Sri Lankan Federation of University Women
Rebuilding the Lives of the Victims of the Tsunami Disaster

 

The tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka on 26 December 2004, affected five out of the nine provinces on the island. Over 40,000 people are thought to have died and over 4,000 are missing.  The population living in welfare camps is estimated to be over 260,000 and those displaced and living with relatives estimated to be over 220,000.    Many children have been orphaned, others separated from family or living with one parent.  There is an urgent need to help these victims rebuild their lives.   The SLFUW project is based in an area called Paiyagala, situated on the coastal belt, forty five kilometers south of Colombo.  The aim is to provide support for single parent mothers, women who have lost their husbands and who have no home and no income.  These women are vulnerable and at risk from abuse and the SLFUW project will provide some homes, and counselling services, as well as advice on health issues and help to establish income generation activities. The housing project is now complete and SLFUW has now turned to more long-term concerns.  This year it will survey women's new economic activities in the tsunami-affected areas and provide career guidance and training to enhance job opportunities.