The IFRC and at least six Red Cross Societies are now involved in various projects aimed at maintaining and upgrading transitional shelters across the country. The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is engaged in upgrading efforts in more than twenty temporary camps with a primary focus on improving water and sanitation infrastructure, including camp drainage, construction of latrines and repairs to some of the shelters.

In the North and North East, the Australian Red Cross is working in camps in Jaffna, the Hong Kong Red Cross in Trincomalee and the German Red Cross in Ampara. Together with the French Red Cross, the IFRC is supporting upgrading efforts in 6 temporary camps in Ampara. The French Red Cross is also working in seven camps in Galle and one site in Matara while the Spanish Red Cross is working at one site in Galle. The IFRC Water and Sanitation team has recently completed improvements to drainage systems in two temporary camps in Galle. IFRC teams also continue to work at two further sites in Colombo and Matara. In Colombo, hygiene promotion sessions have been organized with children and adults at a temporary camp in Ratmalana, which is home to 172 families. These sessions have focused on promoting hand-washing and improving solid waste management in the camp in collaboration with the municipal authorities.

In Hambantota District the Netherlands Red Cross (NRC) has been assigned the lead role in care and maintenance and de-commissioning of transitional shelters. As more people residing in temporary camps move into permanent housing, the NRC is developing a schedule around the relocation of remaining families. Together with the UN, the NRC is undertaking an assessment of the 18 remaining camps to prepare a check-list that will guide the de-commissioning process of the camps. As they move, many of the camp residents will take their transitional shelter to use as an extension to their new home.However, the remaining infrastructure needs to be de-commissioned systematically, including the electricity and water supply, septic tanks and any remaining foundations. De-commissioning will continue for the next 4 months by which time it is hoped that all of the camps in Hambantota will be empty.

Permanent Housing update

More than 2000 homes in the Red Cross Red Crescent permanent housing programme are currently under different stages of the construction process. Three tenders for the appointment of contractors on IFRC housing projects in Matara, Colombo and Batticaloa have recently been approved and work will soon commence on a total of 148 houses to be built on these sites. On 23rd November a foundation stone laying ceremony was held for one of the Spanish Red Cross housing projects at Lagoswatta in Kalutara District. Next week, work will begin on constructing 69 houses on a 2.1 hectare site. The Spanish Red Cross has also begun work on building 19 houses on privately owned land at Peraliya, near to Hikkaduwa.

A ground breaking ceremony for the Finnish Red Cross housing project in Thamaraikulam, Ampara district, took place on the 30th November. This project will see the construction of over 400 houses together with the required infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation and electricity. On 7 December, the Irish Red Cross held a foundation stone laying ceremony for the Janarajadina Vidyalaya housing project in Kalutara district which includes the construction of apartments for over 80 . sher-families affected by the tsunami as well as a school and community centre. A total of 88 apartments will be constructed in eight four story apartment blocks spread across the site.

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