Remarks by USAID Mission Director George Deikun at the Inauguration of Overhead Water Tank and Sanitation Systems for Tsunami Affected Families, Arokyapuram

March 29, 2007

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to be here today for the inauguration of the overhead tank and sanitation system for the tsunami affected community of Arokyapuram. I would like to thank Jennifer, Fr. Celestine, Fr. Maria Soosai and their teams for their hard work in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the tsunami.

Two years after the tsunami, the U.S. Government remains actively involved in supporting victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami, both here in India and in other affected countries. In India, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continues to provide humane and dignified temporary shelter to families who lost their homes. We remain focused on providing water and sanitation in temporary and permanent shelters and on returning wage earners to their livelihoods or helping them to develop new livelihoods. Providing children and youth with educational and recreational opportunities has also been an important part of our work. We are also working to develop safety nets to protect women and children, the most vulnerable in any disaster.

USAID support is also targeted at improving disaster preparedness in six districts of Tamil Nadu. Finally, a program linking the cities of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam with U.S. cities in the state of Florida -- a U.S. state highly prone to disasters -- is also on-going.

Through USAID, the U.S. Government has worked throughout this period in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with a network of local NGO partners and in close cooperation with local government officials and communities to address the needs of those affected.

Our support has progressed through two phases – 1) relief and 2) transition and recovery. During the immediate relief phase we disbursed approximately $4 million using NGO networks and focused on water and sanitation in temporary shelters, solid waste management, education, psychosocial support and restoring livelihoods.

During the transition and recovery phase, we provided an additional $14 million in funding. We have continued work with our NGO partners focusing on water and sanitation, working to protect women and children and preparing shelters for the hot summer and the north-east Monsoon. The U.S. Government will continue to support those affected by the tsunami until our program finishes in September 2007.

Today we are here to mark the opening of the overhead water tank and community sanitation system at Arokyapuram. We believe that these improvements will better the quality of life of people living in this community.

Our partner, Catholic Relief Services and their partner Kotar Social Service Society, has worked closely with the community to introduce the toilets with appropriate treatment system. They have worked to bring about these improvements in place and have also educated the community on how to use, operate and maintain these facilities. All of this equipment is low cost and easy to maintain and the systems easy to manage. They are appropriate to the needs of communities, which will be able to take care of them over time. Equally important, is the emphasis that has been placed on sanitation and good hygiene and their direct connection to the health of local communities. This has helped to bring about positive social change and health benefits to these communities.

Local communities are participating in all of these programs and improvements. We believe that this involvement is crucial. Community participation, through financial contributions and time, will help to ensure that these changes and improvements are lasting.

USAID is pleased to be associated with these positive contributions. We believe that they will help to improve the quality of life of those affected by the tsunami. I am grateful to have been included in today’s inauguration and to declare these facilities open and truly hope that they will serve the local community for a long time to come.

Thank you.