Caritas-Sri Lanka winds down its aid plan for tsunami victims
(June 19, 2009) Caritas-Sri Lanka has completed its rehabilitation and reconstruction
programme which began right after a tsunami devastated the island nation in 2004.
Officials of Caritas-Sri Lanka, also known as the Social and Economic Development
Centre, SEDEC, held a press conference in Colombo on Wednesday to present the results
of the work carried out so far. The Catholic charity reported that 10,173 permanent
housing units and 12,616 temporary shelters were built. Fishermen received 26,967
various kinds of assets. Small farmers received another 34,163 to help start up their
activity again, including seeds, tools, water pumps and irrigation facilities. Some
$85 million, raised in 64 countries were invested in the programme. Tsunami program
manager K Theivendirarajah explained that his organisation focused on education and
psychosocial support for tsunami victims. Given the high unemployment rate and the
great number of still homeless tsunami victims Caritas-SEDEC will continue to help
those in need.