News
8 years after the tsunami they still have no home
View(s):Villagers of Saindamarudu in Ampara say living in temporary abodes during these bad weather days was near impossible
Story and pix by Wasantha Chandrapala
Eight years after the tsunami devastated the coastal areas of the country, some of the affected families are still awaiting permanent homes.
A temporary shelter that is ‘home’ for a family in the village
Some villagers of Saindamarudu in the Ampara district, who have been living in temporary shelters since the 2004 December tsunami brought death and destruction, complain that the houses are leaking and the prevailing heavy rains and floods bringing untold hardships.
Meanwhile authorities claim the delay in building permanent houses lay in finding suitable land to relocate them.
More than 10,500 lives were lost and over 800 houses were damaged due to the tsunami in the Ampara district.
About 300 houses are yet to be built and those affected are living in temporary shelters put up by mosques and other organisations while others are living in partially damaged houses.
Sharing their woes A.C.M. Haniffa said they were facing a lot of hardship as the houses were leaking and the heavy rains were adding to their problems.
Another complained that the toilets of the temporary shelters were in a very bad condition posing a health hazard.
Bahid Farzana sharing hew views said it was difficult to concentrate on studies under these conditions.
“We have been promised houses but we do not know when this will be,” Abubacar Sakeena said.
Meanwhile more than 75 displaced families in Saindamarudu who were resettled in Walakapitiya have returned to their villages as they want to get back to their livelihood, fishing.
Saindamarudu Divisional Secretary A.L.M.Saleem said, “The area was one of those badly affected by the tsunami .
We have completed 500 houses and 300 more need to be constructed. Of them 200 houses are being built by the Economic Development Ministry.
 A.C. M. Haniffa |
 Bahid Farzana |
“One of the main problems in this area has been finding suitable land.
The people are not willing to resettle in distant areas.
We have aquired a 50-acre paddy field and filling it is not an easy process.
By 2013 we hope to give these people the houses,” he assured.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus