Temporary housing units tops near 30,000 mark by May 25

The number of temporary housing units constructed under the Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) for tsunami victims in all affected districts has totalled 29, 796 up to May 25, according to statistics gathered by the TAP, head office Jawatte Road, Colombo.

The number of houses under construction is 9,273 which are expected to be completed by May end bringing the total to nearly 40,000, a release said.

Public Security, Law and Order Ministry Secretary and Essential Services Commissioner General Tilak Ranaviraja, in charge of co-ordinating activities under the project said though they had originally earmarked a target of 33,000 to be completed by May end the number would increase slightly in certain districts.

These temporary housing units have been constructed with assistance and support of local and international non-governmental organisations and UN Agencies. Each house is of floor area of 200 square feet and afford much better accommodation than in tents in which the affected families have been living since the disaster.

These temporary housing units are provided till they are provided with permanent housing under a special program carried out by TAFFREN.

Ranaviraja said they were grateful to the non-governmental organisations including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation of Migrants (IOM) who played the role of lead agencies in many districts, for their support and commitment in carrying forward the work lessening the burden on the families specially before the monsoon rains set in.

Other organisations which played lead roles in the District were ZOA, GOAL, GTZ, CARITAS and Seva Lanka assisted by 30 other NGOs.