News Update 8

By Jamie & Claire Wilkinson

30 Jan 2005

NEWS UPDATE 8 - 30^th January 2005

GOOD NEWS – WE ARE NOW A REGISTERED CHARITY!

We are now registered charity, number 1107804. Amongst other benefits, this means we can claim an additional 28% on most donations made via Giftaid. To do this we need your permission. During next week we will be amending our donation process and making retrospective requests for your permission to donate under Giftaid.

Over the last weeks a number of us have been back to Unawatuna, and Matt Rose hasn’t yet returned to the UK. It may be of interest to get an update on what the current situation is over there, and what aid agencies are doing on the ground to help out….

PHYSICALLY – Unawatuna looks quite different now. A significant amount to clearing up has happened over the last week, with several JCBs operating to clear private plots and common areas, particularly along the roadsides. The rubble and debris is currently being moved to the “Helipad” field inland from the Rock House. This field is owned by a large SL company who initially planned a 400 room hotel here. This was thwarted several years back hence the land lying idle. The owners have returned however and the field is now fenced off to prevent further access. Despite this work there is still an awful lot more to do – an offer from a Czech organisation to fund the removal of debris from the entire village is currently being considered.

Telephone engineers are repairing overhead lines this week.

The majority of the vegetation was killed off by the salt water. Signs of regrowth are visible.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS – There are tents in Unawatuna, although most are unoccupied and used mainly to lay claim to land where businesses once stood. A few families are still living in tents in the old quarry on the Matara road. Homes up on the hill are still very crowded with displaced extended families. Well cleaning has commenced and is ongoing, water does not appear to be a problem. Dried and fresh food distributions are happening on a regular basis. Several distributions took place last week of gas cookers/bottles, mattresses, cooking pots, children’s shoes, and other items in short supply. Overall life seems to be uncomfortable for many, but not dangerous. The most immediate concern to health appears to be stagnant water and rotting material in the old Dutch Canal (more later).

COASTAL NO-BUILD ZONE – The government recently announced that only those businesses and residences that have Tourist Board approval can be rebuilt within 100 metres of the shoreline. We believe that no more than a dozen guest houses/restaurants had this approval. It appears the zone has now been reduced to 35m but this would still have a significant impact on the character of Unawatuna and the ability of individuals to rebuild their livelihoods. Whilst the majority of people accept that some form of sensible control is required in order to prevent over-development and create a sustainable economic and environmental balance, many feel that the arbitrary no-build zone should be amended for Unawatuna and similar areas. A campaign has been started locally asking people to write to various governmental departments expressing your views, and requesting that the views of local businesses, residents, fishermen etc. be given special consideration when applying these rules. If you would like to help the locals with this campaign please read the attached document “PublicCampaign” for more info. All we would ask is that you write as a private individual and not under the Friends Of Unawatuna umbrella so as to avoid any negative opinions of us in sensitive areas!

Overall, the announcement of the no-build zone has created confusion in Unawatuna. Some people have continued with the rebuilding of their premises, others had started but now appear to have stopped, yet more are awaiting clarification of the rules before deciding on how/where/if to rebuild.

THE DUTCH CANAL – Is in many places blocked, and generally full of solid debris, trees, and rotting material (clothes etc).. Apparently the water has never flowed very well, and this has now been exacerbated by the tsunami and subsequent dumping of rubbish into it. As well as being a potential health hazard in its own right, polluting the water table and wells, it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and there is talk of a (possible) Dengue fever outbreak. The US Marine Corps surveyed the canal with a view to clearing it, but they have now been withdrawn from the country. Their attempts to find another NGO to take over do not seem to have been fruitful. With this in mind we have plans in place to start the dredging and cleaning of the canal from next Tuesday, paying local labour to undertake the work, alongside heavy equipment hired by us. Aleksis Zarins is the driving force behind this work for Friends Of Unawatuna.

OTHER FoU INITIATIVES – Our stated intention has always been to become involved in mid to long term rebuilding projects, and not with immediate aid. However there are a number of small but useful projects that we have been able to undertake so far. As the local school no longer exists most children have been relocated to 2 schools on the edge of Galle. Both these schools were basically undamaged by the wave but are now stretched with the influx of new pupils. As mentioned in a previous update, at the “Anuldevi Balika Vidyalaya” girls school we have provided several hundred new school books, pens, and 250 pairs of new shoes to pupils who had lost theirs. The school also had its perimeter wall washed away leaving the pupils exposed to traffic on the adjacent road and able to wander away from the school. We have provided the cement required to rebuild the approx 100m wall, a local businessman has provided the hardcore/bricks. The work started last week (mainly parents providing the labour) and should be finished this week.  At the “G/Unawatuna MV” school 2 badly needed classrooms were unusable as they had no ceiling allowing birds to roost and mess up the rooms. We have provided the building materials to install new ceilings, clean, and repaint the rooms. Again parents provided the labour and worked long hours to complete the job. We are now looking to provide the furniture needed to open the classrooms. Both these initiatives were driven forward by Matt Rose. We will also be passing on details of these schools to UK schools who may wish to establish pen pal or similar schemes with the children.

CAN WE GO BACK? – Yes!  Most people we spoke to in Unawatuna want tourists back as soon as possible. There are several guest houses fully open (Saadhana Bird House, Rock House, Thambapanni Retreat, UBR, Primrose, and The Strand amongst others), and enough places to get a decent meal (Pink Elephant in a new location, Zimmer, South Ceylon, and Sonja Rest in addition to the guest houses). I expect more have opened since returning a few days ago. There is a plan in place to clear the beach (by the Czech Red Cross), and although some obvious sensitivity is required one of the best ways we can help is to go back soon and spend some money. Getting around is not a problem: buses and tuk-tuks are running as before. And even better Sri Lankan Airlines are about to offer a “2 for 1” deal on flights booked between 14^th and 28^th Feb for flights taken between 14^th Feb and 20^th June.

There’s plenty more info to follow, will keep you informed.