This week marked the one-year anniversary of the tsunami tragedy. We, like a lot of people in Sri Lanka, spent the day quietly contemplating the anniversary. The tragedy is still so fresh in people’s minds and it was a day for personal memorials rather than large public ones. In fact, for those affected by the tsunami, a rememberance event wasn’t completely necessary; it’s something they do every day.
From what we’ve heard and read, the world paid a lot of attention to the tsunami anniversary with big media stories, features and follow-ups. They certainly hyped it more than local media. The attention is fairly welcome but, hopefully, worldwide media showed a balanced picture of the country’s situation and showed people’s determination to recover.
What we’ve seen so far has been a complex picture. We’ve seen tremendous determination and strength as well as frustration and sadness. Before coming here last September, we had read countless stories about the tsunami and the recovery effort. Being here and working in affected communities has given us our own stories, some of which are personal and some of which we can pass on.
While the relief phase was fast and overall quite successful, it’s the rebuilding and restoration progress that’s still too slow for everyone’s liking. On the ground, developments sometimes move at a crawl and frustration can set in amongst affected people as well as the people working with and for them.
As recently as a few weeks ago, people in some areas were still living in tents that were never intended for long-term housing. Others are luckier to have “transitional shelters” made of wood or corrugated metal sheets but permanent housing is slow to be built. Many hotels have been rebuilt - especially the larger ones – but tourism is still really feeling the impact of the tsunami.
Highly visible industries like fisheries have received considerable attention (although even this sector continues to have problems of over-supply and under-supply of boats and equipment) but many small and micro-businesses that were directly or indirectly affected have received less attention.
Building back to the way businesses were before the tsunami – or even better – is the goal, but some businesses are facing competition for labour with cash-for-work programs while requiring unavailable credit to rebuild.
The size and scope of the disaster was unprecedented anywhere in the world, so problems are unavoidable. The international community responded so rapidly and so strongly that mountains could literally be moved with the influx of donations. But with a huge volume of donations has also come a fairly unique situation of often inadequate coordination among the hundreds of NGOs and INGOs working here. Read more here from a UN report. One NGO also argues that the “competitive” environment has had healthy effects, including raising standards.
There also seems to be a lack of common vision for how this unique situation presents a real opportunity to “build back better”. That’s a common phrase heard at meetings and conferences but one that’s easier to say than do. Many people, myself included, are concerned that some livelihood approaches are too short-term oriented and may actually create a less prosperous future for some people compared to the ones they had before the tsunami.
Building back better is possible, with more cooperation and a long-term focus. Sri Lanka has so much potential for prosperity and energy must be spent on helping the country, and its people, move toward it. If organizations can continue to focus on solid, long-term rebuilding without a return to the violence that has plagued this beautiful country for over 20 years, then the people who are still suffering here - in tsunami and non-tsunami areas – can look forward to a strong future.
Guest author: Chris McIntyre
