Bonn, 19.12.2006. Almost two years on from the tsunami of 26th December 2004, reconstruction work in four of the most badly hit countries has made very different progress. "Our work has been determined and continues to be determined by specific local conditions", explains Hans-Joachim Preuß, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe's Secretary-General.

This is particularly applicable to the affected areas in Sri Lanka and the Indonesian province of Aceh. "The peace process in Aceh and the peace treaty signed on 14th August 2005 have been very beneficial to survivors as well as helping reconstruction", comments Preuß. "In Sri Lanka, on the other hand, we've had to face a steadily deteriorating situation for months."

Project work in Thailand, in contrast, will come to an end at the turn of the year. Welthungerhilfe's work there was eased by a higher development standard as well as a lower scale of damage. In southern India Welthungerhilfe will combine the reconstruction programme with long-term development measures. Under the motto "help from one set of hands", Welthungerhilfe is already implementing programmes to alleviate poverty and disaster control.

All in all a great deal has already been achieved over the past two years with the approximately 46.5 million euros received in the aftermath of the tsunami. After initially financing the acute emergency relief operation, the money has been used for temporary housing, income-generating measures, schools as well as building permanent homes.

The situation in India. Despite major devastation and the large number of people affected, work in the project areas of southern India is already so far advanced that Welthungerhilfe can move on from reconstruction to long-term development and poverty alleviation. In the state of Tamil Nadu the main focus is on income-generating activities, education, boosting civil society, children and youth work as well as disaster control. Thanks to Welthungerhilfe's long-standing presence in the region, relations with local partner organisations are very strong. The tsunami programme here amounts to approximately 8 million euros.

The situation in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately the 2002 peace treaty hasn't been worth the paper it's written on for over a year. The escalation in violence also affects Welthungerhilfe since its project areas are nearly all in the north and east of the country, at the heart of the conflict zones. Nonetheless, none of the projects have yet been suspended. Instead work has continued partially on a reduced scale. In addition to this work, Welthungerhilfe has been supplying food for several tens of thousands of people who fled in the face of violence since the autumn. The main focus of the current redevelopment programme is housing as well as restoring the essentials for life. In the non-war zone of the south, schools have already been rebuilt or renovated. The tsunami programme in Sri Lanka amounts to approximately 12 million euros.

The situation in Indonesia. The worst hit place, the most victims, the least accessible - that was the situation in Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami. Correspondingly Welthungerhilfe earmarked its largest budget here: over 15 million euros. Emergency relief was hindered in the initial months by continual clashes between government troops and the "Free Aceh Movement". Just a few days after Aceh was struck by the terrible tsunami, Welthungerhilfe teams were on the ground to assist people. During the emergency relief stage the organisation's activities included the reconstruction of six units at the central hospital and assistance for thousands of homeless people. Welthungerhilfe's redevelopment programme then focused on the building of homes and schools, the provision of drinking-water and income-generating measures. Welthungerhilfe plans to remain active in Aceh at least until the end of 2009.

The situation in Thailand. At the time of the tsunami, Welthungerhilfe had already terminated its involvement in Thailand due to positive progress in the fast-developing nation. However, its previous long-term work with four partner organisations meant that a reconstruction programme could be quickly coordinated. Alongside initial emergency relief, this programme helped those affected in the professional sector (above all in the fishing industry), school education and ecological coastal protection. Project areas were away from the centres of mass tourism. The total budget amounted to around 3.7 million euros.

Secretary-General, Hans-Joachim Preuß, and members of staff in the project areas are available for interviews on request.

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest and longest-standing non-governmental humanitarian aid organisations in Germany. It provides a complete range of assistance, from rapid emergency aid to reconstruction programmes and also long-term development cooperation projects with local partner organisations in accordance with the principle of promoting self-help. Since its foundation in 1962 around 5,000 projects have been carried out in 70 countries with funding totalling 1.42 billion euros - for a world without hunger and poverty.

For further information see www.welthungerhilfe.de

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