Background
  Sri Lanka's coastal areas were battered by a Tsunami and tidal waves in the morning of 26th December 2004. The waves caught residents by surprise and over thirty thousand have died (according to official figures as at 4th January 2005) and a million are estimated displaced. The districts directly affected are Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha, Chilaw, Puttalam and Mannar. The districts of Killinochchi, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, and Moneragala have seen an influx of displaced persons from the adjoining affected districts.

According to available reports one third of the victims are children. Many have lost both parents. They have lost their homes, clothes, school books and play things. They have become very vulnerable with some cases of abuse being reported in the first week after the disaster.

Need
  The immediate needs are to make a detailed assessment and provide food, clothing shelter and security.

In the longer term these children will have to be housed in secure child-friendly surroundings with facilities for study, recreation and personality development. Based on the assessment it is likely that most of them will require treatment for psycho-social disorders.

Proposal
   We propose the setting up of a Children's Home throughout the country. Each Home will consist of ten cottages each of which will house twelve children with a foster mother who will be initially trained to guide and assist those suffering from trauma and been deprived of the parental love and security.

Each child will have his or her own space, bed, study table and clothes cupboard. Each cottage will have two toilets and two bathrooms. It will have an atmosphere to provide an alternative home to the children.

Food and laundry will be provided in an adjoining common area which will also house the kitchen, a library cum study area, and a sick room.

Each Children's Home will consist of ten cottages housing a total of 120 children. It will be situated on 1 Ha of land obtained from the government free of charge. Educational, Counseling and Medical Services are also expected to be received free of charge.

It is envisaged that thirty such children homes would need to be set up throughout the country.

The selection of beneficiaries will be done in consultation with the UNICEF, Department of Probation and Child Care and the National Child Protection Authority in Sri Lanka.

Assistance Sought
    Expertise (Manpower) to conduct the Preliminary Assessment with local counterparts, of the effects of Tsunami on children in the respective districts and the vulnerabilities and needs of the affected children and the assistance already provided/committed by other sources.

To arrange for secure temporary shelter, food, clothing, health and sanitation and schooling for the identified orphan children.