In post-tsunami Sri Lanka, thousands of people live in very difficult conditions in temporary homes, makeshift camps and with host families. In Ampara district, around 12,000 permanent homes are needed.

Islamic Relief has agreed with the Sri Lankan government to build 108 permanent homes on government-allocated land. In addition, Islamic Relief has agreed to build an additional 85 homes on private land in Nintavur.

With the relaxation of buffer zone within which houses cannot be built, many shelter dwellers who had been living near the coast before the Tsunami, are moving back to their own land and shifting their transitional shelters from the existing places.

IR has taken over the responsibility as the lead International NGO for care and maintenance of transitional shelters in Ninthavur division.

Project Objectives     

• To provide attractive, affordable and sustainable settlement sites for the affected people as a long term solution;
• To improve conditions for transitional shelter dwellers until they are provided with permanent shelter facilities;
• To provide latrine facilities to Al Misbah Vidyalaya, Kalmunai;
• Provision of access road to proposed hospital in Maruthamunai;

Project Activities

• Completing houses construction for the affected people of Kalmunai Tamil and Muslim Divisions, Karaithivu Division and Akkaraipattu Division;
• Provision of necessary ancillary facilities like roads, drainage, disposal system etc within the allocated lands;
• Employment and income generation;
• Support human development by providing institutional and on the job training;
• Construction of Toilets and water facilities;
• Ensure suitable access to the Hospital construction;

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/