Habitat had built more than 15,000 permanent houses under the Asian Tsunami Reconstruction Initiative by the end of June 2008 in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand. Habitat is committed to building more houses in the four affected countries, supporting many affected families in getting permanent houses.

　
The rebuilding activities have taken on various forms of construction such as repairs, renovations and new housing. In keeping with local building practices, as well as government stipulations, the reconstruction initiative adopted new disaster-resistant construction technologies and methodologies that help mitigate vulnerabilities to future disasters like tsunamis, floods, earthquakes and cyclones.
Establishment of Habitat Resource Centers in the four countries is one of the unique features that helped add more value to the Tsunami Reconstruction Initiative. The people in the affected communities were introduced to new construction technologies and methodologies through the resource centers while producing building materials required for house construction. The training of people in building material production assisted affected families in initiating small construction-related businesses creating new livelihood opportunities in affected communities.

Habitat has mobilized an enormous number of local and international volunteers in the reconstruction of affected communities in the four countries. International volunteer teams have traveled from Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and North America, adding more hands to the reconstruction process.
While building houses, Habitat has also built capacity in its national organizations of the four countries. A transition process is under way to the regular program of development in order to continue to work with communities where poverty is entrenched and housing is often threatened by earthquakes and cyclones, floods, and landslides.
<Response initiatives in the four countries>
Thailand
Habitat Thailand initiated its tsunami-recovery work in Phang Nga province and then expanded to Phuket, Ranong and Krabi. To date, it has housed 1,469 tsunami-affected families. As part of the transition to a regular repayment program, Habitat has begun recruiting families to join a Save & Build microfinance housing scheme. In addition to new houses, the program will include repairs and rehabilitations.

Indonesia
In Indonesia, the country hardest hit by the tsunami, Habitat has completed most of its reconstruction work in Banda Aceh and North Aceh. Reconstruction now mostly continues in Meulaboh and other west coast communities. To date 5,115 families have been served in Indonesia.

India
In India, Habitat for Humanity is working in affected coastal communities in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The response has included construction of villages to relocate fishing families as well as repairs and renovation of many houses vulnerable to cyclone damage. In most communities, Habitat works in partnership with a local or national nongovernmental organization providing the housing component of a comprehensive community development plan. Habitat India has completed 6,440 houses under its reconstruction program.
In addition, 7,000 more families have been assisted under the community-based disaster mitigation and preparedness program in the tsunami-affected areas.

Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Habitat's tsunami-recovery response encompasses coastal communities from Hikkaduwa to Matara on the southern coast and in the east from Trincomalee to Pottuvil and Arugam Bay. Habitat continues to build near Trincomalee and Batticaloa, areas historically affected by ethnic violence, and further south around the Galle area. Habitat Sri Lanka has completed 2,343 houses under the tsunami reconstruction initiative.

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