A Red Cross volunteer helps start up a water pump at Velmurugu Sivaguru’s vegetable plantation in Puthukudiyiruppu, in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa. Sivaguru received the water pump from the Sri Lanka Red Cross and Irish Red Cross, as part of the Red Cross post-tsunami livelihoods recovery programme. He is now able to irrigate his entire half acre plantation which produces enough vegetables for his family’s daily consumption and a surplus amount that he sells on the local market. At night Sivaguru goes fishing - supplementing the family’s diet and income from the sale of fish.
Photo: International Federation (p16827)
Sivaguru checks to see if some bitter gourds in his vegetable plantation are ready for plucking. Around 250 families have been provided assistance under the Irish Red Cross supported livelihoods project in Puthukudiyiruppu. Grants of 50,000 rupees each were given for the start-up of grocery shops, animal husbandry, poultry rearing and other small scale income generating projects.
Photo: International Federation (p16996)
Sivaguru shaves in front of a mirror near the wall of a temporary shelter where he and his family lived for two years after the tsunami. Sivaguru’s family received the house in the background under a donor driven housing programme implemented by the Sri Lanka Red Cross and the Irish Red Cross. The family hopes to use the temporary shelter of wood and coconut palms for storage and possibly as a chicken coop. In Puthukudiyiruppu the Red Cross has completed and handed over 100 houses.
Photo: International Federation (p16829)
Sivaguru watches as his daughter, Kosala Devi, plays with his grandchildren in his new home. Sivaguru, his wife and four of his eleven children live in the new house they received from the Red Cross.
Disaster management
