Background
The Sri Lankan conflict in the north of the country lasted more than 25 years with ebbs and flows of IDPs and refugees resulting in more than two million people being forced from their homes during the period of the conflict. Many of the families have been displaced multiple times. The final stages of the war saw intense fighting in the north and heavy damage to a wide range of structures, particularly houses, water, public buildings, health and education facilities. It is estimate that there are currently 200,000 to 230,000 damaged and destroyed houses as a result of the years of fighting.
Objectives
The project has been designed to support returning IDP families in order that they will experience the positive benefits of peace and post-conflict reconstruction through a process of rebuilding their damaged and destroyed homes.
After 25 years of conflict, uncertainty, and under-investment it is essential that confidence building measures are undertaken to support and strengthen human settlement development in the North. The project sets out to target distinct activities. Firstly a major repair project for about 3,000 families. This will bring back in to use damaged houses and will greatly reduce the vulnerability of these families and enhance their economic opportunities.
Additionally up to 1,000 vulnerable families will be identified and will be supported to fully reconstruct their destroyed homes. The beneficiary selection process will, where possible, positively discriminate in favour of female headed households with larger numbers of children.
Activities
* Community development activities for resource mobilization
* Authenticated and verified beneficiary selection processes
* Support communities to assist with most vulnerable identification process
* Support communities to repair damaged housing
* Support vulnerable families with reconstruction activities
* Support families to repair reconstruct toilets and water supply
* Provide technical assistance on reconstruction activities
* Support land documentation activities
* Employ returning IDPs in construction activities
* Develop the skills of women in construction related activities
* Coordination with Government, Local Authorities and other implementing agencies
* Support environmental protection activities
Results
At the end of September 2010, UN-Habitat had commenced the construction of 70% of the repairs and 30% of the new houses.
Development Partners / Partners
Development Partners: AusAID, the Government of Australia.
Partners: Ministries of Nations Building, Health, Resettlement and Disaster Relief; Government Agents, District and Local Authorities
- Catalytic Support to Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka
- Preparation of the Resettlement Plan (RP) for Households Affected by the Rehabilitation of the Kelani Valley (KV) Railway Line in Sri Lanka (Phase I)
- Emergency Shelter Relief for Flood and Landslide Affected Households in Kalutara and Galle Districts of Sri Lanka
- The State of Sri Lankan Cities Report
- Human Development Initiative through Empowerment and Settlement Improvement in the Plantation Settlements in Sri Lanka
- Indian Housing Project in Central and Uva Provinces
- Emergency Shelter Relief for Flood Affected Families in Colombo and Gampaha Districts in Western Province, Sri Lanka (Completed)
- Sustainable Resettlement through Community-Driven Improvement of the Learning Environment in Mannar District, Sri Lanka
- Support My School: Supporting Schools in Northern Sri Lanka with Access to Water and Sanitation Facilities (Completed)
- Project for Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure, Improvement of Livelihoods and Empowerment of Women in the Northern and Eastern Provinces (RCI) (Completed)
- Rainwater Harvesting in a Water Scarce Small Village in Northern Sri Lanka (Completed)
- Climate Resilient Action Plans for Coastal Urban Areas (Completed)
- Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities (Completed)
- Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Four Cities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka (Phase II) (Completed)
- Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in Northern Province of Sri Lanka (Completed)
- Improving Living Conditions in Returnee Areas of Sri Lanka through Housing (Completed)
- Indian Housing Project (Completed)
- Support to Conflict Affected People through Housing (Completed)
- Shelter Support to Conflict-affected IDPs in the North of Sri Lanka (Completed)
- Jaffna Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Project (Completed)
- Community Recovery and Reconstruction Partnership to Support the People's Process of Rebuilding (Completed)
- Reconstruction of Fish Market in Galle (Completed)
- Rebuilding Community Infrastructure and Shelter in Tsunami-Affected Areas (Completed)
- Lunawa Lake Environment Improvement and Community Development Project (Completed)
- Pro-Poor Partnerships for Participatory Settlement Upgrading (Completed)
- Early Recovery Shelter for IDPs in Batticaloa (Completed)
- Support to the Urbanization Framework
- Post Disaster Housing Coordination Project (Completed)
- Sustainable Cities Programme (Completed)
- Urban Governance Support Project (UGSP) (Completed)
- Rebuilding Communities in North East Sri Lanka (Completed)
- Urban Poverty Reduction Strategy - Colombo (Completed)