By Miyako Hamasaka | PR Manager
JEN provides emergency shelter assistance to residents affected by the monsoon that occurred in southern Sri Lanka in May. The Ratnapura District, the target area of our project, is located in the southwest part of the country. The district suffered extensive damage due to repetitive floods and landslides, killing 86 people, completely destroying 860 buildings and partially destroying 7,846.
Most of the damaged buildings have broken roofs and walls and cracks in their foundations, so are no longer usable. JEN is distributing materials to familieswho have lost their homes and have had to move in with relativesor to evacuation centers. Using these materials families are able to build their own simple shelters in which to live until their homes are rebuilt.
The Ratnapura District is famous for jewelry production which is one of Sri Lanka’s major industries. Cat’s-eye and sapphire gemstones can be found in the local rivers and mountains, so people search for gemstones everywhere. The district is also rich in produce such as tea, rubber, rambutans and avocados which cannot be cultivated in the north.
Whilst setting up the office JEN immediately obtained approval for the project and started a preliminary needs assessment. Because many of the affected households live deep in the mountains where access by car is not possible, JEN had to do investigations on foot. Once complete the distribution of relief goods start.
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