Tsunami Disaster and After: Mapping and Monitoring Local Level Communities

Little is yet known on the impact of the tsunami on the local communities of Sri Lanka. How has the tsunami affected their daily lives? What coping mechanisms have set in? How - in particular - have children and women been facing life after the tsunami?

Beyond the personal and communal experiences of the disaster itself, the losses of lives and livelihoods, a new dimension has been shaping life after the tsunami: large-scale influx of aid and aid actors.

Some of the key questions arising here are: How has the influx of aid affected communal structures, what has been the effect on social, political and economic relations? What dynamics have been triggered through the new resources available? Who is benefiting and to which extent, who has access and to what degree?

The intent of a longer term study is to document the dynamics and possibly significant changes that have developed in the affected communities under the influence of the tsunami by looking at different contexts in terms of geographical locations and population groups as well as by using different methodologies.

The social and political context of present Sri Lanka remains highly volatile. Allocation of resources is one of the most contentious issues, not only at national but also at local level. The influx of large-scale tsunami relief resources is anticipated to create changes in local social, political and economic dynamics that can result in upsetting current power balances.

It remains crucial to monitor these dynamics, particular from the point of view of aid agencies that are allocating resources at large scale in the country, in order to be aware of any negative effects on an already difficult post-conflict reconstruction process.

Study one:

Focusing on institutional and administrative structures of the relief and rehabilitation process at community level against the backdrop of wider national resource allocation, this study aims at capturing coping mechanisms of communities in the light of their socio-economic profiles and capacities. It further aims at analyzing the adequacy and effectiveness of local, national and international aid efforts during the relief and rehabilitation process – from eye sight of the communities themselves.
This study draws information mainly from a quantitative survey as well as from key informant interviews.
Geographical scope of the survey are tsunami affected locations in the North, South and East of the country.

Study two:

This study will be documenting narratives of women on the tsunami and after experience focusing in order to learn about coping mechanisms and survival strategies in light of the various social, religious and economic backgrounds as well as in light of past traumatic experiences during the years of conflict. It aims at learning about possibly differing reactions to natural and man-made disasters attempting to analyze transformation processes of women’s perceptions of identity under these circumstances. It will further aim at analyzing the relief and rehabilitation process from a gender perspective.
This study will be carried out in the southern and eastern regions of Sri Lanka.

Study three:

This study is strongly defined by its methodological approach of participatory observation over a longer time period among different communities of Sri Lanka. It intends to document and analyze the social and political dynamics occurring in the aftermath of the tsunami – under the influence of factors such as access to the tsunami rehabilitation resources, presence of external actors, displacement and resettlement movements by looking at the communities’ political, religious, social and economic networks at the very grass roots level. Particular attention will be given to the perspectives of children and any post-tsunami factors impacting on the living circumstances of children.
The geographical scope of this study will cover communities in the LTTE controlled district of Mullaitivu, communities in the East as well as South of the country.

Objectives:

Main aim is to document the social, political and economic impact of the tsunami and the post-tsunami relief and rehabilitation process at community level in order to produce a better understanding of emerging dynamics at community levels. Monitoring these dynamics is crucial in a social and political context that remains highly volatile and any aid agencies responsibility to foster communal peace and reconciliation under the current circumstances.

The results of this study are expected to enhance sensitivity of aid actors in allocating and disseminating resources and implementing projects in light of the socio-political dynamics within the communities.

Understanding the situation of women and children is core to any UNICEF programme. This research project is expected to produce far-reaching insights into the effects of the tsunami and its aftermath on the daily lives of women and children in the various regions of Sri Lanka affected by the disaster.

Outputs:

• On a quarterly basis the researchers will present their preliminary findings to UNICEF and eventually produce initial papers documenting these as well as the research process.
  
• A short documentary of women’s narratives collected within the frame of the third project will be produced for wider circulation among the affected communities.
• A final publication of research findings that should be of considerable volume and quality.