Background of the Project

In May 2017 Sri Lanka faced one of the worst devastations after the 2004 tsunami by flash floods and Landslides in seven districts and the most severely impacted district was Galle, where 142,149 people (36,314 families) have reportedly been affected. Other areas which were affected are Gampaha, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts, with 46 deaths reported in Ratnapura alone the government on 26 May 2017 requested the UN and other International agencies for relief and search and rescue efforts. UN and other agencies supported the Government’s relief efforts in coordination and mobilizing resources, while AMCOR – made a quick assessment in Nagoda Division in Galle on a plea from Hon. Minister Mono Ganesan Minister of National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages. The Government Agent of Batticaloa also made a request. Seeing the devastation AMCOR made a pledge to support at least 1,500 families across Nagoda Divisions. Soon after the return AMCOR acquired the sufficient funds.

AMCOR’s Unique Methodology in Distribution

AMCOR received an authenticated beneficiary list from the Nagoda DS, once we received the list we created a database / and checked for duplications and for names which are not included due to various reasons. Then we created a token and issued them to the beneficiaries through the Grama Niladhari’s prior to the actual distribution which was identical to the list we received from the Grama Niladari.

Issuing a number prior to the distribution made the distribution very smooth for the beneficiaries and everyone else. Once the beneficiary came they knew exactly where to go for clarification and authentication. We collected the number from the beneficiary and handed over a different token where they can go the lorry and collect their dry rations without wasting much time. We used the respective trucks as a mobile ware house where their dry rations are not damaged.

Informing that they had to carry a heavy load the beneficiaries came prepared to collect them. From the day we went there for distribution it was raining heavily. The rain never seem to cease, either it’s raining or drizzling. Since we expected the rain or drizzle we went prepared to overcome these minor issues.

Overall issuing a number then collecting it and handing over a token made a big difference in the distribution.

Transparency and Accountability

For the people to verify what they received, and if there are any complaints in regard to the quantity or quality of the food items we distributed a brochure containing the list of items, quantity and contact details of AMCOR.

Challenges faced by AMCOR

Communication Barrier  

At least two third of the staff did not know the Sinhalese language, so having a decent dialogue was deprived for the beneficiary and to the AMCOR staff as well. Only a few staff did know the language and they had to translate most of the conversation back and forth.

Climate and Culture

AMCOR staff quickly adapted to the climate and culture however in the first few days they were culturally shocked. Different lifestyles and different language made them to think about the families back home.

Coordination

Coordination with Grama Niladhari’s and support from the Divisional Secretariat was good. There were some exceptional Grama Niladhari’s where they organized everything well in advance and people arrived in time and within a couple of hours  the whole distribution was over. A couple of Grama Niladhari’s did not understand the depth of this work. They were expecting us to be a charity organization where they are not accountable to anyone or anything. They expected us to issue dry rations to everyone be it affected or not.

Logistic arrangement

The logistical arrangement was simply great; organizing loading the unloading was alone a huge task. Distributing two villages per day was a decent target but being over ambitious AMCOR decided to go for a higher number made everyone life miserable.

Support from the people

AMCOR expected a lot volunteers where they will help the poor to carry the dry rations however we only witnessed a little of these incidents. Youth come there and carry their own baggage and just leave. The mentality of helping another one has decreased drastically.

Conclusion

Overall this project was a success for AMCOR – Mrs. Dilani Abeygunawardena / Grama Niladhari of Nagoda stated that “affected people were compensated by the government still it was not very sufficient, this baggage really touched the lives of the beneficiaries. Distributing dry rations worth nearly 10,180 rupees and which is good enough for a whole month for consumption is really great” further to this she stated that “the money where they spend for food alone could be utilized for other matters as well”. Being a well-organized person she appreciates the way people were treated and how organized the organization is. Many lists were distributed to many organizations however AMCOR’s timely intervention has touched many people’s lives.

Mr. Senevirathne / Grama Niladhari of Kapitiyagoda South stated that “some people have lost everything and are still in the process of recovering. A project such as this will definitely help enhance the recovery. Although they received help initially people had to battle for survival but this generosity will be not forgotten for years to come.”

Having spoken to hundreds of beneficiaries we got positive feedback from almost everyone, after being traumatized in the worst possible way it is nice to get such a baggage. Thinking of the little details such as needed nutrient per day per person and maintaining a world food programme standard is really great. The Package contains the macro-nutrition composition as Carbohydrate - 66%, Protein – 20% and Fat – 14%.  Many people compensated with many things but having a dry ration for a month is the most valuable gift they received.

AMCOR is proud to stretch its arms to other districts and value everyone’s effort for this project. AMCOR would like to personally thank Mr. S.T.Koddikara the District Secretary/Government Agent, Galle and Divisional Secretary of Nagoda Mrs. C.P.Rajakaruna for their support extended to AMCOR. In the absence of their intervention this project would have not happened at all.

AMCOR would like to thank each and every one from the fourteen villages. This project would have not been possible if not for the dedication of AMCOR Management and its staff. This Project would have been a mere dream if not for donors UMCOR, their generosity has changed and touched many people from the Nagoda Division.

 

Table 1: Number of beneficiaries and respective Villages

#	Name of the Village	Number of Families
1	212/A Kapitiyagoda North	128
2	212 Kapitiyagoda South	115
3	211/A Buddapanaagama	98
4	211 Unanvitiya	90
5	211/B Unanvitiya East	62
6	216 Nagoda	237
7	215/A Maapalagama	108
8	217/C Gammeddagoda South	94
9	194 Udavelivitiya	45
10	194/B Udaveliwitiya West	88
11	217/A Gammeddegoda	46
12	194/A Udavaliwity Thalawa	17
13	194/C Udavaliwity Thalawa East	12
14	217B Gonalagoda East	37
TOTAL		1177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#	Item	Macronutrient	Quantity per family for 30 days (average family size is 4)	Unit	Total Kcal	Total Kcal per day/per person
1	Rice	Carbohydrate	20	Kg	80000	666.67
2	Wheat Flour	Carbohydrate	20	Kg	80000	666.67
3	Dhal  (Lentils)	Protein	4	Kg	16000	133.34
4	Cooking Oil	Fat (91grams per 100ml)	4	Lit	32760	273.00
5	Soya Meat	Protein	4	Kg	16000	133.33
6	Samaposha (Nutritious food for kids)	Protein (20%)	4	kg	3200	26.67
		Carbohydrate (64%)			10080	84.00
		Fat (7%)			2520	21.00
7	Sugar		3	Kg	0	0.00
8	Tea		1	Kg	0	0.00
9	Iodinated Salt		1	kg	0	0.00
10	Green Gram	Protein	2.6	Kg	2165	18.00
Total					256560	2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2: List of Food Items and quantity distributed per family for a month according to World Food Programme standard of nutrition composition

 

FOR MORE DETAILS ►