The Hindu Business Line : FAO seeks $26 m for tsunami victims

FOOD and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has made an urgent appeal for $26 million for farmers and fisher folk hit by the South Asian tsunami disaster.

Funds are needed to finance emergency rehabilitation projects over the next six months.

Fisheries and aquaculture are the sectors most seriously hit by the disaster with a devastating effect on many millions of mostly small-scale fishers who are dependent on a daily fish catch for food and sale, FAO said quoting Ms Fernanda Guerrieri, Chief of FAO's Emergency Operations Service.

In addition to the human tragedy, fishermen have lost their boats, fishing gear, support industries, and aquaculture installations have been damaged or lost. Farm animals have been killed and crops have been washed away or are dying due to saltwater floods. Similarly, many water reservoirs and wells cannot be used anymore because of saltwater and water pollution, and irrigation and drainage facilities are destroyed, FAO said.

Around $10 million will be needed over the next six months for agricultural and fisheries emergency projects in Indonesia. The 25,000 most affected families and an additional 25,000 families and communities hosting displaced persons will receive seeds, tools and other agricultural inputs for the rapid rehabilitation of food crop production for the next cropping season.

In addition, FAO is planning to provide around 25,000 fisher folk with essential inputs for a rapid re-start of small-scale fishing activities. FAO will also provide support to the initial repair works on fishponds.

FAO has asked for around $10 million to finance emergency interventions in Sri Lanka over the next six months. Boats, engines and fishing gear will be replaced or repaired to resume fishing activities in a sustainable manner. FAO will also provide assistance for the repair and rehabilitation of fishing harbours, anchorages and other production related infrastructure.

The other affected countries — India, Thailand, Myanmar, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malaysia — have so far not launched aid appeals.

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FAO seeks $26 m for tsunami victims