ERSF Funded Tsunami Relief Housing Project in Galle, Sri Lanka: Progress Report No.1

Execution arrangements
The execution will be undertaken through a local catholic priest (Fr Bede de Silva) who has been involved with the construction of houses for Tsunami affected families in the Galle area following the destruction by the Tsunami in December 2004 (including the houses constructed with Halcrow Foundation funding). A contract agreement has been signed between the Diocese of Galle and Halcrow to execute the construction of the houses. Fr Bede will take responsibility on behalf of the Diocese and I will be responsible on behalf of Halcrow. Fr Bede will arrange local contractors to carry out the construction works. These will be small contractors who have been involved with the Halcrow Foundation funded houses and whose services and performance has been satisfactory.

Halcrow has employed a local Technical Officer on a part time basis to assist with the monitoring, supervision and progress control. He will maintain close contact and coordination with Fr Bede and visit Galle and the construction locations about twice per month. VRB will also visit Galle during his visits Sri Lanka and monitor progress etc.

The construction programme is expected to be completed within a period of 6 months from April 2007.

Funding
ESRF is providing £25,000 for this project. It is proposed to construct 12 houses for Tsunami affected families with these funds. A small portion of the funds (between approximately 5-8%) will also be used for activities related to the monitoring and progress control. Payments to the Diocese of Galle will be made in accordance with the contract agreement as follows:

1st payment (mobilisation) 25%
2nd payment (interim) (on achieving satisfactory progress amounting to
at least 25% completion) 25%
3rd payment (interim) (on achieving satisfactory progress amounting to
at least 75% completion) 35%
Final payment (on satisfactory completion of all items) up to 15% of ceiling amount

The ceiling amount is Sri Lanka Rupees 4.8 million (approx. £23,000). The average cost of one house will be Rs 400,000 (approx. £1,900).

Selection
The beneficiary families have been selected based on the following criteria:
· Their house was damaged beyond repair by the Tsunami
· The families should be residents of the Galle area (in order to manage the execution by Fr Bede and the Halcrow local organization)
· The families do not have sufficient resources to build a new house and have not received any other source of funding
· The families should have a plot of land (which they own or has been given to them by the government or a benefactor)
· No discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity or gender
· However, poor families with a particular needs will be assigned additional priority (e.g a woman headed household with limited income)

Twelve families have been selected based on the above criteria. These families have been living in temporary accommodation since the Tsunami in December 2004.

Current status
The contract agreement between Halcrow and the Diocese of Galle has been signed and the 1st payment (mobilization) has been made.
Construction work on two houses has commenced. Other houses will follow shortly.

The photo shows a nearly complete house funded by the Halcrow Foundation with the beneficiary family. This is a typical example which will also be adopted for the ESRF houses. However, the size and layout of the houses will vary to suit the plot of land available and to suit the circumstances and interests of the families. There is close consultation with the families during the construction and many families contribute their time and labour during construction.