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TSUNAMI IMPACT: Aid Groups Take Stock One Year On

Stefania Bianchi

BRUSSELS, Dec 14 2005 (IPS) - Almost a year after the tsunami, two of Europe’s largest humanitarian and development aid networks say the European Union must take significant steps to ensure a sustained recovery in those countries still suffering the aftermath of the disaster.

Concord and the Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies (Voice) say the humanitarian response to the tsunami disaster has been timely and adequate, but that improvements can be made for future disasters.

Concord is a European confederation of relief and development groups, and Voice is a network representing some 90 European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) engaged in humanitarian aid.

The tsunami Dec. 26 last year killed at least 200,000 people in 13 countries, and displaced millions.

Approximately 10.7 billion euros (13 billion dollars) was pledged in aid from around the world to rebuild the lives and livelihoods of the survivors.

NGOs were able to reach almost two million people with emergency medical assistance and food aid, and are playing a vital role in the reconstruction process.

European NGOs say they were able to channel their efforts into beginning reconstruction and rehabilitation after the first month, and most immediate needs were met within six months.

“Overall the aid community has managed as well as possible, considering the magnitude of the disaster. As humanitarian professionals, we learned a lot and should apply those lessons to support our continuous efforts in providing effective assistance,” Voice president Paul Grossrieder said Wednesday.

Reflecting on their own work over the past year, the groups say “more effective coordination” is needed amongst themselves and with other actors. They said the involvement of NGOs in tsunami-affected regions will continue for years.

“If it took only a few hours to have hundreds of thousands of people disappear, it will take between five and ten years to rebuild what has been lost,” added Concord president Frans Polman.

Voice and Concord say they will continue to support the involvement of local communities and reinforce their own resources management, while strengthening disaster preparedness.

“Careful planning, accountability, cooperation and coordination amongst all actors are needed. European NGOs have played and will continue to play a decisive role in bringing equitable and sustainable development through reconstruction efforts,” Kathrin Schick, director of Voice told IPS Wednesday.

“Progress will take time and NGOs are committed to continue working in a very difficult and challenging context to rebuild the lives of those affected by the tsunami for years to come,” she added.

The groups say the magnitude of the tsunami has resulted in more public support for the work of the NGO sector and has led to European NGOs strengthening their professionalism and increasing their credibility.

However, the groups also warn that there remains a need for “further improvement and strengthening of the sector, disaster preparedness in the field and in disaster prone areas, and in building capacity in local populations.”

The NGOs also make a number of key recommendations to the European Union, which also played an important role in the response to the tsunami crisis. The European Commission, the EU executive, has pledged 510.6 million euros (608.6 million dollars) to the reconstruction process.

The groups insist that EU pledges for tsunami assistance – particularly for sustainable reconstruction and recovery programmes – should be honoured, and that more attention is given to effective European Commission policies linking relief, rehabilitation and development.

“The EU should ensure that the allocation of land is completed appropriately and that the allocation of funds to the different geographical areas is being done on the basis of needs without discrimination,” the groups add.