The
reclamation of a Maldives island partially washed away by the
2004 tsunami has paved the way for house construction to begin.
The British Red Cross has received eight bids to build homes
on Vilufushi island, Thaa atoll, where more than 90 per cent
of the infrastructure was destroyed.
Since then a land reclamation process by the Maldivian and Dutch
governments has tripled the size of the island and raised it
by one meter.
Most of the 1,900 displaced people from Vilufushi are currently
living in cramped temporary shelters on neighboring Buruni Island
– a welcoming community of 550 people who have traditionally
enjoyed good relations with Vilufushi.
Sanitation
The British Red Cross plans to build up to 250 three-bedroom
homes on the island along with a community sanitation system.
Almost two years after the tsunami, the waiting may be finally
over for displaced people like Maryam Gasim.
The mother of five and her husband were among those whose homes
and livelihoods were washed away. Life since the tsunami has
been tough but Maryam is determined that she will rebuild her
life.
“Out of nowhere came the British Red Cross,” she
said. “This is almost like a miracle. Now I will finally
be able to get a new home.”
Future
Shiuth Ibrahim is a volunteer on the island’s elected
partner representative steering committee, which is working
together with the British Red Cross to identify families who
will receive new houses.
“We are taking into consideration all the issues raised
by the community and we are working with the British Red Cross
closely to achieve a common consensus because this concerns
the very future of our community,” he said.
The British Red Cross is also working to promote livelihoods
and community based disaster management activities providing
both technical and financial support.
Ahmed Hassan, a fish processor from Vilufushi, has been living
on Buruni since the disaster. Ahmed lost his four-year-old son
and his home in the tsunami. He restarted his fish smoking and
drying business from scratch as part of a group, which will
receive a cash grant from the British Red Cross.
“Once I receive the cash grant, we can really get this
business flying,” Ahmed said smiling.
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The
tsunami destroyed more than 90 percent of Vilifushi Island’s
infrastructure. The British Red Cross plans to build up
to 250 three-bedroom homes on the island along with a
community sanitation system. (p15145)
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Ahmed
Hassan, a fish processor from Vilufushi, has been living
on Buruni since the tsunami claimed his four-year-old
son and his home. He has restarted his fish-smoking and
drying business from scratch with the help of a cash grant
from the British Red Cross. (p15144)
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