SRI LANKA

BANGKOK: 7th January 2005: Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka could well be building its first transitional "core" houses well before the end of the month.

The first houses would be for homeless families in Batticaloa, on the badly-ravaged east coast where the local affiliate owns a three acre site.

The affiliate hopes to start work using a simplified version of "core" house design. The design is based on that used elsewhere in Sri Lanka where Habitat homeowners build homes one room at a time. (Homeowners add extensions and improvements as they have savings or the capacity to repay interest-free, no-profit Habitat loans.)

The Batticaloa site could eventually house 80 families. Priority would be given to those who have lost family members or are disabled.

The proposed transitional "core" house would involve a permanent structure comprising one room and a verandah under a roof plus sanitary facilities, probably an outside latrine. It would cover a footprint of about 240 sq. ft.

The transitional homes would be built at no cost to the families.

HFH Sri Lanka has ten active affiliates. The four coastal affiliates, Batticaloa, Galle, Moratuwa and Wattala/Ja Ela, were affected. Several homeowners died and many homes were destroyed.

One Habitat family from Moratuwa died when the train they were traveling on to Galle was swept away by the tidal waves.

Many affiliate-based staff and volunteers had narrow escapes, but are now back to work. Some are working on local clean-ups, as well clearing out wells and purifying waters often in conjunction with relief agencies, non-government organizations, churches and civic groups.

On Friday, leaders of all ten affiliates met to co-ordinate their response plans and to match needs and resources. Specific plans are expected from each affiliate by the middle of next week. Meanwhile, the national office is working on matching resources and offers of helps from partners, donors and other NGOs with Habitat's needs.

In addition to the proposed transitional "core" house, Habitat's overall response would also include building simpler "kit" houses comprising a permanent structure and a roof. Any external/internal walls would be temporary, perhaps made of bamboo screening.

THAILAND
BANGKOK: 7th January 2005: Habitat for Humanity Thailand is planning to raise US$1.5 million to build 1,000 transitional "core" or "kit" homes in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami.

The leadership of the Thai organization is working on detailed plans for further fund raising and building in the six disaster-stricken provinces of the south.

The Thai plans would include creating one or more "disaster response technical centers" - modeled on Habitat's successful building and training center concept. The centers would provide technical expertise and assistance to families, Habitat affiliates and partners.

A "core" house would involve a permanent structure comprising one room and a verandah under a roof plus outside sanitary facilities. A "kit" house would be a permanent structure and a roof. This would exclude external/internal walls -- families may insert temporary walls themselves.

Some, 5,300 people - half of them foreigners - died and nearly 4,000 are still missing in Thailand.

By some estimates some 30,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The Thai authorities are organizing a major compensation and rebuilding program. However, many of those affected may fall outside the program; especially if they find it difficult to prove title to land they have lived on.

One of Thailand's largest banks, Bank of Ayuthaya, has committed the equivalent of US$250,000.

Representatives of the Asia-Pacific office of Habitat for Humanity International attended meeting today (Friday) of concerned Christian churches and Christian-related non-governmental organizations to ensure co-ordination and avoid duplication of relief and rebuilding efforts