EU to support development in N-E

Over 300,000 people are expected to benefit through a financial envelope of €14 million provided by the European Union to build houses and improve community infrastructure for internally displaced people and returnees.

It will be implemented from 2016-2018 in nine divisions of the Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts by Habitat for Humanity. This initiative dovetails on the earlier housing programs for which the European Union contributed € 50 million in the districts of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya and Batticaloa.

Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, David Daly said, "The project contributes to a sustainable solution for returnee families to improve the living conditions and social cohesion of displaced people, and their host communities. This is not just an infrastructure project, but an initiative that will contribute to livelihood support through skills development and loan facilities to help people build a more hopeful future".

The initiative aims to construct houses for almost 16,000 conflict-affected people, in cooperation with World Vision Lanka. Vulnerable families will receive supplements for loan repayments to minimise debt. Over 60,000 people in 60 villages will be supported through financial, disaster preparedness and construction training.

Habitat for Humanity will provide vocational and skills training to households, people active in the trade sector and youth in construction related services.

This project will also follow a 'homeowner driven process' of construction, whereby the selected families will contribute their own labour towards reconstruction. The project also provides support to the domestic economy by sourcing all building material locally.