|
Habitat For Humanity Works to Aid Shattered Communities in
Sri Lanka
Homes destroyed: Tsunamis leave a trail
of devastation in Sri Lanka
BANGKOK, 30th December 2004:Volunteers and
staff of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka are active in villages
affected by Sunday's deadly tsunamis. Immediate efforts are
concentrating on cleaning and chlorinating wells in order
to provide clean drinking water.
HFH Sri Lanka is working with other groups to draw up plans
for prototype "core" shelter for the tens of thousands
of families in urgent need of homes following the tidal wave
that crashed down on Sri Lanka's south and east coasts on
Sunday morning. The Sri Lanka office of Deutsche Bank has
agreed a grant for 100 homes.
Some 2,176 Habitat families and a further 2,628 savings
group participants are in the affected areas of Galle, Matara,
Hambantota, Batticaloa, Wattala and Trincomalee. HFH Sri Lanka
supports about 4,800 Habitat families, which amounts to approximately
24,000 people.
Initial assessments indicate that the foundations of many
homes seem to be secure, though anything above the foundations
tended to be knocked over by tidal waves. There are materials
that can be reused from the damaged homes so it could take
as little as US$100 to rebuild a single-room, "core"
home.
In Batticalola, one of the first affiliates in Sri Lanka,
homes of board, staff, and homeowner have been significantly
damaged. Repair and replacement efforts are urgently needed.
The affiliate is working hard in the communities to help others
in need, particularly through cleaning up water wells and
sending young volunteers to hospitals to do whatever is needed.
HFH Sri Lanka is working in co-operation with other groups
such as World Vision, PLAN and ZOA. The initial housing plan
for the tens of thousands in need is to build 120 sq. ft.
a single-room, "core" homes as emergency accommodation.
This temporary shelter could, in due course, be made permanent
and additional rooms added through a general Habitat program.
HFH Sri Lanka's national director, Tony Senewiratne, is a
member of thespecial disaster management team organized by
the "Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies", a co-ordination
body involving some 60 other organizations.
HFH Sri Lanka - Background
|
|
HFH
Sri Lanka began in 1994. Today, it is active throughout
the island with ten active affiliates: Anuradhapura,
Batticaloa, Galle, Hatton, Kurunegala, Matale, Monoragala,
Moratuwa, Nuwara Eliya, and Wattala/JaEla.
HFH Sri Lanka is one of the most innovative HFH operations
in the world.
To reach
those in greatest need, HFH Sri Lanka pioneered a micro-finance
programme called "Save and Build". "Save
and Build" involves groups of up to a dozen low-income
families who save together. This enables families with
the smallest of incomes to pay for the construction
of their own home - a simple, decent place to live. |
Key Facts
| Affected
areas |
Galle, Matara,
Hambantota, Batticaloa, Wattala and Trincomalee |
| Habitat
families in Sri Lanka |
2,176 |
| Savings
group participants |
2,628 |
| Total families
supported by HFH Sri Lanka |
4,800 (approximately
24,000 people) |
| Cost
of a single-room,” core" home rebuild: |
Approximately
US$100 |
You can help the efforts of the Habitat for Humanity Disaster
Response Office by a donation to the Asia
Tsunami Response Fund.
|
|
