| I am glad that this time I can share with you more
good news. In two different locations in Kalmunai
we built thirty housing units. On the 26th and 27th
of February as we dedicated the premises 30 homeless
families got a private space where they can call home
until the permanent housing for them will be built.
What we call a “temporary home” is
actually a 12+12 room and five feet long space where
the family can cook and keep their belongings. Each
room has electricity and cement floors. Toilets
are built outside the building for communal use
and the water tanks or wells are prepared for drinking
water and daily use. You can view these photos from
the above link.
For the thirty units we built two big buildings.
One with twenty units and the other with ten. The
building with ten units were built for the medical
staff of Kalmunai hospital. Many staff members lost
everything and have become homeless. We need to
think of the medical staff who provide one of the
most essential services.
More than ten weeks has passed now since the tsunami
disaster. Still there are hundreds of families living
in schools or homes of their families and friends.
Every one of them have lost their homes and everything
they own and many of their family members. Those
who live in schools have to live in big halls with
a pile of their belonging in a corner somewhere.
They sleep in mats and there is no privacy.
Many of them are becoming more and more impatient
and angry of the conditions of the refugee camps.
The government in Ampara District, that is south
east of Sri Lanka has no plans to build permanent
homes yet. Can you believe!
Thousands of families are still living in a limbo.
That is why our temporary housing is a luxury for
some and they are so happy and grateful to receive
them.
I got a chance to speak with some of the recipients
of the rooms. For example, Mrs. Paramasiva is a
thirty year old Tamil woman. She received unit #10
in our triple gem camp number one. She has lost
her mother, sister and seven year old son Didlakshan.
I knew her quite well because almost every time
I visited the refugee camp I saw her sitting in
a corner weeping and crying. Because of the language
barrier I was able to have only brief conversations
with the help of an interpreter.
The day after she received the room I visited the
camp and spent some time with them. Paramasivam
invited us to her room she showed us the photos
of the family members who died. The photos were
hanging on the wall of her mother,sister and son.
She had put flower garlands around each picture.
She started crying again.
Her seven-year-old son was at the Sunday school
at the time of tsunami. When the Sunday school got
crushed by the tsunami waves, forty five children
died including her son. Later she saw all three
bodies and they were buried in a mass grave. She
saved her older son who lives with her now.
The tears in her eyes and the sadness in her face
told me one more story of the struggle of the tsunami
victims and how they try to come into terms with
their shattered lives. Very often I noticed how
my happiness of helping them gets pinched by the
experience of the pain they hold in their hearts.
I have bad dreams at times because of this dilemma.
We are currently building forty more housing units
which will be dedicated on the 13th of March. We
will keep you informed. Thank you again for all
your support and kindness. I do all this wonderful
things because of your kindness, caring and support.
Thank you.
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