In the coastal villages of southern India devastated by the tsunami of 2004 Malteser International has enabled 427 rural families to return to work on the rehabilitated land. Over 300 reservoirs and five wells have been reconstructed in villages. Through microcredit, 500 families have been able to resume their former activities.

Small farmers have been given training and technical assistance to improve the quality of their crops.

In the coming months, the Order of Malta’s Relief Corps will be engaged in ensuring the sustainability of the programme. Objectives include the desalinization of land, strengthening agricultural groups for government projects, preparing business training courses and, above all, transferring knowhow to volunteers in the local community.