Mercy Corps staff is partnering with local organizations to mount a sustained, efficient response to Sri Lanka's greatest needs. Current operations include include distribution of water purification materials, rebuilding of water and sanitation facilities, trauma counseling, clean up and ensuring access to basic services.
Mercy Corps has also launched cash-for-work programs to clean up debris and jump-start the local economy, including cleaning wells in the Arugam Bay area. Longer-term efforts will include expansion of shelter, water, and sanitation activities, and programming designed to revitalize local economies and livelihoods.
The organization's initial efforts in Sri Lanka are focused on the areas around Pottuvil, where over 3,300 survivors have been living in just 12 makeshift shelters. Throughout Pottuvil, 2,179 houses and 222 other buildings were completely destroyed by the tsunami. Mercy Corps is distributing sanitary items and other essential materials, as well as operating a small grants program aimed at revitalizing the area's devastated economy.
Over the past weeks, Mercy Corps has been organizing the provision of shelter materials, clothing, hygiene kits, water supplies and sanitation assistance. Through an established local organization, we are also providing non-food items such as bedsheets and mosquito nets to widows and play materials and school supplies for orphaned children.
In a special effort to meet the needs of Sri Lanka's most vulnerable survivors - children - Mercy Corps is conducting innovative counseling programs. These programs are helping survivors cope with their losses, and supporting children and teachers as they return to school after suffering severe trauma. Mercy Corps is working with psychosocial experts to talk to the teachers and children from two camps - 50 children came to school the first day, and 250 children came the second day.
Here are some of Mercy Corps' other recent operations in Sri Lanka:
Mercy Corps is helping to fund the repair of seven large fishing boats, each with a crew of more than 60 people - over 400 jobs in all.
Mercy Corps is giving 12 sewing machines to groups of women to sew new uniforms for students and provide the women with the means for future income generation.
Our team has assessed two schools for reconstruction potential. We've also distributed several temporary shelters to schools that are severely damaged, but resumed classes last week.
Mercy Corps has distributed school materials to over 200 children.
We are setting up 10 water distribution points in Arugam Bay to ensure families have access to clean water.
Mercy Corps purchased a generator for a local organization that is providing children's entertainment in the camps.
Mercy Corps has also made an emergency grant to a local organization, Sewa Lanka, to distribute important non-food items such as kerosene lanterns and hygiene supplies to over 19,000 survivors in Hambantota, Ampara and Galle districts. More grants, many supporting children's programs, will be made in the near future.