Overview of the IWMI Tsunami Relief effort
News & Updates
IUCN Report of the Reef Clean-up at Hikkaduwa National Park
The tsunami of 26th December 2004 inflicted substantial damage to several of the nearshore
reefs on the southern and eastern coasts of Sri Lanka. As well as causing extreme
mechanical damage to some reef areas by breaking and overturning coral colonies, much
terrestrial debris was deposited on the reefs and the surrounding near-shore region by the
receding waves. This debris continues to stress and further damage the corals, and also
presents a hazard to local coastal inhabitants and tourists alike...
IUCN Hikkaduwa Report [PDF 296kb]
IWMI’s
Tsunami response continues …
IWMI invited to give presentation at the IAH-RedR meeting on ‘Groundwater in Emergencies'
IWMI presented its latest data (up to April, 2006) on groundwater salinity following the tsunami at the joint IAH-RedR-Geological Society meeting on ‘Groundwater in Emergencies’
Download the Presentation [Pdf 5.6MB]
Tsunami Impacts on Shallow Groundwater and Associated Water Supply on the East Coast of Sri Lanka
A post-tsunami well recovery support initiative and
an assessment of groundwater salinity in
three areas of Batticaloa and Ampara Districts
Download the Full Report [Pdf 2.3MB]
The implementation of the Tsunami Livelihood Restoration Project – Progress
report 2005
Just after the tsunami devastation, International Water Management institute (IWMI)
addressed the issue of helping people affected by the tsunami to rapidly recover from the
shock and start their normal day-to-day livelihood activities.
Download the Full Report [Pdf 439Kb]
Stakeholder meeting on Groundwater-Tsunami project.
IWMI presented the findings and results from its study on the impacts of the tsunami on groundwater in the eastern Sri Lanka at a meeting with the primary stakeholders on September, 27, 2005. The results were highly anticipated and 14 different national and international organizations were present, including CARE who generously funded the project. A set of guidelines on well use and groundwater protection in the wake of the tsunami were disseminated at the meeting and generated positive feed back and high interest.
Download Guidelines [Pdf 81Kb]
Impacts of Tsunami on Groundwater, Soil and Vegetation in Sri Lanka
IWMI has been actively involved in the evolvement of a series of workshops and a conference on ‘Impacts of Tsunami on Groundwater, Soil and Vegetation in Sri Lanka ’ during the week of Sept. 19-23, 2005. Read More...
The implementation of the Tsunami Livelihood Restoration Project
Read more...
Bringing Hambantota Back to Normal
A Post-Tsunami Livelihoods Needs Assessment of Hambantota District in Southern Sri Lanka
The tsunami on 26th December 2004 caused severe damage to the livelihood systems of the people of Hambantota District. A coastal district in southern Sri Lanka, Hambantota is a major agricultural production area and the coastal belt provides a large proportion of the country’s marine and lagoon fish. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a Future Harvest Centre of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) initiated a research study as an immediate response to the need of the people.
This response was due to the long standing relationship between IWMI and the people of Hambantota District, a large part of which is within IWMI’s Ruhuna Benchmark Basin (RBMB). The study aims to address the needs for rehabilitating the livelihoods of the people of the area with a people-centred participatory approach. Based on findings by a team of professional researchers from IWMI, this document presents the recommendations on key strategies needed to bring the economic activities of the area back to a normal state.
Executive Summary
Bringing Hambantota Back to Normal - Full Report [PDF 805Kb]
Needs Assessment in the coastal regions
of the Ruhuna Benchmark Basin, Sri Lanka
Moving on from the relief phase, one of IWMI’s first actions
has been the livelihoods focused rapid needs assessment in the worst
hit areas of Hambantota district in the south of Sri Lanka. Focus
Group Discussions and data collection activities for this assessment
were completed in mid February, and the report is currently being
finalized. It is expected to be circulated amongst decision makers
and contribute to the Master Plan for the Reconstruction and Recovery
of Hambantota.
The mapping of Tsunami-affected Boundary Line
(TABL) for the Hambantota district - where areas below 6m elevation
appear to be critically affected, has now been completed. This exercise
was also continued in the Galle and Matara districts. The TABL information
collection for the three districts of Hambantota, Matara and Galle
is considered to be unique, and efforts will be made to link up
with the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka to ensure better
utilization of the data. For further information on the Tsunami
affected Boundary Line (TABL), contact Neelanga Weragala:n.weragala@cgiar.org
or M.G.S.D. Nilantha: n.gamage@cgiar.org
Read
more...
Wetlands
and the Tsunami
As part of the global response to the tsunami disaster, the Ramsar
Convention has requested Wetlands International to work with Ramsar
International Organisation Partners (IOPs) to coordinate efforts
to bring together scientifically sound advice on wetlands in the
region, in order to assist governments in choosing the most effective
response measures. See http://www.wetlands.org/tsunami/.
The Ramsar Tsunami Reference Group has
been established involving Wetlands International, WWF, IUCN, BirdLife
International and the International Water Management Institute to
combine resources, share information and produce timely advice as
and when it is needed. Read
more...
IWMI’s
contribution
IWMI’s headquarters have been hosted in Sri Lanka since its
inception (1984). IWMI has worked in many of the affected areas
for at least 15 years. This both gives us strong motivation
to try to help the people we have worked with and has also given us
expertise that can be put to good use. Therefore to support
current relief efforts underway in our host country, IWMI has planned
its efforts in three phases: Immediate emergency relief; Launching
an IWMI and CGIAR System wide appeal to support rebuilding of communities
and Action based on institutional capacity:
Read
more..
As part of IWMI’s Tsunami Disaster Relief Effort it is supporting
the Kalametiya Rehabilitation & Development Trust (KRDT) implement
its Programme in Kalametiya, this includes hosting the KRDT
webpage.
Contact us
Contact Person for the appeal:
Sarath Abayawardana, Head, Sri Lanka Program.
iwmi-tsunami-relief@cgiar.org
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