The tsunami disaster

Overview

The tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 affected five of the nine provinces and 13 of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. These included Jaffna, Killinochchi och Mullativ in the north, Trincomalee, Batticaloa och Ampara in the east, Hambantota, Matara och Galle in the south, Kalutara, Colombo och Gampaha in the west and Puttalam in the northwest provinces. The number of affected families varied from 13,652 in Jaffna, to 63,717 in Batticaloa, 38,624 in Ampara, 16,994 in Hambantota, 20,675 in Iklatara, 23,158 in Calle, 6,221 in Kalutara„ 9,647 in Colombo och 232 in Puttalam. The total number of displaced families is 97,031 with the highest numbers being located in Trincornalee, Ampara, Batticaloa and Galle. 283,557 live in 498 welfare camps, although these numbers are getting less as more people move or live with families. 220,893 are estimated to be living with friends. The total of those affected are 504,440 of whom more than 36 procent are children. Among the dead and missing the largest number are children as they are most vulnerable and at risk in disaster situations. Approximately 40,000 people are estimated to be dead and 6,000 - 7,000 still missing. This has immediate care implications for children who remained alive since they may have lost one or both parents, are separated from families, or are unaccompanied.

Definitions

• Orphans are children whose parents are both known to be dead.
• Single parent children are those who have one parent known to be dead.
• Separated children are children separated from both parents, or from their previous legal or customary primary care giver. However, they are not necessarily separated from their relatives. Such children could include those who live with other adult family members.

Economic help to poor children

If you are interested in supporting these children, please join SREDEWO. We have a list of selected suitable children with a personal and official interview. Therefore you can support them financially and in other ways. You may support them with one hundred crowns or ten euros per month. You may pay monthly or yearly according to your wishes.

 

Please contact Bhante Dhammaratana on telephone 0707-29 54 65 for more information.

He speaks both English and Swedish.

 

Otherwise, you may kindly send to our bank account no. 1007 6002 8469 — Sampath Bank — Kandy. Sri Lanka

 

We manage all financial support in order to make sure your child is helped. One part of your donation will be deposited in the childs deposit account for his future benefit. The other part is sent to the caretaker of the child. You may request any details about the child. When you go to Sri Lanka, you may meet your child personally.