July
2005 by Pádraig David Grant, Ampara
In another innovative project GOAL has completed a tree planting programme
in Ampara district, on Sri Lanka's tsunami devastated west coast.
Ms Oonagh O'Brien, a project manager
from London, outlined the projects rationale as a "mitigation from
future natural disasters and soil erosion." The root of the cocoanut
tree holds the soil together and the trees themselves act as an effective
frontline barrier against any possible future wave. These coastal barriers
also serve a dual purpose by providing valuable psychological reassurance
to a traumatised population.
In addition the tree planting "helps to demarcate
the land. As time goes on the sand makes it difficult for landowners
to see where their land starts and finishes."
Fast growing trees
These new and exceptionally fast growing cocoanut trees will provide
an income for the affected communities. "A coconut in this area
is R 20-25 depending on size, post-tsunami. Pre-tsunami they were R
10-15." As the trees mature "from the third year onwards the
landowners could get additional regular income from their own land."
The Sri Lankan cocoanut industry is in trouble these days with 150,000
workers losing their jobs due to a scarcity of cocoanuts. This project
will help to ease this situation locally.
Background
Ms. O'Brien explains the background to GOAL's involvement in the affected
area, "We are based in Sainthamaruthu which is an intensely busy
rural town. As it is a Muslim area all the houses are built really closely
together, barely daylight between them, and they were built right up
to the water's edge. I called it an ‘Urban Tsunami’ situation
and can’t imagine what it must have been like for the people during
the tsunami as there was nowhere to go as the water was forcefully channeled
down the narrow streets. This is why so many died in this area; 899
in this town and a total of 2,478 in the three other towns that GOAL
is working in."
"The Cocoanut Project has brought us into close
contact with the victims who lived on the seafront. Many people have
told their story to us as we deliver the coconuts to the place where
their house once stood; now only the flimsy foundations and wells remain."
"The first place I went to the woman had on her
best sari and you could tell what her house looked like from the way
she was standing, never moving from the front door the whole time we
were there. Her sister planted the cocoanuts and sat with Fareeda (a
translator) afterwards to tell their story. Their house was next to
a school. Luckily the school was not busy as it was a holiday but 40
children still turned up and perished on that day. She turns to the
remains of the house opposite and remembers her neighbours who lived
there….the three children and mother now dead. She told the story
of all the houses around her and had to keep covering her tears with
the corner of her sari and turning away. "
Sainthamaruthu is located in a politically unstable region
of the country. Although it hasn't directly impacted on any GOAL personnel
to date the security situation has worsened since the December 26th
tragedy.
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Ms O'Brien
explains, "Since I have been here the amount of soldiers on the
streets has definitely increased as has the size of their guns...The
situation is very similar to how things were in Northern Ireland, it's
going on but so is life around it.
Many people have been shot, grenades thrown, in close proximity but
still it doesn’t affect us too much. Sometimes we can’t
go to the field which mucks up meetings and slows down projects. Hartels
are called, which is annoying, as it is a protest were everyone must
stay at home, no one is allowed to do business or drive in the streets.
We have to work from home on these days which is full on with seven
in the house and often the strike means no electricity so no fans and
no water!!!!"
Can-do attitude
In spite of these concerns GOAL is engaging with the local communities
and addressing their needs with the traditional "can-do" attitude.
When one man was asked by Ms O'Brien why the project was important to
him, he stated that "he had lost his two children to the Tsunami,
the trees were planted to remember their spirit. In the early days having
to water the plants replaced looking after his children in a small,
small way…however he explains that that small way has helped him
get on with his life. The Tamil for seedling is child, the man said
‘….I have lost enough children, don’t take these away’."
Project Statistics:
The project was conceived by Mr Paul Jaufer (Programme
Coordinator) and carried out by Mr MIM. Razeen (Agriculture Programme
Coordinator) and Oonagh O'Brien, a project manager from London.
Project started: 06/04/2005
Project completed: 30/07/2005
The budget: R 2,920,000 (approx. US$30,000)
Number of trees planted and who by:
2250 Plants planted (19 Hectares) by GOAL employees and owners of the
land and their families in the 100 metre buffer zone.
Each beneficiary received an average of 5 trees.
In the future this will bring R 1080 - R 3600 additional income from
60-200 coconuts every two months.
Numbers of families helped:
380 Families (Direct) and 1900 Families (Indirect).
GOAL's local staff:
MIM Razeen (Agriculture Program coordinator)
S.Jaleel (Livelihoods Program Assistant)
AL.Sathik Mohammed (Field Supervisor)
L.Naser (Field Supervisor)
M Ahemed Lebbai (Well cleaning Supervisor)
A. Sinnalebbai (Planter)
S.Varathan (Planter)
U. Suresh (Carpenter)
UL.Salim (Carpenter)
A Sathis ,MIM Mohaideen, S.Priyan MM Kalideen, AL.Imthiyas KS.Kanthan
and M Sulaiman (Labourers) |
