Post-disaster Housing: Lessons Learnt from the 2004 Tsunami of Sri Lanka

Author(s):  
Nisha Arunatilake
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagath Manjula Arunakumara Manatunge ◽  
Udya Abeysinghe

The 2004 tsunami is one of the most devastating natural disasters the world has experienced in the recent past, and it is imperative that we learn from this experience about how to effectively implement post-disaster housing projects. Relatively little research has been conducted to study the level of satisfaction of affected persons in the long term after receiving houses in new settlements with ‘better’ socio-economic and physical facilities. The post-disaster resettlement schemes established in Sri Lanka provide an ideal setting to study the factors affecting long-term satisfaction of communities in the context of providing permanent housing. The present study focused on 12 such sites in Sri Lanka. The elements/criteria chosen to assess the long-term satisfaction of the resettlers consisted of factors related to site selection, the design of dwelling units and surroundings, material well-being and provision of services and infrastructure, aspects related to social factors and perceptions regarding the resettlement process, neighbourhood and social interactions. From the observations of this study, it can be concluded that despite the availability of sufficient funding, the opportunities to plan, design and implement sustainable community-responsive resettlement programmes for tsunami affected households were largely missed. Overall, it was noted that the resettled communities included in the present study are not satisfied in the long-term due to various physical, environmental and socio-economic factors. Particularly inappropriate site selection and design of functional spaces, poor construction of houses and common spaces, and inconvenient access to social infrastructure assets were factors that need more attention in planning resettlement housing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16
Author(s):  
Amjad Mohamed-Saleem

With nearly three million Sri Lankans living overseas, across the world, there is a significant role that can be played by this constituency in post-conflict reconciliation.  This paper will highlight the lessons learnt from a process facilitated by International Alert (IA) and led by the author, working to engage proactively with the diaspora on post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka.  The paper shows that for any sustainable impact, it is also critical that opportunities are provided to diaspora members representing the different communities of the country to interact and develop horizontal relations, whilst also ensuring positive vertical relations with the state. The foundation of such effective engagement strategies is trust-building. Instilling trust and gaining confidence involves the integration of the diaspora into the national framework for development and reconciliation. This will allow them to share their human, social and cultural capital, as well as to foster economic growth by bridging their countries of residence and origin.


Geography ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-293
Author(s):  
Daya Gunatillake
Keyword(s):  

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayani Karunasena ◽  
Dilanthi Amaratunga ◽  
Richard Haigh ◽  
Irene Lill

Disasters cause substantial damage around the world. This causes serious environmental and economic burden on normal living conditions, reconstruction and general waste collection processes. Within this context, waste management has emerged as a critical issue in responding to a disaster. Thus, this paper addresses post disaster waste management strategies adopted in developing countries and applicability of best global practices in respect of challenges encountered. Comprehensive literature review and field survey among national level institutes in Sri Lanka were conducted to gather information and semi‐structured interviews were used as a method of data collection. The findings revealed that strategies, issues and challenges are varying according to type of disaster, magnitude, location, country etc. Further, poor implementation of prevailing rules and regulations; poor standards of local expertise and capacities, inadequate funds, lack of communication and coordination are identified as key issues encountered. Santruka Stichines nelaimes visame pasaulyje pridaro daug žalos. Tai labai pasunkina aplinkosaugine ir ekonomine situacija iprastomis gyvenimo salygomis, atstatant aplinka ir vykdant bendruosius atlieku rinkimo procesus. Šiame kontekste atlieku tvarkymas išryškejo kaip esmine problema, reaguojant i stichine nelaime. Taigi šiame darbe nagrinejamos atlieku tvarkymo po stichiniu nelaimiu strategijos, taikomos besivystančiose šalyse, ir geriausiu pasauliniu praktiku taikymas, imantis kilusiu iššūkiu. Siekiant surinkti informacija, išsamiai apžvelgta literatūra ir tiesiogiai ištirtos Šri Lankos valstybines institucijos, o duomenims rinkti pasitelktas pusiau struktūriniu interviu metodas. Iš rezultatu aišku, kad strategijos, problemos ir iššūkiai skiriasi priklausomai nuo stichines nelaimes pobūdžio, masto, vietos, valstybes ir pan. Be to, nustatyta, kad pagrindines problemos yra prastas visuotiniu taisykliu ir reglamentu taikymas, prasti vietines patirties standartai ir menkos galimybes, lešu trūkumas, komunikacijos ir koordinavimo trūkumas.


Author(s):  
Nivesh Dugar ◽  
Sailesh Karanjit ◽  
Nawa Raj Khatiwada ◽  
Surya Man Shakya ◽  
Anish Ghimire

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Garcin ◽  
J. F. Desprats ◽  
M. Fontaine ◽  
R. Pedreros ◽  
N. Attanayake ◽  
...  

Abstract. The devastating impact of the tsunami of 26 December 2004 on the shores of the Indian Ocean recalled the importance of knowledge and the taking into account of coastal hazards. Sri Lanka was one of the countries most affected by this tsunami (e.g. 30 000 dead, 1 million people homeless and 70% of the fishing fleet destroyed). Following this tsunami, as part of the French post-tsunami aid, a project to establish a Geographical Information System (GIS) on coastal hazards and risks was funded. This project aims to define, at a pilot site, a methodology for multiple coastal hazards assessment that might be useful for the post-tsunami reconstruction and for development planning. This methodology could be applied to the whole coastline of Sri Lanka. The multi-hazard approach deals with very different coastal processes in terms of dynamics as well as in terms of return period. The first elements of this study are presented here. We used a set of tools integrating a GIS, numerical simulations and risk scenario modelling. While this action occurred in response to the crisis caused by the tsunami, it was decided to integrate other coastal hazards into the study. Although less dramatic than the tsunami these remain responsible for loss of life and damage. Furthermore, the establishment of such a system could not ignore the longer-term effects of climate change on coastal hazards in Sri Lanka. This GIS integrates the physical and demographic data available in Sri Lanka that is useful for assessing the coastal hazards and risks. In addition, these data have been used in numerical modelling of the waves generated during periods of monsoon as well as for the December 2004 tsunami. Risk scenarios have also been assessed for test areas and validated by field data acquired during the project. The results obtained from the models can be further integrated into the GIS and contribute to its enrichment and to help in better assessment and mitigation of these risks. The coastal-hazards-and-risks GIS coupled with modelling thus appears to be a very useful tool that can constitute the skeleton of a coastal zone management system. Decision makers will be able to make informed choices with regards to hazards during reconstruction and urban planning projects.


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