Sri Lanka: Reconstruction after 26 years of civil war

For 26 years the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil rebels were engaged in a vicious armed struggle over the establishment of an indipendent Tami State. By May 2009 the government troops hat gradually captured all areas previously under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). With this, the long civil war could finally be declared as over - with an appalling record: 80,000 people had lost their lives. At the end of the war around 350,000 internally displaced persons were living in refugee camps. The villages and towns in the north of the country had been almost completely destroyed with large areas still mined today.

Many children lost their
fathers in the war.Resettlement of the displaced

Resettlement of the displaced to their home villages began at the end of 2009 with international support. The previous rebel area is now being de-mined inch by inch. Meanwhile the refugee camps are almost empty. Those who were not yet able to return to their villages are living provisionally with friends and relatives until their own village are declared free for resettlement. Many women have lost their husbands and now have sole responsability for their children. Families are living in tents and often they do not have the necessary tools for cultivating the fields. Wells are contaminated and often damaged. Many do not know how to earn their living and are for now reliant on external support.

Welthungerhilfe and its partners organisation Sewalanka Foundation are supporting around 3.800 Tamil families resettling in the districts of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka. In the initials phase nutricious complementary food was distributed to 1.500 families and temporary shelter and latrines constructed for 580 families. Additionally, 2.300 families received agricultural tools and seeds enabling them to cultivate the fallow fields and create a new livelihood for their families.

More hud than house
Reconstruction of Village Infrastruktur

The availability of drinking water is a further urgent problem. During the war many wells were damaged or the water is contaminated. Welthungerhilfe and Sewalanka Foundation support the villagers to repair and clean their 150 wells. In order that the wells remain in good working order in the long term water user-groups are formed in the villages. They contribute to and participate in the construction and repair work.

Damaged village infrastructur such as roads, community buildings, irrigation canals and small reservoirs (tanks) is also being reconstructed. 1,100 families participate in this work, earning the money to survive until they are able to cultivate their fields or restart their small-scale business again.

Creation of New Income Sources

As soon as the most urgent needs of the resettlers are covered they work together with Welthungerhilfe and Sewalanka Foundation towards securing their long-term livelihood. In this the people are supported in restarting their small enterprises. Many of the women produce clay pots at home, rear goats or chickens, produce small snacks or want to open a small kiosk. The men are trying to re-establish themselves, for example as independent craftsmen. The direct support of 200 particularly needy families means that important income sources are being tapped and additionally the development of local markets and services are being promoted.

One of the self-help-groups in
Vavuniya.
For the first time in many years these people have the chance of permanent resettlement. According to a study of the World Food Programme 90 percent of them have been displaced three or more time. After the long years of civil war they are now able to at last take their future into their own hands. For this they need not only economic security but also a strong community feeling, based on common trust and esteem. Welthungerhilfe and its partner support this process through the establishing of self-help groups. In addition trainings on psychological problems are offered for example to help affected persons finding a hold in the community after the death of a husband or wife.  

In all their activites Sewalanka Foundation and Welthungerhilfe are able to draw on 15 years of experience in the region. They were one of the few NGOs continually active on site - with the positive effect: the people know both organisations and know that they can rely on them.