Sri Lanka: Assistance sought to help victims

Sri Lanka: Foreign assistance sought to help victims

The government has launched an international appeal requesting immediate and medium term assistance to provide relief to victims of national disaster which killed more than 4,000 and rendered million homeless. Requests have been initially made to friendly countries, UN and other relief agencies.

Widespread devastation and loss of life have been caused mainly in the Eastern and Southern parts of Sri Lanka as a result of a tidal wave (tsunami) which occurred this morning in the Indian Ocean. Several other countries in the region have also been severely affected.

Initial reports indicate that thousands have been killed and many more remain unaccounted. The number of affected people is approximately one million.

The government has declared this a national disaster and all Government and other agencies have been placed on an emergency footing to operationalise rescue, relief, medical and other assistance in the affected areas.

You may also request as appropriate your accredited government for possible assistance, particularly in the following areas.

Immediate

I. Tents, blankets, linen etc

II. Food (pre cooked or ready to eat meal packs)

III. Water purification tablets (approximately 2 million)

IV. Wheat flour, pulses, rice

V. Drugs : paracetamol, anti-biotics, dressing, suture material, disposable syringes

VI. Intravenous infusions (saline and dextrose)

VII. Portable generators

Medium term

I. Housing and rehabilitation

II. Reconstruction of infrastructure

Further details of the medium term requirements will be sent in due course.

You may also mobilize diaspora and well wishes for assistance by contracting the Sri Lanka Associations and other such groups with regard to any of the requirements.

Financial contributions could be credited to the GDA with intimation to the ministry.

Coordination work with regard to this effort at the Ministry will be done by the Economic Affairs Division and the contact details are the following:

Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, DG/EA (0094 11) 2431980 / 2432650 / 0777-390031

Ms. Kshenuka Senewiratne, Addl, DG/EA (0094 11) 2323804 / 0773136690

EA Division fax: (0094 11) 2422644

Given the magnitude of the disaster, the Ministry would appreciate Heads of Mission treating this as URGENT and taking personal initiatives to obtain assistance from the Government of their accreditation and from other sources as above.

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