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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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More German help more for rehabilitation in Jaffna by SUREKHA GALAGODA The Jaffna Rehabilitation Project (JRP) under German Development Cooperation (GTZ) GTZ/JRP is confident that there will now be much more scope for development activities aimed at the rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees and displaced persons in the Jaffna peninsula due to the peace initiative. Peace promotion and crisis prevention elements will be incorporated and adopted to complement the overall project concept, strategies and implementation procedures, said the team leader GTZ Jaffna Rehabilitation Project, Eberhard Halbach. He said that during the present phase spanning from 2001-2003 GTZ/JRP will continue to support and strengthen ongoing activities of the project funded by the German government. It includes the reconstruction of 1500 houses at a cost of Euro 2.6 million also for female headed households affected by the conflict, rehabilitation of 17 schools, maintaining and operating of the drinking water supply scheme of the Jaffna municipal council and 17 other rural water supply schemes in the peninsula and the islands as well as the strengthening of civil society structures by providing increasing support to NGOs and local government institutions to engage in peace building initiatives. Halbach said the German government will continue to find projects in conflict affected areas. The project will also concentrate on social and economic dimensions of rehabilitation and reconciliation, social integration and building up of civic structures. We seek to restore the social infrastructure and assist in re-establishing the fundamental social and economic services required to enable the people of Jaffna to look forward to a future filled with hope and stability. The future project activities would give more emphasis to community development and orient our activities to include peace promotion and conflict prevention elements, he added. The rehabilitation of economic infrastructure such as access roads, market places and community centres as well as promotion of income generating activities will be given priority. Physical rehabilitation, of social infrastructure such as schools, homes and water supply schemes and centers will be given a lesser emphasis. He said that the new thrust of GTZ/JRP will be consolidated towards enabling of social and economic revival and promote a positive environment for subsequent private sector development. Social integration will receive more emphasis while institutional capacity building will be maintained as a vital pre condition for sustainability he added. Halbach said that they will promote building up of civic structures and strengthening and reviving the capacities of civic society. Empowerment of communities and community development would be new focal areas of support while encouraging practices of good governance and strengthening of local government institutions whereever possible. Mr Halbach said that all rehabilitation work should be done in coordination with all parties, the people and the international agencies. "Together we can move mountains," he assured. |
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