March 14, 2008
The Government of Japan is extending Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP) to the project "Midterm and long-term reconstruction of tidal wave disaster areas".
H.E. Mr. Hideaki Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mrs. Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk, Executive Secretary of the Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF), signed the contract on March 12, 2008 at the Embassy of Japan.
Six provinces (Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun) sustained unprecedented great damage, especially to fishermen’s villages and fishermen along the Andaman sea coast, due to the Earthquake Off the Coast of Sumatra and subsequent Tsunami (tidal wave) that occurred on December 26, 2004.
Some of those provinces with famous tourist resorts, such as Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, have drawn more attention from both domestic and overseas donors, especially at governmental level, and have thus received priority assistance to almost rebuild infrastructure including roads, houses, schools and so on. In contrast, Trang, Ranong, and Satun, comparatively less noticed, have received limited assistance. Although NGOs such as SDF have actively extended their support to the reconstruction of affected areas and rehabilitation of people's activities, houses for those tsunami-affected people are still in short supply in these provinces.
It is imperative to strengthen and form communities by promoting and activating people's self-reliant participation in coping with various difficulties and challenges people are faced with, in the current post-Tsunami era. Among other needs are repairing or reconstructing those houses damaged by the tsunami, conflicts over land titles between the pre-occupants and the encroachers, organization and operation/administration of newly formed communities, repairing or rebuilding tsunami-damaged fishing boats, decrease in the catch of fish and other sea products, and fishing technologies compatible with the protection of marine environment.
SDF has been actively involved, since the occurrence of the Tsunami and mid to long term reconstruction phase thereafter, primarily in the promotion of people's voluntary and independent participation and also development of core human resources who can act as the prime mover in the activities of the communities. The Japanese Government, highly appreciating the above efforts made by SDF to help community people, is extending support for the construction of a training center and accommodation by the Foundation that amounts to a total of 3,257,300 baht to further enhance those activities.
The Government of Japan is willing to continue support, through the GGP scheme, projects that contribute to reconstruction arising from damage caused by disasters including tidal waves.
