Update: March 2005

Once again, thank you to everyone who has contributed to Amenti Relief and our efforts to rebuild Sri Lanka. Since our last update, the total amount we have received has risen considerably and we have continued to work hard to deploy this money as effectively as possible.

Our first two initiatives are now completed. The third and fourth, which were identified but not yet commenced last time around are now well underway and we have embarked on a new fifth initiative.

As well as these details, this report contains a brief but personal overview of the current situation in Sri Lanka in response to questions from a number of you.

What it’s really like in Sri Lanka ?
31,000 people are now estimated to have died in Sri Lanka on December 26th. 220,000 homes were destroyed and 890,000 people became homeless. The total cost of reconstruction has been estimated at $5-6bn and the Sri Lankan Government has eagerly accepted a moratorium on its national debt repayments as it struggles with the cost of rebuilding the nation… but what is it really like on the ground?

There is plenty of good news. On the whole people have been adequately clothed and fed, and temporary tents have been widely distributed. There have not been any serious health problems.

Morale amongst the survivors is generally high, though fear of another tsunami still looms large. The population of the refugee camps has been halved as people are slowly returning to face what is left of their homes and their lives.

Nonetheless there remains an extraordinary amount of work to do. Most survivors are now living in tents or temporary wooden housing and surviving off cash handouts from the Government. Many people are too afraid to return to their land or their livelihoods. While a few reconstruction efforts are underway, these are primarily being undertaken by small aid organisations. There still seems to be a lack of coordination amongst the international aid organisations and as a result large amounts have yet to be invested. The most optimistic estimate is that the completion of the reconstruction effort and a return to normality for survivors will require a minimum of 5 years.

The reconstruction of the Pelena compound has been completed. All the houses that can legally be rebuilt have now been so. All the roofs, windows, doors and floors that were destroyed have been replaced. Each family now also have basic cooking and sleeping requirements. In addition, everyone has received information explaining why the tsunami occurred and what to do in the unlikely event of a recurrence. We hope this information will help people to get over their fear and on with their lives.

The fishermen of the compound are now back to work. In addition to the seven repaired boats, two new boats, fully equipped with nets and engines, have been purchased to ensure that all the the men have jobs. The fishermen have been enthusiastic about the opportunities this type of aid has created for them to regain control of their lives. While others must rely on handouts, this group of 25 men and their dependents now have the power to make things happen for themselves.

2. 3000 pupils back to school
As reported in our last update, this 3,000 pupil school near Galle had been unable to reopen as its toilets were destroyed by the tsunami. The construction of new toilet facilities has now been completed and the pupils have now returned to school.

3. Jobs for 195 fishermen in Arugam bay
Arugam Bay, on the South East coast of Sri Lanka was especially badly hit by the tsunami. We committed to buying two brand new large boats that would each provide jobs for 65 fishermen, but on closer inspection we were able to identify 3 such boats that were severely damaged, but that could be repaired for the same investment as two new boats.

The repair of these boats is now underway, and we have selected 3 owner / operators (Mr Najim (pictured), Mr Thasim and Mr Adambawa) who we believe will be the most proactive at ensuring the boats will be fully utilised to provide as many jobs for other people as possible.

4. Reconstruction commenced at Sarvodayapuram
The scope of the reconstruction of Sarvodayapuram, a muslim village near Arugam Bay, has grown from the 50 families previously identified to 78 families. The cost has also grown from $50,300 to $77,500. We have increased our own commitment to this project from $25,500 to $50,000 and are now working with a large corporation that has committed the balance of these funds. This project is being fully managed by our friends at LankaRealAid who are working, as we do, on a fully volunteer basis. We are extremely grateful to them for the opportunity they have given us to participate in this exciting work.

The reconstruction work has commenced with the construction of toilet facilities for each family, which have now been completed. In addition, two prototype houses are nearing completion. These prototypes are being built to ensure (1) the design fits the needs of local families; (2) the materials used are both locally available and environmentally friendly and (3) any problems in the construction process can be resolved before full construction commences. Full construction should commence within the next 3-4 weeks and should be completed within 9 months.

5. Entrepreneurial aid
Throughout all the work that we have been involved with, we have become convinced that the most effective form of long term aid is aid that gives people an immediate ability to reconstruct their lives for themselves. An event like the tsunami is psychologically very traumatising and survivors are left with a feeling of helplessness against a force much greater than themselves. To turn this helplessness into triumph in the face of adversity has a dual benefit. It gets people back to work, back to life and able to provide for themselves and their families. But it also has a strong psychological impact, enabling people to feel they have been able to overcome great difficulties and succeed despite horrendous conditions.

There are many ways to create this effect. Providing the tools and materials for the fishermen to rebuild their boats in Pelena or employing villagers to re-build their own homes in Sarvodayapuram are just two examples. Another example is restoring the tools of the trade required by an entrepreneur to re-start their business. In many cases with a relatively small investment, these small business owners , their families and their employees can immediately become self sufficient again. This opportunity to make a big impact with a small investment is directly in line with our strategy at Amenti Relief.

Consequently we have decided that our next investment will be focussed on re-establishing these businesses. We have identified an excellent initiative requiring funds that is being managed by Project Galle, another direct, volunteer organisation like Amenti Relief. This initiative involves assessing funding needs on a community by community basis and then funding these needs accordingly. To qualify for aid, each entrepreneur must demonstrate that they had a business before the tsunami, that they lost this business as a result of the tsunami and that they are not receiving aid from any other organisation. In return, each entrepreneur will receive the items they require to enable them to re-start their businesses.

Project Galle have already completed their first pilot, and have successfully invested in 80 entrepreneurs. We have allocated $20,000 to this project but will fund it based on the detailed list of requirements approved by project teams on the ground. We hope to join these teams ourselves in the near future and will keep you fully updated on the progress of these investments. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the Galle Project please feel free to check out their internet site at www.projectgalle2005.com.