TRO assists Muslim flood victims
[TamilNet, Friday, 20 December 2002, 16:40 GMT]
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) and its support arm Social Economic Development Organization (SEDO) in Trincomalee Friday commenced distribution of relief items to about fifty-nine refugee families, majority of them Muslims,
affected by the recent flood, sources in Trincomalee said.
Each relief package contained two kg rice,
one kg flour, half kg sugar, half kg dhal and two coconuts. SEDO volunteers assisted relief works, TRO sources said. Majority of the recipients were Muslims housed in two old buildings constructed under the British rule at Love Lane in Trincomalee. Floodwater entered these buildings following torrential rains two days back. However
refugees could not move out from their camps, as they have no other place to seek accommodation. The refugees now staying in Love Lane camps were driven out of their permanent lands at Uppuveli in 1990 violence when the Sri Lanka Army occupied the area, one of refugee said. Their lands are now occupied by Sinhalese who have put up permanent houses and named it "Panchalawatte." However attempts made by new Sinhala settlers to legitimize their unlawful occupation have been hampered by protests fromoriginal Muslim and Tamil settlers to the authorities concerned, group leader said. He said, "we are waiting for the authorities to take steps to resettle us in our lands now under the occupation of the Sinhala settlers."
Mr. K Mathavarajah TRO secretary distributing relief supplies
SEDO volunteer distributing relief supplies
Muslim refugees in Love Lane refugee camp in Trincomalee
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