UAE to assist 400 tsunami hit families

THE United Arab Emirates will sign an agreement with UN-Habitat on Monday to provide Rs. 120 million to construct houses for tsunami victims in Galle and Kattankudy.

Under this agreement, UN-Habitat will construct 100 new houses in Kattankudy and 80 new houses in Galle while 220 houses in Galle damaged by the tsunami will be rehabilitated. Community infrastructure facilities will also be provided to these settlements.

The agreement will be signed by Abdullah Al-Mahamood, Representative of the Red Crescent Society, UAE with UN-Habitat in the presence of Mahamood Mohammed Al-Mahamood, Ambassador of United Arab Emirates.

The funding for this project has been provided by the people of UAE through the Red Crescent Society.

The Ambassador and representatives of Red Crescent, UAE, will inaugurate the housing project in Galle on Tuesday at 2 p.m. with the participation of Galle Mayor M. I. M. Ariff. The construction of all 400 housing units is planned to be completed before the year end.

The implementation of this project will be coordinated by a Steering Committee comprising the head of the local authority, representatives of the Community Development Council, professional and technical staff of the local authority and the UN-HABITAT.

Physical work including the rebuilding of houses will be carried out by the beneficiaries through community organisations and by direct management of the communities, with technical inputs from the staff of the local authority and UN-HABITAT.