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| Monday, 17 January 2005 |
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ADB to refocus existing projects to suit post-tsunami development needs by Channa Kasturisinghe Tadao Chino, the ADB president told the media in Colombo last week that the Bank's assistance to tsunami hit Sri Lanka will be based on the long term need of sustainable economic growth and social development. "ADB is committed to providing assistance effectively and in a timely fashion. We have responded quickly and substantially to requests from Indonesia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka for assistance. Our financial commitment to these three countries stands at an initial $675 million. This includes $500 million in new grants and highly concessional funds, and $175 million redirected from ongoing projects and programs," Chino said. He said approximately $50-60 million will be allocated to Sri Lanka out of the $175 million that can be quickly reprogrammed from existing operations, and in terms of additional funding ADB is preparing new emergency concessional assistance of between US$100 million and $150 million. "In Sri Lanka, we can rapidly refocus community development projects in the Northeast and South to provide resources to affected areas. An initial $30 million will be provided in grants to Sri Lanka and these may be used for a variety of purposes. We are now seriously examining how these emergency grants may be expanded. Our assistance will reach all parts of the country, northeast and south, according to the reconstruction needs that we are now identifying in detail and in coordination with other development partners," Chino said. He said the ADB expects to be involved in several sectors, including transport, livelihood, housing, education and community development in coastal areas. "We will do so in close coordination with our development partners, playing where appropriate a leading role in sector coordination and policy dialogue, and where necessary a residual role, by filling gaps that others are unable or unwilling to meet. At this moment, ADB assessment teams are in the field in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives. The teams are working closely with the governments and the World Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and UN agencies, to produce detailed assessments of the reconstruction and development needs of the affected communities and of the country. They are consulting with all stakeholders, including NGOs, representatives of religious organizations. A group traveled on Thursday for consultations with the LTTE Planning and Development Secretariat," Chino said. He said the reprogramming will be firmed up by reviewing the portfolio in full consultation with the governments and stakeholders concerned to ensure that any restructuring will not adversely affect ongoing development efforts in key projects. "From the first reports that I have received from the field, reconstruction needs are large. Vital infrastructure will need to be replaced or improved, and the livelihood of the affected people restored. This tragedy must be used as an opportunity to bring development to the poorer coastal areas. Communities and local governments must be involved in reconstruction decisions that will affect their future. Civil society, that has responded so generously and promptly to the rescue of their neighbors, must play a prominent role in addressing the long term reconstruction needs," Chino said. The ADB President visited affected areas in Trincomalee, Mutur and Matara. "The crisis throws the spotlight on many of the region's poor and marginalized communities. Overall, tens of thousands of fishing families have lost their boats. Tens of thousands of small farms have been washed away, along with tools and livestock. Small businesses serving local communities and tourist industries are gone, leaving many thousands more families robbed of their livelihoods. Hundreds of thousands of already poor people will be drawn deeper into poverty, and up to two million more people in the region could easily fall below the poverty line. These are the people that strong economic growth and new prosperity have left behind," Chino said. |
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