Relief and Reconstruction Projects
The Boxing Day tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004 stunned the world and led to a massive outpouring of support for victims of the disaster. MCC alone collected $25 million Cdn./$23 million U.S. for tsunami projects. This included $6.7 million from the Canadian federal government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
In the days following the disaster, governments, charities and other non-government organizations swung into action. MCC and its partners initially focussed on providing emergency relief like food, water, blankets and medical supplies. A total of 101 emergency relief projects were funded. They were administered by local partners in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Somalia.
As the emergency phase waned, resources shifted to rebuilding livelihoods, houses, schools, community centres and other infrastructure. All of the relief projects and most of the reconstruction projects have been completed or are nearing completion. Work is continuing on four reconstruction projects in India, two in Indonesia and two in Sri Lanka. All the projects have been completed in Somalia.
India
17 projects completed, three nearing completion
$8,646,521 Cdn/$8,273,948 U.S. (This includes $3,661,476 Cdn/$3,121,408 U.S. provided by CIDA from the MCC account to a Canadian ecumenical partnership known as PUMA involving Presbyterian, United, Anglican and Mennonite churches. (The total CIDA contribution to the PUMA project was $6 million Cdn.)
MCC is working in partnership with an international agency, Action by Churches Together (ACT) and local organizations in India to complete the following projects:
- $3,661,476 Cdn/$3,121,408 U.S. are MCC’s share of a $6 million Canadian reconstruction program undertaken by PUMA. The local organization coordinating the work for this project is the Church’s Auxiliary For Social Action (CASA). This international partnership is building over 720 new homes and restoring livelihood in 12 remote coastal villages in Tamil Nadu that were destroyed by the tsunami.
- $2,291,664 Cdn/$2,186,585 U.S. supports reconstruction projects coordinated by two local partners in India—Church’s Auxiliary For Social Action (CASA) and Lutheran World Service (LWS) India.
Indonesia
70 projects completed, 12 nearing completion
$8,416,830 Cdn/$8,054,154 U.S. (This includes material resources valued at $1,491,980 Cdn/$1,423,413 U.S. shipped from MCC warehouses in North America).
MCC is working with local partners to complete the following projects:
- $2,589,200 Cdn/$2,470,000 U.S. to build 446 houses in the Banda Aceh region. The program is implemented in partnership with GenAssist—an agency started by the Christian Reform World Relief Committee to support survivors of the tsunami.
- $695,478 Cdn/$664,400 U.S. to rebuild 135 houses in Lhok Puuk, Aceh in partnership with the Yakkum Emergency Unit, an agency of the Indonesian Council of Churches.
- Other initiatives include: a women’s farming project, a school furniture project, an English teacher project, school hygiene project, student teachers’ project, peace books project, and more.
Sri Lanka
Four projects completed, two nearing completion $2,017,804 Cdn/$1,925,006 U.S.
MCC is working with local partners to complete the following projects:
- $767,615 Cdn/$732,400 U.S. to assist Y-GRO, a local development organization in Sri Lanka, to build permanent housing, daycare and a community centre. This project is supported by a CIDA grant of $550,000 Cdn/$524,785 U.S.
- $1,077,457 Cdn/$1,028,028 U.S. to assist LEADS, a local partner organization, to develop permanent housing. This project is supported by of a CIDA grant of $995,000 Cdn/$949,214 U.S.
Somalia
Three project completed, no outstanding projects $172,485 Cdn/$164,557 U.S.
