The need for transitional shelters continues to exist in Galle District. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), the Sri Lankan government’s Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) reports that 5,400 transitional shelters are needed. Of that total, 2,665 transitional shelters have been completed and another 1,900 are in progress

Now into its tenth month, the PG05 transitional shelter program is awaiting further funding. We have erected 87 shelters for tsunami-affected families in the Galle area. Each of our prefabricated timber structures provides 200 square feet of living space, costs about $420 U.S., and is designed to last about two years.

The founder of our transitional shelter project designed the shelter using Computer Aided Design (CAD). CAD is commonly used by professionals to draft architectural and engineering drawings. Our shelters include a support beam in the middle that residents can use to partition the interior to create separate rooms. Each is equipped with large, hinged windows. When closed, the windows protect residents from blowing rain and, when opened, they allow cross-ventilation that is necessary in the hot, humid Sri Lankan climate.