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July 2005 by Pádraig
David Grant, Ampara
Seven months after Sri Lanka's unprecedented tragedy of
December 26th 2004, there are signs of a society slowly getting back
on it's feet. Amid the destruction wrought by the tsunami the humanitarian
agency GOAL is rehabilitating sixty-four schools in the underdeveloped
and neglected eastern province of Ampara.
Budget
With a budget of $7.5m the project is GOAL's biggest ever single project.
It will have a significant impact on the lives of over 31,000 school
children in the hardest hit community on the island, where livelihoods
and lives were swept away in the terrifying ordeal.
Work has already started in several locations, directed
by Ailbhe Gerrard, a project manager from Coolbawn near Nenagh in
Co. Tipperary, Ireland. "Three of the schools had been directly
hit by the tsunami wave, the force had smashed buildings leaving roofs
hanging precariously over space where walls used to be, quarter structures
standing abandoned and foundations exposed. Sixty one schools had
hosted the thousands of refugees for weeks and in some cases months.
These people needed shelter and had broken locks to enter classrooms,
burnt wooden furniture to cook and heat water. There was extensive
damage to latrines, water pipes and electrical fittings. "
The lesser damaged buildings have been given a fresh
coat of paint and small repairs carried out to fixtures and fittings
are allowing children to return to schools in large numbers. It is
GOAL's intention to provide a better learning environment for the
over 31,000 students and teachers affected in Sammanthurai and Kalmunai
Education Zones.
The budget for this rebuilding work is expected to
top US$7.5 million. The funding has been sourced from a generous Irish
public and government and from international donors in response to
the destruction.
Reconstruction work
Using locally hired contractors and labour the work will take about
a year to complete. The task involves the complete rebuilding of 3
schools, the repair of 41 and the renovation of a further 21 lesser
damaged buildings.
The reconstruction work is taking place against a troubling
background of political instability and insecurity in the north-eastern
and eastern provinces. Here, twenty years of civil war, between the
Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government, has left over sixty-five
thousand people dead. An already traumatised population remains deeply
distrustful of promises made by politicians.
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Although there exists a three year old
cease-fire, Ampara remains a politically volatile area with a large
military presence. This cease-fire is coming under increasing strain
as aid promised to the region has been slow to materialise.
Tamil frustration, simmering since the wave crashed through the region,
recently reached boiling point as the government appeared to renege
on a promise to share foreign aid. The Tigers have upped the ante by
stating that their politicians may now have to use their own armed escorts
when traveling in government controlled areas. Mr S.P. Thamilselvan,
the Tigers' political chief, said on the rebel's web site that "we
are in reality moving very fast toward the end of the peace efforts."
Public demonstrations, some violent but usually taking
the form of strikes and parades, have occurred in many towns throughout
the region since December.
This all impacts on the ability of the non-governmental
organisations and the U.N. to carry out their programmes efficiently.
Personnel find themselves living under curfew, their movements restricted
and reconstruction work temporarily halted in periods of high tension.
Cross Community Project
Bearing in mind these sensitivities and problems, GOAL's rehabilitation
programme is a cross community project that includes both Singhalese
and Tamil society and Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist centres of learning.
Schools have been selected with the cooperation and participation of
both authorities on the ground and the Ministry of Education.
In addition, according to Ms. Gerrard, "every school
principal of the sixty-four has been approached, briefed, the programme
and GOAL's priorities explained and agreed. They have provided copies
of their SWAP/UNICEF 5 year plans in Tamil (language) and have committed
to meeting their stakeholders and verifying the information in these
according to GOAL priorities. This is necessary for the programme, to
identify new building and equipment requirements."
"The aim of this project is to improve the quality
of the school buildings and equipment to make the schools a better learning
environment for the children, teachers and the community."
This is just one rebuilding project that GOAL is undertaking
throughout the tsunami affected regions of Sri Lanka. |
