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The Asia and the Pacific region has made great progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Democratic governance, enabling policy frameworks and effective implementation of poverty reduction programmes have contributed to this success. But the tsunami of 26 December 2004 demonstrates just how vulnerable poor rural women, children and men continue to be. Within a few hours, the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of rural poor people were wiped out. This disaster struck shortly after rural poor people had to deal with the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. For improvements in the lives and livelihoods of rural poor people to be sustainable, we must maintain a constant commitment to ensuring that they are less vulnerable to risks and shocks such as the tsunami. IFAD's response to the tsunami will focus on the needs expressed by rural communities themselves. It will address the requirements for long-term recovery, including private and public asset rehabilitation, and will harness the energies of local stakeholders under the leadership of governments. Thomas Elhaut, Director, Asia and the Pacific Division IFAD commits to mobilize initial US$ 100 million for reconstruction in tsunami-devastated communities IFAD is committed to mobilizing an initial US$100 million in new resources for countries affected by the tsunami. The funds will be deployed through new and established projects and programmes and through new regional, country and community grants. IFAD is participating in joint needs assessments in Indonesia and Sri Lanka with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other partners. In the Maldives, IFAD is undertaking a Tsunami Response Needs Assessment Mission in partnership with the FAO Investment Centre. Based on the results of these assessments, IFAD will develop special resource mobilization mechanisms for addressing the long-term needs of affected communities. "The only way to help these people who've suffered so much is to give them their livelihoods back as quickly as we can." Tidal waves crashed into eastern and southern India , affecting a total area of 2,200 km of coastal land in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala and the Union Territories of Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar. The government estimates that the tsunami's impact includes:
According to the ADB, the macro impact of the tsunami will be minimal due to India's large economy. However, the number of poor people in the country could increase by 645,000. IFAD's response IFAD is exploring how to improve the ability of coastal communities to cope with crisis by developing a livelihood security programme. Options could include:
Any investment ideas that emerge from the needs assessment exercise now underway will be discussed with both the central government and the state governments concerned. IFAD's country strategy for India has already identified a high incidence of poverty in coastal fisher communities in Tamil Nadu. Pollution, degradation of the coastal environment, depletion of fish stocks and displacement due to sea erosion was already deteriorating the quality of life in these communities before the tsunami struck. "We were fishermen and lived right on the beach. I lost my entire family, all my assets, everything… We need help to build houses, wherever we go. We will need capital to rebuild our businesses." Indonesia is the worst affected country in the region. Situated 250 km from the epicentre of the massive earthquake, the province of Banda Aceh , followed by the North Sumatra Province, suffered the most physical damage and heaviest human casualties. The most significant impact as estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) includes:
While the overall Indonesian economy is not expected to be greatly affected by the tsunami, its impact on local poverty levels may be substantial. The ADB estimates that more than one million people will be pushed into poverty. IFAD's response
"I spent the morning on Mami Gili. It's an island about 120 km from Male. After the tsunami, the people there invited the inhabitants of another small island, Madi Fushi, to stay with them. Madi Fushi has about 130 people and all their houses were destroyed. They came up with this idea: couldn't they stay on Mami Gili?" "Today was the foundation-laying ceremony for the houses we're going to build there for the displaced people." The magnitude and scale of the disaster relative to the size and population of the Maldives is unprecedented in living memory. The tsunami inundated the entire country. The most significant impact of the tsunami in the Maldives , as estimated by FAO, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN) and ADB include:
IFAD's response
IFAD has earmarked US$4.5 million for these activities, of which US$500,000 will be grants and US$4 million will be in loans. "We have received a massive quantity of relief goods and aid from several foreign countries, with which we can rebuild this country. To this end, we should enter the next stage of operations with clear vision." In Sri Lanka , the tsunami caused devastation on the north-east, east, south and south-west coastal areas. At least 1 million people were directly affected, with infrastructure partially or fully destroyed as far as two kilometres inland. Some of the most significant losses, as reported by WHO, FAO and UNDP, include:
ADB estimates that the country's economy, together with the Maldives , will be among the most affected given that both countries depend on tourism, which is expected to decrease. The devastating effects of the tsunami could push about 250,000 more people into poverty. IFAD's response:
IFAD has earmarked a total of about US$34.5 million for these activities, of which US$1.5 million will be in the form of grants and US$33 million will be in loans. "The Moken, who have lived in isolation on South Surin Island in Thailand , emerged from the tsunami almost unscathed. The Moken are animists who believe that the sea, their island and all objects have spirits, and the Moken use totem poles to communicate with them. ‘I had never seen such a low tide,' said Salama, the Chief of the Moken. ‘I started telling people that a wave was coming.' The tsunami affected the southern provinces of Thailand including Phuket, Ranong, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun. The impact, as reported by FAO and WHO, includes:
IFAD's response:
The damage in Malaysia and Myanmar was minimal and far less than in other Asian countries. IFAD therefore will not be directly involved in development activities in these countries. However, IFAD is considering the inclusion of both countries in an IFAD regional grant-funded initiative. Tsunami raises land rights questions As a part of its development assistance to the tsunami-affected areas, IFAD is also exploring possibilities of partnership with the International Land Coalition (ILC). Hosted at IFAD, the ILC is an alliance of intergovernmental agencies, governments and civil society organizations and focuses on access to land for poor men and women. IFAD and ILC would work together to address issues such as land tenure and inclusion of the tsunami-affected communities in the decision-making process. The following issues have been identified:
Common resources such as mangroves and shorelines need to be restored and stabilized in the wider environmental and economic interest, while maintaining access by poor households, which rely heavily on common property for their livelihoods. Well-defined rights would provide the tsunami-affected communities with incentives to protect these natural resources for a more sustainable future. |
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[email protected] Martina Spisiakova
About IFAD The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in developing countries. Its work in remote rural areas of the world helps countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Through low-interest loans and grants, IFAD develops and finances projects that enable rural poor people to overcome poverty themselves. IFAD tackles poverty not just as a lender, but as an advocate for the small farmers, herders, fisherfolk, landless workers, artisans and indigenous peoples who live in rural areas and represent 75 per cent of the world’s 1.2 billion extremely poor people. IFAD works with governments, donors, non-governmental organizations, local communities and many other partners to fight the underlying causes of rural poverty. It acts as a catalyst, bringing together partners, resources, knowledge and policies that create the conditions in which rural poor people can increase agricultural productivity, as well as seek out other options for earning income. IFAD-supported rural development programmes and projects increase rural poor people’s access to financial services, markets, technology, land and other natural resources.
Governing Council – 16-17 February, Rome
UN's response
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