HFH Two-Year Plan to Rebuild Homes for Tsunami Survivors

Can Hong Kong raise a small portion of the US$25 million of the HFH project? HFH-HK now targets HK$10 million...

I am pleased to support Habitat For Humanity in raising funds to rebuild homes for the survivors of Asian Tsunami Disaster.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing organisation seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 175,000 houses, providing shelter for nearly 900,000 people worldwide. Now at work in 100 countries, Habitat for Humanity is building a house every 26 minutes. By 2005, Habitat houses will be sheltering 1 million people.

TSUNAMI DISPLACES 5 MILLION SURVIVORS
As many as five million people are displaced and in need of basic services as a result of the tsunami-earthquake catastrophe that struck in Southeast Asia December 26th, 2004. Habitat for Humanity will work with victims of the tsunami in India, Sri Lanka , Indonesia and Thailand. There is an urgent need at this time is to move as many families out of relief camps (media reports of overcrowding, civil unrest, gang rapes and child trafficking in these camps are very well known by now).

PHASE I
Based on assessment by staff on the ground, the immediate priority is to help families move out of the overcrowded, diseased and crime-infested camps and other temporary shelters and into transitional housing. Habitat for Humanity has responded to this urgent need is to help 25,000 families, moving more then 100,000 people out of the refugee camps to transitional housing.

PHASE II
Over time, Habitat for Humanity will begin working with families in transitional housing to build more permanent structures with additional rooms through Habitat "Save & Build" programme which will empower homeowners with dignity and skills.

APPEAL FOR FUNDING
Habitat for Humanity estimates it will cost approximately US$25 million to provide the 25,000 transitional houses over 2 years. To date, donations submitted through the HFHI website total US$1.4 million and donors within the Tsunami hit countries have pledged about US$1.9 million.