Thank you very much for the quick response.
Yes we are receiving first aid from Red Cross etc. As you say it is what is needed to re-settle these people, would be the biggest operation, needing planning.
Yesterday, I was in Galle District which is one of the worst hit Ares and what I saw, devastates me. Some people have nothing, some a few clothes, skeletons of houses, etc. We are in the process of organizing food, clothes, medicines, to be distributed by our clubs, who are not in the disaster area. Most of these people are housed in places of worship and schools which are not damaged. Although they are in receipt of food, clothes, medicines, water, the biggest problem is toilets & proper sanitation. Which is, still to be addressed although some of our clubs are engaged in providing make shift toilets, which is no where near the number needed. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT NEED TO PREVENT DISEASES & EPIDEMICS.
Of the ten Regions in the District, Six are not in the disaster area. They have been allocated areas of disaster to take urgent supplies as mentioned above, coordinated with the R/c's & Z/c's of the disaster area, who are the best to analyze the need of the people.
As the next stage we are planning to re-settle around 100 families in the Matara area which a little deeper in the south but not hit very badly. For them we need kitchen utensils, bedding in the form of mats, sheets & pillows, plates, cutlery. For housing we are trying to assess what damage is there to their houses, repair them or clean them and make it habitable for living. This is the first stage. For this, we either need money or kind mentioned above. Which ever that you are in a position to provide at the earliest will be very welcome.
For those who need their houses to be rebuilt, we are looking at building low cost houses, which approx. would cost SL Rs. 50,000/- each with bare necessary details, like family or sitting area, one room, kitchen & toilet. As we would be using cement blocks for the walls, plastering would not be needed, and for roofing we will use aluminium roofing sheets, therefore we can keep the cost to a minimum.
Some of these people who are fisher folk, their livelihood was fishing. Most of the boats are damaged. Repairs need money, which they do not have. In addition to the boats they also need fishing nets, buoys, repairs to engines, if the engine is still intact. Some of these people have been small time business people. Their livelihood being, running small kiosk selling food etc. To start up their business - repairs or new buildings, money to purchase the essentials etc.
In addition to these people Lions too have been affected as some of them have lost their business premises. They too would need some form of assistance to re-start their lives. This I think would give you an idea of what is needed and for you to decide in what form you could help us. This is an initial plan drawn to help the people, to the best of our ability.
Thank you,4th January 2005.
Thank you for your assistance in our efforts to help the victims of the tsunami waves that devastated the coastal belt of Sri Lanka.
The death toll keeps increasing by the hour and when the number still missing is taken into account, will exceed 50,000. One third of the dead are children.
Over 1,000,000 have been displaced and are destitute, having lost their residences with all their belongings, and are housed in temporary shelters and places of worship. Parents have lost their children and some children are the only survivors in their families. All in all it is a very pathetic situation.
At present we are engaged in providing emergency relief in the Trincomalee, Muttur, Valaichenai, Batticaloa, Kaluwanchikudi, Kalmunai, Pottuvil and Ampara areas siltuated in the eastern coast and are within the boundaries of Lions District 306C .
Short Term Relief:
- Dry rations, medicine, drinking water and clothing are distributed on a daily basis through the Lions Clubs in the areas.
- We are holding ongoing medical camps to look after the health of the displaced persons and to treat the injured.
- Temporary toilets are being put up and sanitary facilities provided in order to check spreading of communicable diseases. The situation is worsened by the onset of heavy rains causing floods.
Long Term Relief:
- We in Lions District 306C set ourselves an initial target to build 1,000 houses to be donated to those whose dwellings have been washed away. Lions of our district and our well wishers have pledged their support in this effort but we are compelled to depend on assistance provided by our Lion fraternity abroad in meeting this formidable task.
- Plans are being drawn up for a low cost housing scheme in the form of twin houses to bring down construction costs.
- Each unit is estimated to cost around US$ 1,500/=
- Work on this project will commence as soon as the clearing of the debris, which is underway, is completed.
We earnestly seek your assistance in our short term and/or long term relief programmes in whatever possible way.
Your support & cooperation is much appreciated.
Regards