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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
The Disaster
When heavy floods rising as high as 12 feet swept through the districts
of Ratnapura, Galle, Matara and Hambantota in May 2003, they seized
countless lives and homes. The destruction caused much hardships and
loss of livelihood.
Our Response
In 2003, MERCY Malaysia's intial responsen was to provide emergency
medical relief, which served over 10,000 men, women and children in
mobile clinics set up within the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and
Hambantota.
Humanitarian Aid Project in 2004: Rebuilding of a Primary School in Akuressa
Our team identified a primary school in Akuressa that neeed rebuilding
and for the year 2004, much of our aid was channelled towards this
project. The Assadat Mahavidhiyaleyek School, housed in a one thousand
year old mud building collapsed in the aftermath of the floods and
landslides and was made inhabitable. RM 170,076 was disbursed for the
rebuilding of the school.
The Project completed in september and was officially launched in
October by the High Commissioner of MERCY Malaysia's President, Datuk
Dr.Jemilah Mahmood.
MERCY Malaysia also equipped the school by providing school chairs and
desks. The library was also outfitted with books, recorders, cassettes
and maps. For the home Science Lab, we equipped it with an oven, stove
and kitchen utensils. Mercy Malaysia's staff and volunteers also helped
the school village by eracting new water tank there.
During the launching ceremony in October, we also donated Gift of Hope
schoolbags, with hopes that new relationships and ties will be built
between Sri Lankan and Malaysian student. A total of 250 bags were
distributed to the schoolchildren in Akuressa.
Rebuilding of Brige in Deniyaya
The Deniyaya village brige connects three villages, namely Waralla,
Porupitiya and Pelawatta. Since its collapse, the local communities
constructed a flimsy makeshift bridge made of bamboo as a temporary
measure. As part of our contribution to the community, MERCY Malaysia
is constructing a new concrete bridge for the villagers who are
dependent upon this as their only link to the mainland.
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