Latest News

The project in Matara district continues. The community we have been working with in Thalarumba has continued clearing roads and paths. Our working relationship with the residents there is growing steadily. We are ken to develop this kind of understanding with communities before embarking on loner term development projects. Today we also hired a JCB digger to clear the lagoon area in Mirissa. Tomorrow another set of local workers has been organised to clean the beach itself.

Meanwhile, the clinic is Pottuvil in Ampara district. However, they have found that the major NGOs, in particular the Red Cross, is taking relatively good care of the medical needs of the people. Therefore it has been decided that the clinic will head first to Hambantota and see what the situation there is like. Despite the various information available about the situation in each district, it is often only when you visit for yourself that you can get a true impression of what is required. Nevertheless, the visit east has brought two camps to our attention which are still in desperate need of basic supplies. Mark Shandur will now be heading to Colombo to stock up on mosquito nets, mats, bedsheets and other items to take directly to them. In these camps, makeshift tents have been erected but people are sleeping in cramped conditions on concrete floors.

In general we are keeping very busy with these projects while we await a clear strategy from the government about the rules and regulations for reconstruction. Some of the team are planning a visit to areas in the north-east of the island to see how we might be of assistance there. We are keen use our resources as best we can, fitting in around the work of the other NGOs. New projects will evolve while our current projects grow. It is important to keep in mind the size of the task facing the country as a whole and focus on using our resources productively in the long term. This is still only the beginning of the effort to recover from the tsunami.

Back...