Tsunami Crisis: Long-term recovery

Sustainable water sources

The building, cleaning and repairing of wells was one way we restored permanent water supplies.

Here, debris is cleared from the bottom of a well. By August 2005, Oxfam’s well-cleaning teams in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka had cleaned more than 4,800 wells.

In Indonesia we repaired town water supply systems. In the Maldives we built three desalination plants.

Photo: Howard Davies

Rebuilding homes

We have been involved in the construction of temporary and permanent housing, in consultation with local communities, where possible.

In Sri Lanka, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist families had different requirements for shelters – Oxfam engineers incorporated their needs into the designs.

We also trained local people. Ramriratheeps Paramalingam, 17, (pictured) attended an Oxfam carpentry and masonry skills training course in Sri Lanka.

Photo: Howard Davies

Permanent housing

Getting communities back into permanent housing was one of the most contentious issues of the tsunami response.

Here, Mrs Dayaseeli, stands in front of her new, Oxfam-built, house in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

However, in many places work has been slowed by legal issues over land, lack of skilled labour, and problems with sourcing supplies. We did all that we could to find solutions to these issues.

Photo: Howard Davies

Ensuring communities have a say

One of our biggest contributions to permanent housing has been our support for community involvement in housing decisions.

In Sri Lanka, we lobbied the government about its resettlement policies, urging that affected families be given adequate choices.

In Indonesia, we have lobbied for joint land titles for women; as well as calling for greater rights for squatters and tenants.

Photo: Jim Holmes

Supporting equal rights

Another concern has been to ensure that women’s rights are protected, and that they are involved in decision-making processes.

In Vedaranyam, India, we introduced equal wages for women working to restore the salt pans (pictured).

Oxfam’s partner, FACE, has continued to work with local landowners, and the women themselves, to ensure that they can continue to receive equal pay.

Photo: Rajendra Shaw

Aiding recovery

Initially, our work helping people regain a means of earning a living, focused on cash-for-work projects, and replacing lost assets.

This fishing community in Sri Lanka requested, and received, fibre-glass boats with motors to enable them to fish in deep waters.

“We fishermen will never forget, because Oxfam was the first to come and help us.” Khalikuti Viraputera

Photo: Howard Davies

Back in business

In 2006, we moved to providing grants and loans, organising training, and setting up self-help groups.

In Indonesia, Mr Dahlani, pictured, received an Oxfam grant that enabled him to restock his shop and make a living again.

By the end of 2006 we had provided grants to support 23,362 people. Helping restore people’s livelihoods represents the largest part of our tsunami response.

Photo: Jim Holmes

Preparing for disaster

Oxfam supported the rehabilitation of sand dunes, and the planting of mangroves to protect communities in coastal areas (pictured).

With partners and government agencies we worked to improve people’s ability to respond to future hazards, and reduce the risk of emergencies occurring again.

As well as planting mangroves, rapid response teams were created and forums for discussing disaster management were set up.

Photo: Jim Holmes

Looking to the future

Overall we aim to help communities escape the poverty that made them vulnerable to the tsunami in the first place.

Our work to renew and improve tsunami-affected communities continued until the end of 2008.

We ensured that the money we received helped families, like the Karinanayaka’s (pictured), to re-establish dignified, self-sufficient lives.

Photo: Howard Davies