Sri Lanka Suffers in the Destruction Caused by the Tsunamis

Homes destroyed: Tsunamis leave a trail of devastation in Sri Lanka

BANGKOK, 28th December 2004: The quake which struck off Sumatra on Sunday morning (midnight Saturday GMT) created a tidal wave that reached the Sri Lankan coast at 8am.

The country was not prepared for the type of destruction it created, as a natural disaster of this scale is unprecedented. A second much larger tidal wave hit the coastal belt at around 10am, with waves as high as 14 meters (40-foot). The water traveled inland as far as two kilometers (1.2 miles).

As of 4pm on Tuesday, the total death toll from the tsunami in Sri Lanka has risen to approximately 13,000. The special unit set up to provide relief in the prime minister’s office says that many more are unaccounted for, while thousands of families have been displaced and lack shelter.

Coastal areas in Ampara, Batticoloa, Galle, Hambanthota, Matara and Trincomele have suffered severe damage. Power supply, transportation, water supply and telecommunications have been disrupted.

The Habitat work in these regions is severely affected. Communication has been completely lost with the Galle and Batticaloa affiliates.

Limited reports have received been received from other affiliates, which have detailed the situation and the staff affected.

An assessment of the damage has already begun amongst the 4,800 Habitat Sri Lanka families (approximately 24,000 people). A clearer estimate of the actual damage to the homes of the families impacted is not expected to be known for at least a week.

Habitat Sri Lanka has affiliates and homeowners in all the affected areas:

Area: Galle
Habitat homeowners: 745
Savings groups: 72x12=864

Area: Matara
Habitat homeowners: 336

Area: Hambantota
Habitat homeowners: 163

Area: Batticaloa
Habitat homeowners: 614
Savings groups: 128x12=1536

Area: Wattala
Habitat homeowners: 316
Savings groups: 19x12=228

Area: Trincomalee
Habitat homeowners: 22

Searching the wreckage: people made homeless in communities where there are Habitat Sri Lanka affiliates

You can help the efforts of the Habitat for Humanity Disaster Response Office by a donation to the Asia Tsunami Response Fund.