The Clearing of the Dutch Canal

20 Mar 2005

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One of the most important and immediate jobs (and by far the most disgusting) was to get the canal moving again. In many places the canal was blocked, full of building debris, trees, and rotting material (clothes etc), the water was stagnant and seeing as the canal is also used by some as a sewer, the potential for disease was significant.

As well as being a potential health hazard in its own right, polluting the water table and wells, it had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and there was talk of a possible Dengue fever outbreak.

Apparently the water has never flowed very well, and this had been exacerbated by the tsunami and subsequent dumping of rubbish into it.

The US Marine Corps originally surveyed the canal with a view to clearing it, but they were withdrawn from the country. Their attempts to find another NGO to take over were not fruitful. With this in mind, the Friends of Unawatuna made plans to start dredging and clearing it, paying local labour to undertake the work, alongside heavy equipment hired by us. Aleksis Zarins and Matt Rose were the driving force behind this work for Friends Of Unawatuna.

Work began as a small group: Vee, Jake and Aleksis Zarins and Matt Rose, with a few of the locals . This was not pleasant and when you add the searing heat of the day it was very tiring.

We eventually found some people willing to work so Friends of Unawatuna funded this for a week for 20 people each day. Everyone did a fantastic job and the canal through Unawatuna is now clear and flowing OK.

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