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Project Report

IMMEDIATE DISASTER RESPONSE

A summary of the project on the immediate disaster recovery and relief responses work conducted by Tropical Climate in Kengalla, Kandy District Sri Lanka.

March 14th 2018

Left : Renovated a building that had suffered damage by mob violence - Right: Support for the Kengalla Jumma Mosque

Tropical Climate is registered as a non-profit organization for the public welfare. It undertakes charitable social service related to disasters, with a focus on environmental, climatic and epidemiological risks. Tropical Climate focuses on the vulnerable, the poor and the environment. Our vision is to generate and use research for the benefit of society and environment particularly that which is vulnerable.

What we do

1. Assist the affected people in times of disaster.
2. Provide services for the poor and the vulnerable.
3. Conduct awareness programs on dengue, climate and environment.
4. Conduct climate awareness programs on dengue, solid waste management, and disaster management
5. Maintain a weather station in Digana area and make data accessible.
6. Conduct climate and environment research and maintain a drought portal.
7. Monitor soil moisture, temperature and air pollution and predict air, land and water quality and quantities.

The epicenter of mob violence from March 5th to 8th 2018 in the Kandy District was in Digana, Theldeniya, Kengalla and the neighboring villages. Colombo Telegraph reports that this resulted in 2 deaths, 28 injuries and damage on 445 houses and shops, 24 mosques and 65 vehicles.
As a Voluntary Service Organization, we are obligated to render support to those who are affected in times of disaster. Our organization has relevant skills, assets and people who are able to execute useful services. We have access to the local community, organizations and officials in the local and central government.

Establishing the Disaster Recovery Support Centre
Our network in Kengalla shall support "Disaster Recovery Support" staffed by local youth, dedicated to helping local residents with paper work, to obtain relief, recovery and reconstruction services. We shall develop a “Disaster Recovery Support Network” to maintain these efforts.  Specific programs that we wish to undertake shall be,
As immediate measures we have,

• Obtained the consent of local officials and respected residents to guide us on our disaster relief activities 
• We are renovating one of the houses damaged by the mobs - electrical wiring, painting, broken doors were repaired and a bathroom was rebuilt
• Have committed to repair the Kengalla Shrine that was damaged by the mobs -  handed over a preliminary contribution to the Trustees of the Kengalla Main Mosque (Masjidul Laafir) and initial clearing is taking place. 
• Committed to repair the security camera system of the Kengalla Small Mosque (Masjidul Noor) - already our technical staff was able to reconnect and make operational four of the cameras and we have committed to finance the replacement of the other 4 cameras. 
• Allocated space, furniture and computers in our office to train and host some of the local youth engaged by our advisory council to support others who are affected with documentation needs. 

After seeing us working with the Kengalla Jumma Mosque, The Kengalla Small Mosque (Masjidul Noor) requested us to restore the security camera system that was damaged. As we have capable technical staff, we were able reconnect and make operational four of the cameras and we have committed to finance the replacement of the other 4 cameras. Below are some pictures of the cameras that were set up at the premises.

Figure 1 Request Letter for CCTV

Below are some before and after pictures of a house that was damaged by the mob violence in early March. We have fixed the furniture, renovated the bathroom, roof, and painted the walls inside and outside as it was burnt during the attacks. We also restored the wiring in the house.

Left side picture-before renovation and right side picture-after renovation.

Figure 2- Renovate a building that had suffered damage by mob violence
We initially handed over our preliminary contributions to Trustees at the Kengalla Jumma Mosque to repair the Shirne that was damaged during the mob attacks in March. Since then initial stage of clearing the rubble around the shrine is taking place. Next renovation shall commence.

Figure 3 Support to Kengalla Jumma Mosque and Taqya

Figure 4 Damaged shrine at the Kengalla Mosque