International Organization for Migration Sri Lanka: Tsunami Response Programme Situation Report # 49 International Organization for 1 September 2005 – 15 September2005 Migration Transitional Housing To date, with funding from Japan, ECHO and Greece, IOM has provided transitional housing for 3,766 families who lost their homes in the tsunami. In the first weeks of September, 325 houses were completed. An additional 518 are currently in various stages of construction. Transitional housing is designed to last between two and four years while permanent housing is finalized. All IOM transitional houses meet the minimum standards set by the Sri Lankan government. They typically include a two-room indoor living areas of 200 sq ft, a covered kitchen area of 30 sq ft and a 70 sq ft covered IOM transitional housing site in Negombo, Gampaha district. veranda. During the reporting period, IOM received requests to build more than 1,000 additional transitional houses in three eastern districts. In Ampara district, IOM finished a survey in 16 emergency settlements to identify remaining housing needs. IOM agreed to provide transitional housing for approximately 400 families identified through the survey and is currently sourcing land on which to build. In addition, IOM received requests to take responsibility for the construction of some 200 houses originally pledged by other agencies. In Batticaloa district, the Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) office and several Divisional Secretary (DS) offices asked IOM to build approximately 400 additional houses. Land has been allocated and IOM is in the process of verifying beneficiary lists. In Trincomalee district, the Kunchchaveli DS asked IOM to build transitional houses for 69 families in Pudavaikattu. In total, IOM has now received requests to build some 5,500 transitional houses in seven tsunami-affected districts. At present, land has been allocated for approximately 5,100. Total no. of No. of transitional Total no. of transitional transit. District houses completed houses currently under houses completed during the reporting construction to date period Gampaha 14 52 IOM Sri Lanka Colombo 32 1, Police Park Kalutara 4 40 404 Place / 31, Police Matara 14 3 224 Park Avenue, Colombo 05 Ampara 209 275 1,516 Batticaloa 84 35 1,086 Tel: 11 535/536 1941 Trincomalee 71 452 Fax: 11 5340401 Total 325 424 3,766 E-mail: [email protected] 1 www..iom.int/tsunami During the reporting period, the TAP asked IOM to provide kerosene lanterns for transitional houses located in areas with no connection to the national electricity grid. IOM is currently procuring 12,000 lanterns, while a remaining 6,000 will be provided by UNICEF. UN Deputy Special Envoy visits IOM sites On 3 – 4 September, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, Mr. Eric Schwartz, visited several IOM transitional housing sites in Kalutara and Matara districts. Mr. Schwartz met with residents, attended a livelihood ceremony, and observed and participated in some of the psychosocial activities for residents at the sites. Water & Sanitation / Care and Maintenance On 9 September, 2005 IOM signed a US$ Mr. Schwartz visits IOM housing site in Matara 500,000 agreement with World Vision (WV). WV will fund IOM activities to improve vital water and sanitation services for transitional settlements in Ampara and Kalutara districts. Activities include construction and cleaning of wells, waste disposal, provision of water and sanitation systems, and ensuring adequate drainage systems. In addition, the project includes components to help educate people about healthy hygiene habits and training for residents to maintain water and sanitation systems in their communities. IOM's shelter programme is now placing increased emphasis on care and maintenance of transitional housing sites. This will ensure that all families in transitional housing, as well as surrounding communities, have secure and healthy environments in which to rebuild their livelihoods, develop their skills, and address their daily needs without having to rely on ongoing aid. At present IOM provides management services for tsunami survivors at over 30 emergency camps and transitional housing sites in seven districts. This includes ensuring adequate water supplies, drainage systems, garbage disposal and other services. IOM supports communities to establish Camp Management Committees (CMC). The CMCs make management decisions, which IOM helps to implement. The aim is to assist residents to manage their own communities in the longer term. During the reporting period, IOM agreed to fund 12 technicians to work for TAP offices in Young girls outside their transitional homes built by IOM in Kalutara Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Hambantota, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts. The technicians, who are part of TAP's upgrading and camp care and maintenance IOM Sri Lanka programme will help assess needs and improve conditions at transitional housing sites. In addition, TAP is in the process of appointing site monitors to work in transitional settlements 1, Police Park Place / 31, Police with more than 100 houses. IOM agreed to fund and support the estimated 125 site monitors Park Avenue, needed for the project. Colombo 05 Livelihood Restoration and Development Tel: 11 535/536 1941 Fax: 11 5340401 To date, with funding from ECHO, USAID and Greece, IOM has initiated livelihood projects E-mail: to provide direct assistance to 1,574 tsunami-affected families who lost their source of [email protected] income during the tsunami. IOM replaces lost or damaged tools and equipment, provides www..iom.int/tsunami 2 stock and other supplies, and conducts training programmes and business management schemes. In the first half of September, IOM began direct livelihood projects with 151 people. Activities included help for 17 mobile vendors to restart their businesses in Ampara district. In Trincomalee district, IOM assisted 14 cattle rearers and nine goat rearers. Livestock distribution is undertaken with the assistance of the department of Animal Production and Health (APH), which examines all animals and provides health clearance. The APH will also provide training in animal husbandry for the beneficiaries. In addition to direct livelihood assistance, IOM also started four new projects in partnership with Local Community Organisations (LCOs); In Trincomalee, IOM worked in collaboration with the organization Multi Ethnic Community Development to launch a project to provide 41 tsunami-affected farmers with bullocks and bullock carts. In Batticaloa district, IOM began a project with the Beacon of the East Social Service Organization (BESSO) to support 100 beneficiaries engaged in goat-farming. The project includes distribution of livestock, training in goat husbandry, as well as training in business management. In Ampara district, IOM partnered with the Pottuvil Dairy Co-operative Society and Janasaviya Agricultural Dairy Society to launch a project to support the 330 members of the cooperatives. The project includes provision of superior buffalos and cattle to improve the local cattle gene pool, various equipment, and training in cattle rearing and breeding techniques. In Matara, IOM started a project with the Social Economic and Environmental Development Organization (SEEDO). The project provides 150 youths with vocational training in plumbing, electrical wiring, tile laying and other related professions. Through the project, the participants are also provided with toolkits and assisted in finding job-placements. In addition, the project is supporting 100 widows to establish home-based businesses in areas such as curd making, fresh fish frying, and sale of roasted nuts. Beneficiaries are provided with raw materials, entrepreneurship training, and English language training for business operators in tourist areas. To date, IOM has entered into livelihood partnerships with 10 NGOs/CBOs in six districts. IOM expects that by the end of 2005, approximately 2,000 tsunami-affected families will have benefited from assistance provided through these projects. Back in Business… As the sun rises over the town of Muttur in Trincomalee district on Sri Lanka’s east coast, 65-year-old Daoud is already hard at work rebuilding his livelihood, after losing his home and his means of making a living in last December’s tsunami. At dawn he rises to prepare hot porridge, and before long he’s pushing a cart laden with steaming dishes of gruel through an IOM camp, where his extended family has been sheltering since their homes were destroyed by towering waves. In addition to supplying shelter, IOM helped Daoud get back on his feet by providing a sturdy cart, bowls, glasses, cooking equipment, and supplies for his mobile porridge business. His home cooked meals are in hot demand among the camp residents and local townspeople, and Daoud says he’s earning more now than he did before the tsunami. 3 Psychosocial Activities IOM continues to implement psychosocial activities in seven tsunami-affected districts. The psychosocial programme benefits more than 25,000 people living in transitional settlements and surrounding communities. The programme is funded by Japan, Korea, USAID, Poland and various private contributors. Psychosocial activities include but are not limited to: ¾ IOM psychosocial mobilizers have conducted more than 50 workshops in transitional communities concerning issues such as mental health, substance abuse, child protection and youth issues. ¾ IOM has worked closely with tsunami affected communities to establish approximately