Aiding Tsunami Relief Efforts

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April 22, 2005—When the tsunami struck the Indian Ocean region in January, CEDPA staff provided critical assistance to Sri Lankan survivors through a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Senior HIV/AIDS Advisor Matthew Friedman, working with USAID's Regional Development Mission in Asia, joined a disaster response team that handled day-to-day tsunami relief efforts including communications, shelter, logistics, water and sanitation.

Friedman is one of 71 technical advisors that CEDPA supports in 26 countries through USAID's Technical Advisors in AIDS, Child Survival, Infectious Diseases, Population and Basic Education (TAACS) program. The program enables CEDPA to recruit, employ and support staff who provide long-term technical and managerial assistance to USAID offices in Washington, DC and missions worldwide.

In Sri Lanka, Friedman worked with USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team to provide immediate program and contract relief funding that helped with recovery efforts.

"Words cannot begin to describe the visit I made to Ampara, Sri Lanka," said Friedman. "I have never seen anything like it and I have seen a lot. The devastation was indescribable. The needs are great. The time needed to sort this out will be very extended. I was humbled by the experience."

USAID provided nearly $37 million to 21 relief organizations in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami.

These awards, which addressed needs in the 10 most affected districts, covered four specific categories:

1. Support to distribute relief supplies and provide emergency water and sanitation;
2. "Cash for work" programs that provide immediate clean up and reconstruction support to help victims regain their livelihood;
3. Funding to build 10,000 transitional houses for those most affected by the disaster; and
4. Immediate community-focused micro-credit to help get affected families on their feet.

The work supported through USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team included measures to protect victims made more vulnerable to human trafficking when community support systems were devastated. Other programs included psychological support for families dealing with grief and fear in the wake of the disaster. It is estimated that these USAID-funded programs will benefit over 1,000,000 people that were affected by the tsunami.

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