Kalifapura Housing Scheme consisting of 60 houses in Moragoda Ela, Galle was declared opened by Mr. Abdullah Al-Mahmood of the Red Crescent Society ,UAE on 30th January 2007. This housing scheme for the families affected by the tsunami was implemented by UN -Habitat with funding provided by the Government and the Red Crescent Society of the UAE.

This project to construct 80 new houses and rehabilitate 220 damaged houses in Galle was inaugurated on 24th January 2006 by His Excellency Mahmood Mohamood Al-Mahmood, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates and Mr. Abdullah Al-Mahmood of the Red Crescent Society ,UAE. Construction of 60 houses in Kalifapura has been completed.

With funding assistance from Government of UAE and the Red Crescent, UN-HABITAT is constructing another 132 houses in Kattankudy, in Batticoloa district for the tsunami victims. In this settlement work of 102 houses have been completed. The funding for the construction of all 523 houses and the essential infrastructure is estimated to be Rs. 120 million.

Additionally funding for another project to build 684 houses and repair 290 houses in Kalmunai in Ampara district and Kinniya in Trincomalee district was also provided by the Red Crescent Society of UAE. This project is implemented by UN-HABITAT in partnership with Muslim Foundation for Culture and Development. The total budget including the cost of infrastructure is Rs. 328 million.

Under these two projects a total of 895 houses will be constructed and 602 houses will be repaired with the funding provided by the Red Crescent and the Government of UAE

All housing and infrastructure projects implemented by the UN-HABITAT is through a community based approach, where the beneficiary families made all the key decisions. Technical support was provided by the staff of the local authority and the officials of the UN-HABITAT.