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Community Organization and
Immediate Relief
In severely affected areas the network has
built temporary camps, provided food, and looked after women
and children. It has organized communities and strengthened
community solidarity. It has provided scholarships for some
children, so they can attend school, and it has facilitated
the repair of fishing boats in villages that are ready.
In moderately affected areas there have been
similar activities. The network has provided food, organized
communities and strengthened community solidarity. It has
facilitated the repair of fishing boats and fishing gears
and, in agreement with community organizations, has tried
to secure resources to purchase new boats and gears where
repair is not possible.
Relief and support has already reached communities
but, in many cases, it has failed to adequately compensate
for incurred losses. With regards re-housing, the network
is promoting consultation with affected communities to ensure
plans are consistent with their traditions and livelihoods.
This phase focuses on mobilizing communities,
particularly those with no existing community organization,
so they establish identities and strengthen solidarities.
Stable community organizations provide a basis for working
towards recovery, e.g. gathering information about damage
and loss, requesting government support, and repairing fishing
boats and fishing gears.
This phase is expected to last 1-3 months.
Community Relief
Community organizations already well established
before the tsunami struck have been leading the way in obtaining
immediate relief, assessing damage and loss, facilitating
the repair of houses, fishing boats and fishing gears, and
providing immediate relief and assessing damage and loss in
neighboring small-scale fisher-folk communities. To support
such activities the network has been mobilizing individuals
and groups from a range of different sectors to come and work
with the communities.
Once community organizations have stabilized
and information about damage and loss has been gathered, requirements
for further support will begin to become apparent. Small-scale
fisher-folk societies at the provincial level will raise these
requirements with the network such that the necessary assistance
can be arranged.
The network will coordinate with potential
donors from a range of different sectors in order to secure
donations for the tsunami-affected communities. Repayable
loans will be provided to organizations and networks in support
of fishing boat and fishing gear repair.
As part of ensuring financial accountability,
it has been agreed by the community organizations and the
network that the total amount of financial support received
from the network and the Department of Fishery must not exceed
the amount of financial support initially requested. Any excess
will be maintained in individual community organizations'
funds in support of long-term rehabilitation plans.
Community Rehabilitation
Community organizations are being encouraged
to play a key role in the rehabilitation of communities and
natural resources. The network aims to ensure that communities
are given the opportunity to shape rehabilitation plans in
accordance with local contexts. It is supporting this aim
using 'The Community Support Fund', which will facilitate
community-based initiatives such as livelihood recovery, natural
resource surveys, and natural resource rehabilitation activities
e.g. replanting mangroves, managing sea-grass beds, creating
artificial coral reefs, replenishing fish stocks and establishing
fish sanctuaries.
To ensure appropriate community involvement
in the range of rehabilitation activities the network will
promote participatory planning and shared learning. There
will be a particular focus on communities analyzing information
to better understand the circumstances they find themselves
facing.
The network trusts that collaboration with
relevant sectors will allow participatory relief and rehabilitation
systems to be delivered to the affected marginalized groups.
Through a respectful approach that builds the capacity of
the affected communities we can begin to turn this massive
loss around, first to rehabilitation, but ultimately to sustainable
community development.
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