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  • Boxing Day Tsunami: Natural or Political Disaster?

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    Randall Kuhn
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    The December 26, 2004 tsunami was the greatest ever natural disaster that befell Sri Lanka in its recorded history. It claimed about 30,000 lives, destroyed 50,000 dwellings and seriously damaged another 40,000, made about 500,000 homeless, damaged 24,000 boats (70% of the fleet), 11,000 businesses and the coastal infrastructure in nine districts. Tens of thousands lost their livelihoods especially in fishing and tourism. Overall 5% of the land area and about 1.0m (5% of the population) were directly affected. The estimated total economic damage varied between $1.0b and $3.0b depending on the method of calculation. A nation that had been bitterly divided and ravaged by a twenty year old ethnic war rose to the occasion as one nation to provide relief to the victims. The initial relief response has been hailed as a model in self-help by a people of a poor country. Soon money poured in from donors for reconstruction. Unfortunately the allocation of funds was not equitable and harmonious says Dr. Randall Kuhn of Denver University, USA who has researched the reconstruction effort in the southern and eastern provinces. Calling it a “political disaster” he mainly faults the decision makers for this situation.

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    The December 26, 2004 tsunami was the greatest ever natural disaster that befell Sri Lanka in its recorded history. It claimed about 30,000 lives, destroyed 50,000 dwellings and seriously damaged another 40,000, made about 500,000 homeless, damaged 24,000 boats (70% of the fleet), 11,000 businesses and the coastal infrastructure in nine districts. Tens of thousands lost their livelihoods especially in fishing and tourism. Overall 5% of the land area and about 1.0m (5% of the population) were directly affected. The estimated total economic damage varied between $1.0b and $3.0b depending on the method of calculation. A nation that had been bitterly divided and ravaged by a twenty year old ethnic war rose to the occasion as one nation to provide relief to the victims. The initial relief response has been hailed as a model in self-help by a people of a poor country. Soon money poured in from donors for reconstruction. Unfortunately the allocation of funds was not equitable and harmonious says Dr. Randall Kuhn of Denver University, USA who has researched the reconstruction effort in the southern and eastern provinces. Calling it a “political disaster” he mainly faults the decision makers for this situation.

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    226 views19 pages

    Boxing Day Tsunami: Natural or Political Disaster?

    Uploaded by

    Randall Kuhn
    The December 26, 2004 tsunami was the greatest ever natural disaster that befell Sri Lanka in its recorded history. It claimed about 30,000 lives, destroyed 50,000 dwellings and seriously damaged another 40,000, made about 500,000 homeless, damaged 24,000 boats (70% of the fleet), 11,000 businesses and the coastal infrastructure in nine districts. Tens of thousands lost their livelihoods especially in fishing and tourism. Overall 5% of the land area and about 1.0m (5% of the population) were directly affected. The estimated total economic damage varied between $1.0b and $3.0b depending on the method of calculation. A nation that had been bitterly divided and ravaged by a twenty year old ethnic war rose to the occasion as one nation to provide relief to the victims. The initial relief response has been hailed as a model in self-help by a people of a poor country. Soon money poured in from donors for reconstruction. Unfortunately the allocation of funds was not equitable and harmonious says Dr. Randall Kuhn of Denver University, USA who has researched the reconstruction effort in the southern and eastern provinces. Calling it a “political disaster” he mainly faults the decision makers for this situation.

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    of 19

    Boxing Day Tsunami:

    Natural or Political Disaster?

    Randall Kuhn
    Josef Korbel School of International Studies
    University of Denver
    Key Questions
    • What were the political and socioeconomic
    forces leading up to the tsunami?

    • Has the tsunami relief effort constituted a


    separate political disaster?
    Tsunami Deaths and Homes
    Destroyed by District
    Characteristics of Tsunami-Affected
    Grama Niladari Division, by Region
    % of All Homes
    Homes Destroyed
      Destroyed per GN
    Southern Province 12% 36
    Ampara Muslim 20% 71
    Ampara Tamil 40% 107
    Batticaloa 26% 108
    Community Living Standards Index, by
    Study Group and Severity of Impact

    Moderately Heavily
    Study Group Unaffected Affected Affected
    Southern Province 0.12 0.72 0.45
    Ampara Muslim 0.03 0.05 0.44
    Ampara Tamil -1.19 -0.46 -0.95
    Batticaloa -0.66 -0.62 -0.48
    Total -0.19 0.23 -0.30
    Ninthavur
    Sainthamarathu Tamil Division
    Removed after 1967 Riots

    Ninthavur dhobis largely left in


    1970s

    Much of Addaipallam Tamil


    population disperses

    Many of these families moved


    to coastal areas in Karativu,
    Vinayagapuram, Akkaraipattu
    Akkaraipattu

    Original Lime Burner


    Settlement Moved from
    Akkaraipattu 4th Division
    after 1958 floods

    Sinna Mugathuwaram
    aka 40th Mile Post: 226
    Homes Destroyed
    Kalmunai / Marathamunai

    Expansion of Marathumanai
    towards local beach areas
    and beach areas in Periya
    Neelavanai and Pandiruppu
    Periya Neelavanai
    Aerial Photo of Batticaloa, 1972

    Navalady

    Dutch Bar

    Thiruchendoor

    Koddamunai

    Pulliyanthivu
    Major Areas of Housing Impact,
    Batticaloa Division
    Navalady: 433 Homes

    Dutch Bar: 252

    Thiruchendoor: 618

    Koddamunai: 0

    Pulliyanthivu: 0
    Donor Housing Commitment and
    Expenditure per Destroyed Home, by District

    District Commitment Expenditure


    Ampara $5,060 $2,613
    Batticaloa $6,262 $2,949
    Galle $7,612 $4,578
    Hambantota $25,388 $19,185
    Matara $13,970 $7,611
    Figure 4: Total Homes Destroyed and Total Homes Built by October 2006,
    selected sub-populations
    10000

    9000 8597
    8000 Homes
    Destroyed
    7000
    Homes Built
    6000 5557
    5297 5262
    5000
    4065
    4000

    3000 2555 2759


    25002394
    2000
    1080 1290
    997
    1000

    0
    Hambantota
    Hardly
    Heaven
    Chasing the Bowser in Akkaraipattu
    Progress
    in
    Periya
    Nilavanai
    On the Beach in Kalmunaikudy
    Thank you!!!

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