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St. Andrew's Tsunami Relief status at 9th May, 2005.
It is now four and a half months after "T-day" = tsunami or tidal wave day. News of a further earthquake in Indonesia caused fresh ripples of anxiety on Easter Monday, 25th March. No physical effects were felt in Sri Lanka.Related topics: news index - index - contact
There are signs that the first phase of recovery is over. On Monday 16th May, John participates in a multifaith graveside service organised by the British Police for 57 bodies of people of different nationalities who have not been identified.
We continue to receive donations of clothing, food, toys and medication. These are being distributed through our contacts in Dehiwala, Ampara, Elpitiya and Mawella. We have received very generous help from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) which has made ten-ton trucks available for our use to deliver items to those contacts.
Our principle involvement continues to be with the community of Mawella, in the south east of Sri Lanka. We have provided over 500 families with bedding, water barrels and electric torches. We are assessing the local water supply to see how the ongoing need for fresh water can be met - either through cleaned wells, restored pipelines, a water purification plant or by desalination. We have the services of a water engineer, Mr. Andre Razeek, the son of one of our elders.
The children of Mawella are now being educated at Moraketiyara School, a kilometre inland. We have supplied paint for blackboards and furniture. We have made funds available to build a new toilet block. We await estimates for a new extended boundary fence. We are waiting to see the extent of Rotary International's commitment to the school.
We have reports on 34 houses in need of repair or rebuilding. A team from the church will visit early in June to assess the extent of the damage and the repairs required. The cost will be about Rs.5million (US$50K). We have agreed to replace nets and fishing gear for 27 fishermen at a cost of Rs.1.5M. (US$15K).
Our relationship with the community there remains very open and trusting. We have also become involved with the neighbouring community of Hunwella a few kilometres to the west where there are about 20 families. We have agreed to buy new nets and gear for three families and we are contacting sponsors for a new 19.5foot fibreglass boat and 25 horse power outboard engine at a cost of Rs400K (US$4K).
We are also supporting several other individual cases which have been brought to our notice in different parts of the country, assisting with house repairs, furniture replacement, medical expenses and income generation.
We continue to receive a generous flow of donations. Our fund is in excess of Rs.20M (US$200K) with a further Rs.15M (US$150K) pledged. Two Scottish volunteers have passed through and had good experiences. Another will be on her way soon. Our Tsunami Committee continues to work well and carefully together. We recognise that this will continue to be a long-term recovery programme which requires, above all things, wisdom and prayer.
Thank you for yours.
John Purves.
14-02-2006