption programs (EI)

(b) adoption and scholarship programmes be established for Tsunami orphans, (EI) and

(c) sponsoring of crash courses for local teachers in trauma counselling (EI).

5.4. Combine resources and coordinate solidarity programs

(1) Global Union’s Tsunami Solidarity Fund

It is recommended that the Global Unions combine their resources and coordinate the development and implementation of their Tsunami solidarity programs. For that purpose a joint Global Union’s Tsunami Solidarity Fund should be established and governed by a Committee consisting of the General Secretary of the ICFTU and the Chair, Past Chair and Vice Chair of the GUF General Conference. This Committee shall be accountable to the General Secretaries of the Global Unions. The Committee shall collect and allocate funds for programs that are of importance to all sectors (paragraph 5.2. -1, paragraph 5.3. – 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 4c). For each program a specific Global Union should be assigned to be the “lead agency”.

It is not very likely that the Global Union’s Tsunami Solidarity Fund will have enough resources to fund all the above programs. Therefore it is recommended that the Committee on behalf of the Global Unions submit proposals to the cooperating organisations for:

(5.2-1) A Global Unions’ Workers’ Center in Banda Aceh for the coordination and monitoring of assistance programs, including legal assistance to victims and their families in obtaining their rights and benefits. (To be coordinated by ICFTU)

(5.3–2a) The establishment of cooperatives and loan programs in Aceh and in Sri Lanka for the purpose of reconstructing workers’ homes. (To be coordinated by ICFTU)

(5.3-3a) The creation of a Vocational Education Center in Banda Aceh to provide training programs for the unemployed and for those working in the informal sectors. (To be coordinated by ICFTU/EI)

(5.3-3b) Capacity building programs for the people in the fishing, agricultural and informal sectors of the Aceh Province and the coastal areas of Sri Lanka (To be coordinated by ITF and IUF)

(5.3–4c) Crash courses for local teachers in trauma counselling (To be coordinated by EI)

The Global Union’s Tsunami Solidarity Fund should seek special contributions for the

(5.3–4b) adoption and scholarship programs for Tsunami orphans (To be coordinated by EI)

(5.3–4a) the reconstruction or repair of school buildings and the supply of school furniture and materials (To be coordinated by EI)

It may not be possible to collect the large amounts that are required for the reconstruction or repair of school buildings. Therefore it is suggested that in addition to the funds collected from member organisations, the Global Unions and their members in the disaster areas should seek partnerships with aid agencies such as Oxfam, Solidar, that have the required funding capacity8

(2) Individual Global Union’s Solidarity

8 At the time of publication of this report the Sri Lankan authorities had requested Education International and Oxfam Netherlands (Novib) to accept responsibility for the reconstruction of ten school buildings in the coastal areas. This was the result of a consultation between the Ministry of Education and the education unions forming part of the national trade union coalition that was established in the meeting with member organisations of Global Unions on 20 January (See paragraph 4.1., page 12)

Solidarity programs which entail financial assistance to union members, including assistance for the reconstruction or repair of their homes and union offices (As mentioned in paragraph 5.3 – 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c) should not be funded by the Global Union’s Tsunami Solidarity Fund, but by the individual Global Unions. ICFTU/APRO, EI, PSI, IMF, UNI, IFJ, IUF have already provided such financial assistance to their member organisations.

NOTE: The above recommendations concern programs for Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The Global Union Solidarity Fund may also implement these programs in other countries affected by the Tsunami, including Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Tanzania, and the Maldives. (3) Contributions and information

Finally, it is recommended that the Global Unions request financial contributions from their member organisations for the above programs, and that a special section on the Global Union’s website be developed providing information about the Global Unions’ solidarity work in the Tsunami areas.

ANNEX

TSUNAMI DISASTER TABLE SRI LANKATsunami Disaster, 26 December 2004

  Last updated : 16.00 hrs  As at 23/01/2005    

Province District Affected

FamiliesDisplacedFamilies

Displaced Persons

Deaths Injured MissingDamaged Houses

No. ofCampsIn

Welfare Centers

With Relatives

and Friends

Total Completely

Partially

Northern

Jaffna 13,652 12,631 12,301 27,632 39,933 2,640 1,647 540 6,084 1,114 **Killinochchi 2,295 318 305 1,298 1,603 560 670 1 1,250 4,250 2Mullaitivu   6,007 11,993 10,564 22,557 3,000 2,590 552 3,400 600 23

Eastern Trincomalee   27,746 19,559 62,084 81,643 1,078   337 5,974 10,394 42Batticaloa 63,717 12,494 27,491 31,509 59,000 2,840 2,375 1,033 15,939 5,665 45Ampara 38,624   75,492   75,492 10,436 120 876 29,077   82

Southern

Hambantota 16,994 3,334 214 17,168 17,382 4,500 361 963 2,303 1,744 4Matara 20,675 3,268 4,067 9,254 13,321 1,342 6,652 613 2,362 5,659 30Galle 23,174 1,562 5,504   5,504 4,216 313 554 5,525 5,966 46

Western Kalutara 6,064 6,105 3,785 19,756 23,541 256 400 148 2,572 2,930 16Colombo 9,647 5,290 6,077 24,575 30,652 79 64 12 3,398 2,210 28Gampaha 6,827 5,258 911 20,443 21,354 6 3 5 292 307 2

North Western Puttlam 232 18 66 66 4 1 3 23 72 2  Total 201,901 84,031 167,765 224,283 392,048 30,957 15,196 5,637 78,199 40,911 322Note: These figures are tentative and presented here as reported by the respective District Secretaries - Displaced Persons refer to People who are in the IDP camps and or staying with relative's and friend's houses** Hamlets (Persons those who were in IDP camps, now are in small settlement) – 112Source:District Secretaries