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| PROJECTS > PROJECT GALLE 2005 |
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Project: Project Galle 2005
Project Co-ordinator: Majella Tarbatt
Project Aim: An appeal for direct cash assistance for the victims of the Dec 26th Tsunami in Sri Lanka through funding from the local Cork Community.
Project Start Date: 1st January 2005
Project End Date: 19th January 2005
Project Cost: €29,000
Communications started by email from Ivan Robinson at LankaRealEstate.com.
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Extract from email dated 29/12/2004 and addressed to Majella Tarbatt
"Dear All,
 Devastation in Galle
This is a terrible disaster zone. Please help.
Many thanks from all at LankaRealEstate.com"
Ivan Robinson
ivan@lankarealestate.com
Tel: + 94 (0) 777 235 775
When Majella Tarbatt and her family arrived home on the 1st of January from Sri Lanka, the above email was waiting for Majella. She read it and instantly called Ivan Robinson and asked how her community in Cork could help his community in the Galle Province. He advised that aid was not getting in at that time. Aid agencies had to get governmental approval before they were allowed into the country. With no aid agencies on the ground, it came down to the community of 70 volunteers to coordinate everything. They set about addressing immediate requirements of local community and supplying these needs using the resources available.
The situation as of 4th January 2005:
3,724 fatalities in Galle Province
2,500 Injured
7,500 Houses damaged or destroyed
44 Identified refugee camps across 8 km coastline focus area.
17,500 Displaced Men, Women and Children within the focus area currently dependent on aid.
The Appeal to the Cork People
Majella and her family were the lucky survivors of the Tsunami disaster. They were in Unawatuna, a bay 5km south of Galle on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka when the wave struck. They were very lucky to escape with their lives. Majella's overriding memory of the experience was the kindness and generosity of the local people of Unawatuna who endangered their own lives to help them reach refuges. One of the local men carried her son Luke (5) on his back and another man helped her mother wade through the meter high water. There was debris everywhere. For these kind acts of bravery they cannot forget the local people of Unawatuna and Galle. A call went out to provide immediate assistance to the victims of the Sri Lankan Tsunami. As a result of the generosity of the Cork people, Cork Aid to Sri Lanka raised €29,000. 100% of this was sent directly to Project Galle 2005.
Extract of email from Ivan Robinson to donors in Cork on the 19/01/2005
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Thanks Majella,
I will make sure that all your funds go to that specific area and will
report back in due course, so you can rest assured.
Once again thank you so much for such fantastic fund raising.
Kind regards
Ivan
ivan@lankarealestate.com
Tel: + 94 (0) 777 235 775
----- Original Message -----
Subject: RE: Cork Aid to Sri Lanka
Hi Ivan
To date we have sent 5 drafts. Each Draft has the following remitter details
Cork Aid to Sri Lanka (account details sort; 936383 a/c no:04234094)
Ennismore, Blackrock Road, Cork
Amount Date
1. 5,000 euro 03/01/2005
2. 9,500 euro 07/01/2005
3. 5,000 euro 12/01/2005
4. 5,000 euro 13/01/2005
5. 5,000 euro 14/01/2005
As you know I was in Galle at the time of the Tsunami and I would like all our funds to go to the Unawatuna, Galle area. We would like our funds to go to the Project Galle 2005.
Regards...
Majella Tarbatt
Cork Aid to Sri Lanka
Where did the €29,000 in funding go?
General costs of tools etc for soldiers working in Unawatuna:
Paid for hardware items for cleaning out and stabilizing drains in Unawatuna and kerosene oil for lamps 28,000LKR.
Various tools purchased for Unawatuna, brooms, udeles, rakes and spades we had made (could not be bought in shops) 15,400LKR
Donations in cash for various private individuals:
25.03.05 Paid to Mr D.G. Jagath of Galle Fish Market supplier to Unawatuna: 57,050LKR to buy roof sheeting and replace the existing patched up roof that lets the rain in, he has lost his house close to the beach and has moved inland to a house that had a damaged roof. He has three kids and a wife to look after. His children will need psychological counseling.
28.02.05 Paid Mr Sarath 45,000LKR to buy a new fridge.
Gave 100,000LKR to Mrs Ramini of Unawatuna to help her build a decent house, and have some money to help pay for her girls education, her husband was killed in the Tsunami and left 3 young girls of schooling age, she had a mud hut with a leaking roof and no washing facilities.
Purchases of food and various supplies:
 Galle bus station
Accommodation and all costs relating to the team of Soldiers in charge of the Unawatuna cleanup project:
03.03.05 Paid Dhan Kumar Dewan of Securewest 11,000LKR in telephone costs.
31.02.05 Paid S.W.Yalmo 23,000LKR in various costs including medical treatment and telephone costs.
Extra food costs for soldiers while in residence at Pedlar street 23,760LKR
01.02.05 Paid 3,000LKR for visa extensions for the Securewest soldiers who were cleaning up Unawatuna.
11.03.05 Paid Mr Marcus of Rock House Guest House 309,600LKR for accommodation for the 12 soldiers over 2 months.
Transport costs:
28.01.05 Paid PW Gunawardana for transport charges Galle Unawatuna several pick ups and drop offs from project Galle with truck 9500LKR.
11.03.05 Paid Mr GG Premalal 5000LKR in transport costs for 6 Securewest soldiers to return to Colombo airport.
Paid Mr Bandu ofUnawatuna 5000LKR for transportation of soldiers back to Colombo airport.
Paid Mr Nimal 21,000LKR for three trips to pick up goods from Colombo there and back for supplies to Unawatuna.
Costs such as sarongs to poor people in need, extras such as immediate supplies bought 'on the road':
Sarongs for old people up on Rumassala temple 430LKR + 620LKR + cash help 5,000 + refill of large gas cylinder 890LKR.
Small cooking facilities for Rumassala temple people: 6,699LKR
Small food & supplies purchases on the road for immediate needs: 8,049LKR.
Donations for getting people back into business:
Gave Wasantha Wood Carver of Unawatuna 15,000LKR to buy wood to start to get back to work again.
Gave Wasantha Wood carver of Unawatuna a further 30,000LKR to rebuild his shop out of wooden planks.
Gave Premalal of Unawatuna 10,000LKR to help start up his business on the beach selling candles, wooden jewellery etc.
Gave 50,000LKR to Premalal GG for opening of his shop out of which he operates tours of the country for tourists.
GG Premelal 150,000LKR to complete rebuilding his shop, windows, etc.
Gave Mr Sunil of Unawatuna Galle/Matara rd 21,500LKR to pay for immediate needs. He has lost his wife in Tsunami and daughter.
Gave Mr Sunil of Unawatuna Galle/Matara rd 78,500LKR to help pay for fishing net and to put towards schooling fees for sons, help to rebuild house etc. He has lost his wife and daughter in the Tsunami.
GG Premalal 184,00LKR to buy computers, fax and printer for his office, out of which he operates tours of the country for tourists.
GG Premalal 30,000LKR to buy bricks to help rebuild his office, out of which he operates tours of the country for tourists.
26.03.05 Paid to NW Piyadasa Unawatuna Beach Postcard Man: 5,000LKR in cash to help re-start his business of selling postcards & peanuts to tourists on the beach.
04.02.05 Paid Sea Garden Inn 10,000LKR to help re-build some walls.
04.02.05 Paid Mr Harry Devisiri 10,000LKR to help re-start his cafˇ business on the beach.
04.02.05 paid Mr Malwenna of Galle to help re-start his tea shop business in Galle Market: 10,000LKR.
Mr Bandu whose guest house called Heaven on Earth suffered from the Tsunami given 250,000LKR for purchase of beds, mattresses, rebuilding of walls and rebuilding of guest house etc.
Mahinda College:
02.05 Paid Mahinda College 30,000LKR for new uniforms.
04.02.05 Paid Mahinda College 40,000LKR towards uniforms/opening bank accounts.
Other costs:
Stationary for printing of pictures to hand out to kids: 2,300LK.
Ink cartridges 5,600LKR.
Replaced punctured tyres on loaned motorbike: 2,390LKR.
01.02.05 Courier service charge for visa extensions for soldiers 150LKR.
 Boats on the beach
Purchase of four 22/23ft fiberglass boats equipped with outboard motors, and a set of fishing nets; order has been placed but final amount of cost is yet to be confirmed: estimated cost is 1,400,000LKR.
Total expenditure on this page destined for Majella Tarbatt of Cork Aid is:
3,470,102.LKR (When exchange rates and money transfer fees are taken into consideration this amount equates to €29,000).
Up to Date Situation as of 08/02/2005
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Project Galle Fort 2005 has now become a registered charity. It is now working with many aid agencies. In particular it has partnered up with Concern.
What is the situation around the camps?
Many people's lives are totally shattered. They are being encouraged to return home and rebuild their lives. One of their projects is the preparation of a "back to home pack". When people leave the refugee camps they are given a family pack which contains the essential to set up a new home.
There is an enormous sense of unity for a positive and bright future in Galle at the moment. There are lots of teams involved in the clean up operation. They range from volunteers, to aid agencies, to government agencies to communities and businesses.
 Galle bus station
The bus station in Galle was a scene of total destruction on the 26th of December. Currently they have cleared the bus station and are now rebuilding. Teams of people are gathering together on projects, cleaning up and rebuilding. The buses are now operational.
We can't solve all the issues but we can hope to make a little difference.
The photo above shows people putting the pieces back together at
Galle Bus Station on 05/02/05. This was one of the worst affected areas of Sri Lanka.
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