Habitat is providing technical expertise to its partner World Concern in
the construction of an initial 400 houses in Labutta town in cyclone-hit
Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar. Construction is expected to take about six
months with plans to build an additional 2,000 or more houses pending
additional funds and other factors.
Habitat is also in the process of designing a mobile sawmill that will help
families in different villages to use wood from fallen coconut palm trees
in rebuilding their homes. The concept is based on an ongoing program
in Pakistan where Habitat provides sawmill services to villagers who want
to cut and shape new and re-usable timber and wood for rebuilding.
Habitat staff have been looking at needs in communities in the disaster-ravaged
southern Irrawaddy delta for the design and construction schedule of the
community "safe" buildings that are able to shelter up to 100 people in
the event of future flooding. The first safe buildings are expected to
be built by March 2009.
