GoSL's aid delivery, inequitable - Rev. Dr. Jeyanesan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 13:34 GMT]
Sri Lankan government does not treat alike the people of all communities, affected in war and Tsunami, in connection with relief distribution, and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is deliberately creating barriers to effective functioning of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in delivering relief to the affected, said Rev. Dr. Jeyanesan, the Coordinator of South Indian Missionary for Batticaloa District.



Nearly 40,000 Tamil people from Muthur East, in Trincomalee District have sought refuge in Kathiraveli and Vaharai area in Batticaloa District after losing all their belongings and dwellings, and undergoing extreme hardships due to fighting in the area.

Further, nearly 10,000 additional civilians have been internally displaced in Vaharai region making a total of 50,000 displaced who are in need of urgent assistance. Many are forced to live by roadsides or under the shade of trees while others have sought shelter in local schools and community buildings. Basic necessities of food, clothing and water are in short supply. Small children are especially affected due to lack of adequte milk and a safe environment ot sleep, Dr Jeyanesan said.

"In Muthur area nearly 25,000 Muslims have been displaced and according to information I have received, adequate help from the Government of Sri Lanka is reaching them, and most of the urgent immediate needs have been taken careof for them" Devanesan added.

"Although one can understand the Sri Lanka Government's bureaucratic hurdles in attending to emergency crisis precipitated by large scale displacements, it is inconceivable that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) would deliberately block the NGOs, Missionaries, Temples and other charity organizations from moving relief supplies to Vaharai area.

"Especially our Missionary tried to send 10 lorry loads of food and other essential items, which were blocked by the SLA," Dr Devanesan said.

17 lorry loads of relief items with International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) escorts were allowed only after 3 days. The amount of relief carried by these food convoys were not enough for all the refugee needs.

The closures of all gateways to the LTTE controlled area in Batticaloa District by the SLA during the last 2, 3 days have further woresened the plight of the refugees as relief supplies to the displaced have completely come to a standstill.

Meanwhile, no relief has reached more than 600 families of Vellaveli, in Batticaloa District who took refuge in Thumpankerny area following the fighting between the SLA and LTTE on the 13 August, so far given no relief. The condition of children and aged among them have become critical, Dr Devanesan said.

"In 2002, with the signing of Ceasefire Agreement, Tamils had high expectations that sustainable peace was a distinct possibility. The upsurge in violence and the large scale displacements have changed this mindset as they struggle to survive one day at a time.

"In the post-Tsunami period many foreign Organizations came forward to help the country, but now they are returning home as the ground conditions have deteriorated and they are concerned about their safety. This has affected our people further. I want to tell them one thing that if they are really interested in helping our people, they can do so through the local NGOs," Rev Devanesan further said.