Chapter 2 Background

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Australia’s response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami

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Chapter 2 Background

Initial impact of the disaster
The international community’s response
Australia’s response
The Australian government
Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD)
Australian NGOs
Corporate donations

Initial impact of the disaster

 

Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami Disaster Area

 

Source AusAID website

2.1

On the morning of Sunday 26 December 2004 a massive earthquake off the coast of northern Sumatra caused a series of tsunamis that devastated coastal communities in Indonesia and 11 other countries in the Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Somalia, Tanzania, Seychelles, Bangladesh and Kenya.

2.2

The earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale and was the world’s largest in 40 years.1

2.3

The Boxing Day quake shook the earth’s crust for eight minutes. It unleashed enormously powerful waves that hit Sumatra within 15 minutes and crossed the Indian Ocean at nearly 500 miles an hour. The waves reached the East African coastline seven hours later, some 3, 100 miles away from the earthquake’s epicentre.2

2.4

The human and physical impact of the tsunami was unprecedented. The United Nations estimates that more than 225, 000 people perished, one million people were displaced and five million people were deprived of basic services.3

2.5

As the table below indicates, the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Indonesia. Most of the deaths came from the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra which were the areas closest to the earthquake’s epicentre .4

 

Human Toll

Country

Fatalities

Missing

Total

 

 

 

 

Indonesia

130,736

37,000

167,736

Sri Lanka

35,322

 

35,322

India

12,405

5,640

18,045

Maldives

82

26

108

Thailand

8,212

 

8,212

Myanmar

61

 

61

Malaysia

69

6

75

Somalia

78

211

289

Tanzania

13

 

13

Seychelles

2

 

2

Bangladesh

2

 

2

Kenya

1

 

1

Total

186,983

42,883

229,866

Source UN Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Relief website

2.6

Thousands of foreigners who were holidaying in coastal resorts died in the tsunami. Among them, there were 26 Australian casualties.5

2.7

In barely 24 hours, the disaster caused damage estimated at $10 billion.6 The tsunami devastated over 5, 000 miles of coastline, destroyed 2, 000 miles of roads, swept away 430, 000 homes and damaged or destroyed 100, 000 fishing boats.7

2.8

Three months later, on 28 March 2005 , another massive earthquake occurred off the island of Nias in Sumatra . This earthquake left a further 70, 000 people displaced and nearly 1, 000 people dead.8

2.9

In the three worst affected countries, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India, the tsunami compounded existing conditions of poverty and conflict.9

 

The international community’s response

2.10

Mr Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator stated that, the tsunami was “the most generous and immediately funded relief effort ever.”10

2.11

The UN launched a flash appeal for $1.1 billion for immediate needs, 85% of which was pledged within four weeks.11 Governments, international organisations and hundreds of non-government organisations (NGOs) galvanised into action. Relief operations proceeded swiftly and effectively, providing food, clean water, health services and temporary shelter for hundreds of thousands of people.12 It is widely acknowledged that this quick response helped to prevent a much-feared “second tsunami” of disease and malnutrition.13

2.12

In the weeks following the disaster, multi-agency assessment teams calculated that approximately $10 billion would be needed to repair the destroyed communities.14 In response, international pledges from governments, international organisations, private individuals and companies reached $13.6 billion.15

 

Source Foreign Policy Magazine

2.13

Special tsunami relief funds, including that founded by former US presidents George Bush Senior and Bill Clinton, were formed and telethons and other fundraising events were organised worldwide to raise money.

2.14

As the pie chart above shows, private donations nearly matched the pledges offered by governments and international organisations. Private citizens were moved to donate large amounts of money to assist with the relief effort in an unprecedented way. Within days, US charities reported raising more than $337 million for emergency relief. The Red Cross alone received $150 million.16 Many NGOs were overwhelmed with donations. Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported receiving four times the amount of money it anticipated needing ($135 million), despite closing the appeal within a week of the disaster.17

2.15

In some of the tsunami-affected countries, governments established special institutions to oversee the distribution of donor funds and the management of the reconstruction effort.18 For example, in Indonesia a new aid body was established, the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR). In Sri Lanka, leadership of the longer-term recovery effort was entrusted to a newly created Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN).

2.16

In February 2005, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed a Special Envoy to help sustain political will in the recovery effort. Former President Bill Clinton was appointed as the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery for a two year period.

 

Australia’s response

2.17

The graph below shows the ten largest contributors to tsunami aid. Australia is placed second highest after the United States.

 

Source Foreign Policy Magazine

 

The Australian government

2.18

At a news conference in Sydney on 27 December 2004, the Australian Prime Minister said:

I express on behalf of all of the Australian people my deepest sympathy and great profound condolences to the people and the governments of so many countries in our region. The Australian people feel the greatest sympathy for our friends in the region. We'll do everything we can as a regional neighbour and regional friend to assist the countries that have been so badly affected.19

2.19

The Australian whole-of-government response involved various departments and agencies. In addition to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM & C), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australian Agency for Aid and Development (AusAID) and Department of Defence, Department of Finance and Administration, Department of Health and Ageing, Emergency Australia and state agencies were involved.20

2.20

The AusAID website states that within 36 hours of the disaster the following emergency response mechanisms were activated:

2.21

Indonesia received the greater part of Australia ’s assistance with medical relief, water supply and sanitation, child protection and logistical support provided during the emergency phase. Seven medical teams and critical medical supplies were mobilised to Northern Sumatra . Water purification plants and millions of tonnes of clean water were delivered to Banda Aceh .22

2.22

Relief efforts to Sri Lanka focused on providing and distributing clean drinking water and medical relief. Assistance to the Maldives and Seychelles included sending Australian environmental assessment teams to assess damage to the islands’ coral reef and ecosystems.23

2.23

Operation Sumatra Assist and Sumatra Assist Phase II was the ADF’s contribution to provide assistance to people affected by the tsunami disaster in Aceh and the March 2005 earthquake in Nias.

2.24

The 2004-2005 Defence Annual Report notes that the ADF’s achievements during Operation Sumatra Assist included:

2.25

Further, during Operation Sumatra Assist Phase II, the ADF:

2.26

Similarly, the AFP committed to assisting with relief efforts within hours of the disaster.

2.27

On the invitation of the Thai government, personnel were dispatched to Thailand to take a lead role in coordinating the Disaster Victim Identification process (DVI) and DVI team members began arriving in Thailand on 28 December 2005 .26

2.28

Drawing on knowledge gained from the first Bali bombings identification process, the AFP oversaw the establishment of the Thailand Victim Disaster Identification Centre. During a 12-month period, the AFP coordinated an Australian operation comprising officers from the AFP and state agencies, which identified more than 2500 human remains.27

Tsunami summit

2.29

The Australian Prime Minister attended the special ASEAN leaders’ meeting initiated in the aftermath of the tsunami on 5-6 January 2005 in Jakarta and was a signatory to the declaration on action to strengthen emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention. Key outcomes included:

 

Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD)

2.30

On 5 January 2005 , the Australian Prime Minister announced the establishment of a $1 billion, 5-year assistance package to Indonesia , to support reconstruction in and beyond the tsunami-affected areas. This is the single largest aid contribution ever made by Australia .29 The package consisted of $500 million in grants and $500 million in concessional loans for infrastructure development. The loan program provides funding at zero interest for 40 years with no repayment of principal for 10 years.30

2.31

In a media release on 16 March 2005 , the Australian Foreign Minister stated that,

In addition to supporting reconstruction in tsunami affected areas, the Partnership will assist Indonesia's broader efforts to achieve development and raise the living standards of its people.31

2.32

Funding for the AIPRD was appropriated by the federal parliament on 16 March 2005 .32

2.33

The AIPRD is governed by a Joint Commission overseen by the Australian Prime Minister and the Indonesian President. At the inaugural meeting in Canberra on 17 March 2005 , senior ministers from both countries agreed to endorse a new partnership framework which outlined the broad strategic directions for funding allocation under the AIPRD. A copy of the Joint Ministerial Statement which provides an overview of how the AIPRD functions, and a copy of the Partnership Framework can be obtained from the AusAID website.33

2.34

Early grant priorities included:

2.35

The AIPRD is supported by a secretariat within DFAT and includes staff seconded from AusAID and the Treasury. A support office is based in Indonesia . Funding for the secretariat is provided separately and in addition to the $1 billion aid package.35

 

Australian NGOs

2.36

Within days of the tsunami, the main Australian charities had established relief appeals to receive donations from private citizens, community groups and businesses.

2.37

Australian charities-like their international counterparts-were flooded with donations. By 31 March 2005, 31 Australian NGOs had received a phenomenal $280 million in donations from Australian businesses and the Australian public (this increased to $313 million by mid May 2005).36 Various fund-raising activities were held throughout Australia, including the Wave Aid Tsunami Relief Concert in Sydney, which raised more than $2 million in proceeds for UNICEF, CARE, Oxfam and the Red Cross.37

2.38

Australia’s five largest NGOs, namely Australia Red Cross, CARE Australia, Caritas Australia, Oxfam Australia and World Vision Australia, received some 95% of the total donations.38

2.39

During the emergency phase of the relief effort, Australian NGOs:

Corporate donations

2.40

Nearly all of the top 12 Australian Stock Exchange listed companies reported donations to tsunami disaster relief appeals.40 Australia’s top listed company, BHP Billiton’s contribution totalled US$1 465 200. This included an initial donation of US$500 000 to World Vision and UNICEF plus US$22 000 donated by BHP Billiton businesses in Indonesia, with additional donations from employees being matched by BHP.41 Other substantial corporate donations included $250, 000 from each of the Commonwealth Bank, Australia Post and Wesfarmers, and $500,000 from Lonely Planet Publications. 42 A number of companies made in-kind donations.43



Footnotes

1 AusAID website http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=9562_2054_7529_7688_4864#history Back
2 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p.1 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
3 AusAID website http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=9562_2054_7529_7688_4864#history Back
4 Asia’s Tsunami death toll soars , BBC, 20 January 2005 , http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4189883.stm Back
5 Tsunami 2004, AFP website, http://www.afp.gov.au/international/operations/current_operations/tsunamu_2004
6 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p.1 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
7 W. J. Clinton , One Year Later, The International Herald Tribune, December 24, 2005 , http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/presscenter/op122305.asp Back
8 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p.1 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
9 Poorest people suffered the most from the tsunami, Oxfam press release, 25 June 2005 , http://www.Oxfam.org/en/news/pressreleases2005/pr050625_tsunami.htm Back
10 K. F. Inderfurth et al, The Tsunami Report Card, Foreign Policy Magazine , December 2005, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3314&fpsrc=ealert051213 Back
11 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p.2 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
12 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p. 2 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf and K. F. Inderfurth et al, The Tsunami Report Card, Foreign Policy Magazine , December 2005, p. 2 1http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3314&fpsrc=ealert051213 p. 1 Back
13 K. F. Inderfurth et al, The Tsunami Report Card, Foreign Policy Magazine , December 2005, p. 1 http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3314&fpsrc=ealert051213 Back
14 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p. 2 Back
15 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p. 2 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
16 Charities report record donations , Alan Cooperman and Jacqueline Simon , Washington Post, 8 January 2005 , http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57477-2005Jan7.html Back
17 Charity redirects money, BBC, 11 May 2005 , http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4535565.stm Back
18 Tsunami Recovery: Taking Stock after 12 months , Report from the Secretary-General’s Office of the Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery , website, p. 2 http://www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org/pdf/OSE_anniversary.pdf Back
19 AusAID website, http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=9562_2054_7529_7688_4864#history Back
20 AusAID Annual Report 2004-2005, p. 96 Back
21 AusAID website, http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=9562_2054_7529_7688_4864#history Back
22 AusAID Annual Report 2004 -2005, p. 97 Back
23 AusAID Annual Report 2004-2005, pp. 97 Back
24 Defence Annual Report 2004-2005, p. 4 Back
25 Defence Annual Report 2004-2005, p. 4 Back
26 AFP website, http://www.afp.gov.au/international/operations/current_operations/tsunamu_2004 Back
27 ib id Back
28 Declaration on action, Special ASEAN leaders’ meeting on aftermath of Tsunami, Jakarta , 5-6 January 2005 , http://www.aseansec.org/17066.htm Back
29 AusAID, Focus Magazine, March 2005, p. 5 Back
30 AusAID website, Indian Ocean Disaster, http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?Id=4574_2733_4489_2162_9764 Back
31 Australia and Indonesia advance historic partnership , The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP, media release, FA 29, 16 March 2005 , http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/fa029_05.html Back
32 House of Representatives Official Hansard, 16 March 2005 , http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr160305.pdf Back
33 AusAID website, http://www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?Id=4574_2733_4489_2162_9764 Back
34 AusAID website, http://www.AusAID.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?Id=4574_2733_4489_2162_9764 Back
35 AusAID website, http://www.AusAID.gov.au/media/release.cfm?BC=Media&Id=3348_7372_5902_5715_7169 Back
36 Aussie donors rebuild lives , media release, ACFID, 1 June 2005 , http://www.acfid.asn.au/pubs/2005_releases/tsunamireport.htm Back
37 Wave aid gig raises $2 million, ABC, 30/01/06 , http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1291823.htm Back
38 First NGO Tsunami Accountability Report, ACFID, 26 Dec 04- 31 Mar 05, http://www.acfid.asn.au/campaigns/ngo_tsunami_accountability_report_dec_to_mar.pdf Back
39 ACFID, NGO Tsunami Accountability Report 26 Dec 04 – 31 Mar 05, p. 2 Back
40 Big business aids tsunami relief effort , in The SMH, 31 December 2004 , http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Big-business-aids-tsunami-relief-efforts/2004/12/31/1104344978205.html# Back
41 BHP Billiton website, http://hsecreport.bhpbilliton.com/2005/repository/community/caseStudies/caseStudies34.asp Back
42 BHP Billiton website, http://hsecreport.bhpbilliton.com/2005/repository/community/caseStudies/caseStudies34.asp Back
43 Private donors assume role of good corporate citizen, in The Age, 1 January 2005 , http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Private-donors-assume-role-of-good-corporate-citizen/2004/12/31/1104344985012.html Back

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