Tangalle Hospital Rehabilitation Project, Tangalle, Sri Lanka (Completed)

On December 26, 2004, a major earthquake off the west coast of Northern Sumatra measuring 9.0 on the Richterscale triggered a massive tsunami. According to official estimates, Sri Lanka suffered more than 31,000 confirmed fatalities; 23,000 injured had to receive medical treatment. Approximately 13% of makeshift shelters along the coastwere washed away – 69,000 houses were completely destroyed, and 43,000 homes were damaged. The number of homeless was estimated at over 500,000; every 12th island inhabitant required assistance.

The catastrophe left aswath of destruction and hit the extremely poor areas along the southern coast. Even before this catastrophe, the basic facilities as well as public and private infrastructures in the rural areas of the south region were veryunderdeveloped. Hospitals, schools and other public facilities were either destroyed or damaged. Tangalle Hospital – due to lack of funds – was a facility in extremely poor condition and severely under-equipped, even before the tsunami. The dilapidated buildings and structures suffered a further blow with the arrival of the tsunami, which destroyed what was remaining.

You can visit the Tangalle Hospital Rehabilitation Project website here.