A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

HHR Meets with Villagers, February 7, 2005

A team from HHR in Colombo visited affected tsunami-stricken areas again in Batticaloa on January 28th and 29th. Several members of the staff, including Executive Director Francis Xavier, the Coordinator of the Womens' Desk, the Coordinator of the Torture Project, as well as the HHR's financial officer were part of the team. 

On the 28th, Mr. Xavier met with the Deputy Director of Irrigation, the Medical Officer of Health for Batticaloa, the Secretary Provincial Council, as well as the Water Works engineer for Batticaloa. A state of emergency was declared after the tsunami hit, and all relief and rehabilitation work must first be authorized by the appropriate government official. Due to the emergency, they were the officials in charge.

For example, authorization had to be obtained to cut a channel to flush out the stagnant water in and around the three villages (wards 4, 5 & 6 in the village of Poonochchimunai).

The water is still stagnant and muddy, which creates unhygienic conditions; furthermore, as much of the stagnant water is seawater left over from the tsunami, there is a danger that it will contaminate the wells. Drainage has become the most crucial work to be done on a priority basis. 

The government officials have authorized HHR to start the work immediately. 

Mr. Xavier had consulted with Mr. S. Navaneethan, Commissioner of Batticaloa Municipality to seek his approval and advice on the drainage project. Everyone concerned had praise for HHR's humanitarian efforts.

Pandemonium broke out at 10 a.m. as a news began circulating that another disaster was expected to strike on the 28th around Batticaloa. Apparently word had gotten out that there had been another earthquake at Sumatra Island and another tsunami was about to hit. Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm. 

At 2 p.m., we assembled at a meeting of the group of nine volunteers whom we selected from the three villages. 

The subject of the meeting was the establishment of sewing classes for the young women from the villages. Thirty women have sent in their application. It was decided to buy five sewing machines. A room in local nursing school will be rented in which to teach the classes. 

A teacher has been interviewed and will be paid Rs. 4000 per month (approximately $40) for teach four classes per week. In addition, a nightwatchman will be engaged to safeguard the machines. The estimated cost for six months will be Rs. 200,000 (approximately $2,025, including the cost of the sewing machines). 

At 5.00 p.m., we held another meeting, this time for villagers from all three wards. Mr. Xavier addressed the meeting. About 150 people attended - mostly women, as the men had not yet returned from work. They discussed their concerns. They were mostly worried about their houses. After the tsunami hit, their homes were badly damaged and their wells had to be repaired. They were especially worried that the water in the wells was undrinkable as it had accumulated seawater. We explained that HHR's first priority would be to dig a channel to drain the stagnant water into the sea.

The villagers also want HHR to help them to start some cottage industries, as many of the men have lost their jobs. They also requested that we help them rebuild their homes. 

The following is a summary of their requests: 

   1. Either existing wells have to be repaired or new wells built.
   2. Some wanted us to help them acquire land to build new homes, since their existing homes in the villages are uninhabitable.
   3. Some complained that their were no toilets and requested that these be built.
   4. Some of the widows wanted HHR to help them to begin new lives.
   5. They all agreed to volunteer to help dig the channel to drain the seawater.
   6. All said that they have worries concerning employment. They are interested in resuming their previous jobs as cobblers.
   7. Others said that they have completely lost their fishing gear, boats, fishing nets and other goods.
   8. Some want to learn welding, machinery and carpentry.
   9. Some wanted to begin goat farming

They thanked HHR for the help we have given them so far - plastic tanks to store drinking water, bed sheets, mats, mosquito nets, exercise books for the children's school, etc. 

We reassured them that we are committed to helping them for the long term. The meeting ended at 6 p.m.

In addition to Batticaloa, HHR team also visited other areas that were affected by the tsunami. We went to a small community of 30 families in Cheddipalayam that also suffered badly. They are community of dobies (clothes washers) who had been evicted from their own land by Sri Lankan security forces. 

They had been occupying land that they had been given by the ocean. All of their homes were completely destroyed and they lost 14 members from their community of 30 families. Due to discrimination, they have not been welcomed by the refugee community at Cheddipalayam. We plan on reporting on their situation in the near future.