The British Red Cross has completed its construction work on two islands in the Maldives, enabling families whose lives had been torn apart by the tsunami to settle into their new homes.

On the islands of Fonadhoo and Madifushi, the new homes signal a new dawn after the 2004 tsunami.Hadheeja Ahmed and her husband Moosa Hassan received the 100th home handed over in the Maldives on Fonadhoo island, where 43 houses have been completed.

I am very happy with our house, it is lovely and a relief after such an ordeal.

Hadheeja Ahmed 

They had been living in cramped conditions, first with their neighbours and later their daughter. Hadheeja said that although they were grateful to stay there, times had been hard.

Happy 

"I am very happy with our house, it is lovely and a relief after such an ordeal," she said.

On the island of Madifushi, 54 homes were finished at the end of February, where people are pleased with the design of their new homes.

Jaariya Mohammed, who lives on the island, said: "The new houses are like heaven compared to my old house."

More than 100 homes have now been completed and handed over and work is progressing on the other three islands where the British Red Cross is assisting people affected by the tsunami.

Achievement

British Red Cross head of mission in the Maldives, Jill Clements, said: "Finishing the construction on these two islands and seeing people living in their new homes is a real achievement.

"It is a landmark in our tsunami recovery programme, particularly bearing in mind the small island environment where the logistics of construction has proved quite a challenge."

On the island of Vilufushi, the land reclamation process to triple the size of the island has been completed by the Dutch and Maldivian governments paving the way for the British Red Cross to begin construction work.
 
The British Red Cross plans to build up to 250 homes, and will also build a school, an electric power supply and communal sanitation system for the island.