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Hiranthi Fernando reports on a local NGO’s efforts to give many tsunami-displaced families, a proper shelter
A home, not just a house
Nimantha and his younger brother lost their mother Gunaseeli to the tsunami. She was washed away, while walking to a nearby shop, her body found only after five days. The house they lived in was completely destroyed.

Their village Kathaluwa West in Habaraduwa was badly affected by the tsunami. Ninety-six families had their houses completely or partially destroyed, all their belongings washed away by the five-foot high waves.

Fortunately for the two boys, who had lost their father many years ago, their house is now being rebuilt. Nimantha is employed on the construction site and receives wages for his work. The house, which has now reached roof level will soon be complete. "We are happy that the house is being rebuilt for these motherless boys," said Piyaseeli, Gunaseeli's sister, who had taken the two boys into her own home.

The reconstruction of Nimantha's house is part of 'Rehabilitation through Partnership', a project by 'Help for Children Sri Lanka', a local NGO. The project funded by Malteser of Germany includes four villages, Kathaluwa West, Welhengoda, Maliyagoda and Wadugegoda.

Social worker Kokila Vasantha said seven houses of 500 sq. feet costing around Rs.500,000 have been completed up to roof level in the village of Kathaluwa West. Three more are being built, all according to a UDA plan. "Using six masons and eight labourers we were able to complete the work in about a month," said Chaminda Devarahandi, Technical Officer on the project. "We are now waiting to purchase the timber for the roof," he added. "We ensure that good quality materials are used for the construction," Chaminda said.

At present, approval has been obtained from the local authorities, for rebuilding completely destroyed houses, located outside the controversial 100-metre buffer zone. Estimates have been obtained for repairing partially broken houses also outside this limit.

At Welhengoda, Harsha Dhammika was preparing to start on the foundation of his new home. Harsha's house, where he had lived with his mother and brother was completely destroyed. "We saw the water and ran to the temple," Harsha recalled. “We stayed there for one month.” Harsha's house is also being rebuilt by 'Help for Children'. "If the owners cut the foundation themselves, they are paid Rs. 2000 for their work," Chaminda explained.

Harsha was a diver who supplied shellfish to hotels in the area. He has applied for his lost gear to be replaced so he could resume his occupation after the monsoon season. He said he had received Rs. 70,000 from the government for reconstruction. The balance is expected to be paid after some work is done.

Most of the affected families are desperate to rebuild their lives again in a home of their own. Desk Officer, Sri Lanka, of Malteser, Germany, Jurgen Clemens said this is one of the biggest projects they are working on in the south. It is a long-term contract for three years. Fifty houses are to be completely rebuilt and another fifty to be renovated under this project. Malteser is involved in more than 20 projects in the south as well as in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Jaffna.

Construction apart, they are also interested in dealing with the social aspects. Trauma counselling, training of social workers and vocational training where necessary is on the agenda. "We are supporting local NGOs and the government," Mr. Clemens said.

In addition to the project at Habaraduwa, Rehabilitation through Partnership is engaged in two other projects, rehabilitating families in the Moratuwa Division and in Ollikulam Division in the Batticaloa District.

Project Director, Help for Children Sri Lanka Rangith Gunasekera said families displaced by the tsunami from Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa will be rehabilitated under one project. The families, mainly carpenters, fishermen, masons and those engaged in small industries were given Rs. 2500 to leave the refugee camps, so they have gone back to their partly broken houses. Many of them are from within the 100-metre buffer zone, so houses cannot be built on their former sites. Many of them are not keen to live by the sea again. So the first step is to locate suitable land to build the houses.

With the scarcity of land in the Moratuwa Division, Mr. Gunasekera said they had settled on a plot in Panadura which Malteser has agreed to purchase through Help for Children. Rotary International of Great Britain and Ireland are funding the construction of the houses, while International Aid Trust, administers the programme from the UK side. They also train counsellors, provide food aid and tools after vocational training. It is planned to build 70 - 100 houses with infrastructure, community centres, training centre and such facilities. The money has been collected from a large number of Rotary Clubs in the UK.

This project is very welcome because people tend to overlook Colombo as an affected area, said Egoda Uyane Gnanawimala Thera of the Bodhiraja Temple who pointed out, that there is only one other project in the area. The selection of the recipients for the houses is a problem as they have received a huge number of applications. Gnanawimala Thera, who seems to be doing a lot of work in the area, said that people here favour the 100-metre buffer zone because they fear the sea. They do not mind moving away if they get a permanent home to restart their lives.

Two Rotary International District Governors, Graham Southern and Colin James, as well as Bernard Cocker and Jude O'Hanlon from International Aid Trust were in Sri Lanka recently to inspect this project. "We are committed to doing it the right way," they stressed. "Hopefully we can provide services to surrounding communities too. We are trying to be sensitive to the Sri Lankan way of doing things. The objective is to give a home not a house. It is a slow process, rebuilding people's lives, displacing despair with hope, for a better future."

DIFFICULT PROCESS
There are many difficulties in building these houses with the NGOs often pressurized by donors. They in turn pressurize those working on the field to rush things. This can result in mistakes being made. "For instance, some donors have purchased land at exorbitant prices and put up houses without consulting the authorities," says Project Director for Help for Children Sri Lanka, Rangith Gunasekera explained.

"There is no proper collaboration or coordination between the various international NGOs. Many are competing with each other to put up their flags and paste their stickers to be visible. One beneficiary told us he has got enough materials for three houses from different NGOs. The distribution of aid is often unequal. We face pressures on three sides, from the government authorities and the donors to hurry up, and also the beneficiaries, who also want a good job done fast.

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