The Australian Government, in partnership with the UN Habitat (UNH) settlements programme, has assisted 3,785 returnee families to reconstruct or repair their damaged houses in the districts of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, under the “Shelter Support to Conflict Affected in north Sri Lanka.
To mark the completion of the 18-month, Rs 1 billion project, Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman visited Kallaru last week, to officially hand over 100 houses constructed under the Project.
An estimated 160,000 houses in the north were destroyed during the conflict.
Recognising the need to facilitate the dignified return of those displaced, UNH responded quickly to establish the programme in January 2010. The project has helped rebuild homes in 40 villages.
Around a total of 1,100 acutely vulnerable families received support to completely rebuild their homes, while 2,675 families received support to undertake major repairs to their houses, housing about 12,000 people in all.
UNH Programme Manager Lakshman Perera said that the Australian Government’s speedy response to fund the housing project, had resulted in uplifting the lives of conflict affected people.
The Australian Government and UNH are continuing to work together through a second phase of the housing reconstruction programme, to which that Government has already contributed Rs. 350 million. |
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