Shelter crisis rages on after tsunami

ALMOST two million people were left homeless after the Asian tsunami. One year on, and as many as 1.4 million remain in temporary accommodation.

In Sri Lanka alone, more than 100,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, leaving half a million people homeless on the island.

Sri Lankan government sources say only 5,000 permanent homes 6.8% out of the 78,000 needed have been built.

Charity Oxfam says the job of re-housing has been difficult as the rebuilding of permanent houses was less of a priority than temporary accommodation, while government bureaucracy over where to rebuild causes further delays.

At Kandegodella Camp at Gandara in the south of the island, 35 families, a total of 159 people, are housed in temporary shelters. Each family receives 5,000 rupees around €41 per month from the government.

Others not fortunate enough to be placed in a camp must find shelter and work for themselves. Thanuja Deepani, aged 29, and her husband owned their home in a street of houses on the beach at Weligama.

Thanuja watched her mother being swept away to her death. Thanuja's house was destroyed. She and her husband were left with nothing.

Mrs Deepani now makes lace for 45c a day while her husband looks for casual labour. They have made a tarpaulin shelter on the tiles where the house once stood, yet she remains grateful as she was given a 5,000 rupee Oxfam grant to buy needles and bobbins to make lace, which is sold mainly to tourists.

She said: "My husband tries to find work so it is good that I can do this also."