Emergency

On December 26, 2004, the giant Southeast Asia tsunami destroyed homes, wiped out scores of villages, killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people in a matter of seconds and completely altered the landscape in the region. In the days and weeks following, AmeriCares quickly delivered seven emergency airlifts of medical aid and relief supplies for survivors in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. But our work didn't end there.

An unprecedented outpouring of support allowed us to establish a long term presence in the region and undertake our largest relief effort to date, investing more than $45 million over the past eight years to rebuild schools, hospitals, water systems and livelihoods for survivors.

Our field office in Colombo, Sri Lanka continues our support of the rebuilding of critical health facilities, with the last of three major hospital additions now underway – a $1 million project for a general hospital in northeastern Sri Lanka.

Recovery

With more than $45 million of resources, AmeriCares established a long-term presence in Sri Lanka, helping to rebuild clinics and hospitals, delivered lifesaving medicines and supplies and trained health care workers throughout the region. We selected projects based on the carefully assessed needs of the affected communities, the impact on each community, and the cost-effectiveness of each investment.

• In 2009, AmeriCares completed a $3.2 million addition onto the District Base Hospital at Elpitiya, doubling the number of beds and adding the first private delivery rooms in the region. The four-story addition included two operating rooms, a blood bank and a blood bank. We also fully equipped the new wing with the necessary medical equipment and furniture.
• In 2012, we completed an 83,000-square-foot addition onto the Trincomalee District General Hospital that adds 250 beds, operating rooms, a laboratory complex and a neonatal intensive care unit. The $2.8 million project expands the hospital’s capacity to treat patients in an area ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and the long-running civil conflict that ended in 2009.
• In June 2012, AmeriCares broke ground on its third and final hospital project in the country – a major addition to the Mullaitivu District General Hospital in northeastern Sri Lanka. When it is completed, the $1 million project will add a 53-bed surgical ward with two operating rooms, recovery area, intensive care unit, physician housing and a central sterilizing facility for all of the hospital’s equipment and supplies.

AmeriCares other tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India include:

• More than 40 health care facilities built or renovated
• Nearly 100 hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities outfitted with new medical equipment and re-stocked with medicines
• More than 20,000 health care workers trained
• 7,500 families received job training and other livelihood support
• More than 20 schools rebuilt or renovated
• Over 20 water systems built to provide clean water