The President of the World Bank Group, James D. Wolfensohn,
visited tsunami-hit areas in Hambantota district of Sri Lanka on
January 8, 2005, where he met with affected communities and saw
first-hand the extent of damage to their lives, livelihoods and
public infrastructure. He also flew over devastated areas of Galle,
Ampara and Batticaloa.
The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, and Mr.
Wolfensohn combined their visits to these sites in order to
minimize pressure on local governments coping with relief and
rehabilitation work.
During his day-long visit, Mr. Wolfensohn also met with Sri
Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda
Rajapakase and Minister of Finance Sarath Amunugama as well as
representatives of other political parties. He assured them that
the World Bank, in collaboration with other donors, would provide
Sri Lanka the financial and technical support it needed to recover
from the tragedy.
The Bank has already been in discussion with the Ministry of
Finance to see how its current portfolio in Sri Lanka can be
restructured to release funds for emergency work. About US$100
million is expected to be made available from existing projects. In
addition, an emergency credit of not less than US$75 million – 40
percent of which will be a grant – will be made to enable the
Government to begin recovery work.
Immediately after the disaster, the Bank made available to the
Government of Sri Lanka about US$10 million from ongoing projects
in health, community water supply and sanitation, and the North
East Emergency Recovery Program to enable it to purchase emergency
medicines, undertake epidemic prevention measures, provide cash to
district offices, and supply water tanks, generators, pumps and
other necessary equipment.
At the disaster sites, the World Bank President spoke with
affected individuals and families, and met with local government
officials and relief workers. "I am overwhelmed by the human impact
of the tragedy," Mr. Wolfensohn said. "The authorities and
communities are doing a remarkable job of cleaning up the debris,
but reconstructing the human spirit will take much longer."
He continued: "The money is there, and the international
community has shown its tremendous support for the entire region.
We will support the Government as it develops a fast, transparent
and effective way to convert the billions of dollars pledged all
over the world into the rupees in the hands of the poor fisherman
in Sri Lanka to repair his boat… or for a community to rebuild its
homes."
He stressed that "the only way to begin the process of healing
from this terrible tragedy is to actively engage the people in
decisions about their own recovery and, through this participation,
give them hope."
In his discussions with government leaders, Mr. Wolfensohn
agreed that in Sri Lanka, it was the poorest and the conflict areas
that were hardest hit. It was important that the reconstruction
strategy should not strive merely to rebuild the poverty of those
affected, but should aim to make the poor more secure and less
vulnerable to future disasters.
As planning and implementation got under way, it was also
necessary to ensure the full involvement of local communities,
civil society, and key stakeholders, and to do so in ways that will
support the peace process, he said.
Mr. Wolfensohn, who flew in from Indonesia, later left for the
Maldives. Meanwhile, a joint World Bank-ADB-Japan needs assessment
team is assembling in Colombo and on Monday will begin an
assessment of the extent of damage, reconstruction needs and cost
of recovery. It will then help the Government develop its recovery
strategy, and will flexibly support it as it implements its
program.
The Bank will continue to make available further funds for Sri
Lanka as required by the needs assessment and recovery
strategy.
For more information:
http://www.worldbank.org/tsunami
(China.org.cn January 11, 2005)