The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates this week signed two agreements with UN-HABITAT to provide funding for the construction of 1,000 houses in areas of Galle, Trincomalee, Ampara and Kattankudy devastated by the December 2004 tsunami killer wave. The agreements were signed by Mr. Abdullah Al-Mahmood of Red Crescent Society, UAE and Mr. Lalith Lankatillake, Regional Advisor of UN-HABITAT.The UAE Red Crescent Society signed an agreement to provide 1.2 million US dollars to build 100 new houses in Kattankudy, and 80 new homes in Galle. Another 220 houses, partly damaged by the tsunami in Galle will be rehabilitated. Funding will also be provided for the development of community infrastructure facilities in both Galle and Kattankudy. The UAE Red Crescent Society signed a separate agreement to provide 3.2 million US dollars for 600 new homes in Kinnya in Trincomalee district, and Saianthamarathu in Ampara district. The project will be implemented by UN-HABITAT in partnership with the Muslim Foundation for Culture and Development. The signing ceremony on 23 January in Colombo was attended by Mr. A. H. M. Fowzie, Minster of Railways, Transport and Petroleum Resources Development, Mr. Athauda Seneviratne, Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Mr. Ameer Ali Shihabdeen, Minister of Disaster Relief Services, and His Worship, Mr. M. I. M. Ariff, the Mayor of Galle. The ceremony was presided over by the UAE Ambassador, Mr. Mahmood Mohammed Al-Mahmood. |
