Report on collection of relief contribution to the Earthquake and Tsunami victims in Indian Ocean
We, all of staff members of Japan Water Agency (JWA), wish to offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to all affected people by the earthquake off Sumatra and Tsunami disaster occurred on December 26, 2004.
As we reported dated 21st January 2005, JWA has called for the contribution from party concerned including JWA staffs.
The total amount reached JPY1,574,500 (around US$15,000), and JWA handed over all to most severely affected countries, i.e.
Indonesia & Sri Lanka. Also, some were delivered to the Japan Disaster Relief Team through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Allocation of relief fund
| Indonesia | JPY 614,000 (US$ 5,900) |
Dr. Basuki, Director General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Works, NARBO Chairperson |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 614,000 (US$ 5,900) |
Dr. Tennakoon, Director General of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, NARBO Vice Chairperson |
| JICA | 346,500 (US$ 3,200) |
Disaster Relief Team Division |
| Amount | 1,574,500 (US$ 15,000) |
（Progress of collection）
Japan Water Agency has more over than 30 years history of international cooperation through Japanese ODA. Moreover, JWA takes a role of the secretariat of NARBO.
Therefore, JWA has the strong relationship with Asian countries. We feel deep sympathy for great number of victims and people in Asia. After the news on disaster, we immediately determined to advocate the available cooperation to JWA staff during 28th December 2004 to 20th January 2005.
We have aimed to be spent for the recovery of affected countries and region, especially, Asian colleagues working in the field of water resources development and management. Moreover, we determined to deliver the contribution to people through government organizations having the relationship with JWA.
About the distribution, we selected two counties, i.e. Indonesia and Sri Lanka receiving the severe damage in terms of the number of victims, so they were handed over the same amount of collected contribution.
After the decision of allocated contributions as mentioned above, some more contributions had been collected and its amount reached JPY 1,574,500. Therefore, lest of contributions (JPY 346,500) were handed over to Japan Disaster Relief Team through JICA.
| 26, Dec. 2004 | Occurrence of the Earthquake (Start the collection of information about safety on NARBO members' organizations) |
|---|---|
| 27, Dec. 2004 | Setting up of the secretariat of this activity |
| 13, Jan. 2005 @ Jakarta |
Dean of R&D center, JWA met and delivered some contributions to Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Work, Indonesia. NARBO Chairperson (JPY 114,000) |
| 25, Jan. 2005 @ Jakarta |
Director of International affair division, JWA also met and handed over additional contribution to Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Work, Indonesia, NARBO Chairperson (JPY 500,000) |
| 31, Jan. 2005 | Close of collection (Total amount: JPY 1,574,500) |
| 04, Feb. 2005 @ Tokyo |
Director of International Affair Division, JWA handed over some to JICA. (JPY 346,500) |
| 03, Mar. 2005 @ Colombo |
Deputy Director of International Affair Division, JWA handed over some contribution to Director General of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (NARBO Vice Chairperson) (JPY 614,000) |
13, Jan. 2005【Dr. SADAHIRO handed consolatory letter from JWA president and a part of contribution from JWA staffs and others.】
Dr. M. Basuki expressed his thanks, "the contribution is used as expenses of emergency office for countermeasures & first aids in Ache, Sumatra".
Right) Dr. M. Basuki Hadimoeljono, Directorate General of Water Resources,Ministry of Public Works Indonesia Left) Dr. Takeyoshi Sadahiro, Director General of Research and Training Center, JWA
The result of contributions was reported here briefly. Again, we sincerely express our sympathy and condolence to affected people. Moreover we, secretariat of this activity, are grateful to persons who are involoved.
（Brief report of visit to Sri Lanka during 2nd - 5th March 2005）
This time, the delegation team from JWA NARBO secretariat met members of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL) and National Water Resource Authority, Sri Lanka (NWRA). After that, we visited on-going project site developing new irrigation under MASL, of which name is "Walawe" area.
We could understand many of Sri Lankan organizations and staff members had steadily made much effort for recovery from tsunami disaster.
At one of tsunami-affected place in the Southern region of Sri Lanka, MASL encourages and cooperates to re-build a Buddhist temple which is supported peoples' mind. At present, evacuated people are trying to make efforts for recovery, and some residents already returned to the original place. However, a lot of problems are still piled, and severe situation are remained same, for instance, loss of income & job, destruction of community and loss of beloved families.
It will be needed to spend a log time as well as tremendous expenditure for recovery, so we would like to keep our concern from now on.
Also, we visited "Walawe" Left Bank Irrigation Project in the Southern part of Sri Lanka under some disbursement supports from JBIC. After the tsunami-hit, according to Walawe project office staffs and one Japanese Eguchi-san working for this project, they entered affected area with many construction machines in coordination with residents and government agencies.
Many activities by NGO were mainly informed through mass media after the disaster, but it should keep in mind that many staffs of government body like MASL have tremendously contributed to people and region steadily. They kept the silence, nevertheless, their efforts should be respected.
Lastly, Sri Lanka has mature and excellent experiences through long history on water resources development and management and we are convinced MASL has led the enhancement of water resources management in Sri Lanka. Thanks much, Mr. Elakanda for your arrangement from JWA team.
Re-construction of Buddhist Temple, supported
by Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka
Damaged car of train and constructed new rail line