IOM today handed over 148 transitional
homes to tsunami affected families in Kallady on Sri Lanka's hard-hit east
coast, as concern grows about the potential impact of the coming monsoon.
Sri Lanka's east coast regularly experiences
floods and torrential downpours during the northeast monsoon season, which
can start as early as September. Last year deadly flash floods displaced
hundreds of thousands of people in the impoverished eastern districts.
"Communities in the east bore the brunt of the tsunami and with another monsoon approaching it's even more important to provide high quality accommodation for the tens of thousands of families made homeless by the disaster," said IOM's chief of mission in Sri Lanka, Mary Sheehan, who formally handed over the homes to about 600 Kallady residents.
Project Officer, Thiyagarajah Murallidaran, said all of the IOM's transitional houses are built to a high standard and will protect their occupants when heavy rains set in.
"All of our transitional homes provide each family with at least 200 square feet of space, as well as adequate ventilation, electricity, water, sanitation, and protection from the elements," said Murallidaran.
The transitional accommodation is designed to last up to two years while permanent housing is finalized for the 86,000 Sri Lankan families made homeless in the tsunami. IOM has built more than 2,100 transitional homes island wide, and expects that figure to rise to 3,000 before the onset of the eastern monsoon.
Sri Lanka has two monsoons annually, and the south and west coasts are currently experiencing heavy rains.
Several UN agencies have pre-positioned relief supplies in order to quickly respond to flash flooding or any other emergencies caused by the monsoons.
For more information please contact
Gina Wilkinson
IOM Sri Lanka
Tel: +94-777-597-837
E-mail: ginaw@iomsrilanka.org