Tsunami Relief Foundation - Info

Nilaveli 2nd division and Vellur Displaced individuals reside in this camp.

160 families.

85 died in Vellur

6 died in Nilaveli 2nd Divisionnka

About 150 Children stay in this camp
(Communal toys)

Strong Military presence.

Some what influenced by thr T.R.O and LTTE.

ADI PODEI AREA TSUNAMI DISPLACEMENT CAMP.

The Situation

This camp exists in the Easten side of Sri Lanka in close proximity to Trincomalee and Nilaveli. It is located about 50 meters away from the main road that leads from the centre of Trincomalee city towards Nilaveli. The turn off road to the camp is to your left, right past the Divisional Secetariat's office. Most of the population in the camp consists f induviduals displaced from the Nilaveli Division 2 and Vellur area's. There are approximately 160 families living in a area roughly the size of a football field in tents provided by foreign aid agency's and the government. It also consists of Cajan huts provided by the T.R.O. The T.R.O and the government assumes joint administration of the camp. Most of the distribution and data gathering is done by the T.R.O members while the protection of the camp is taken care of by the goverment.
Most of these induviduals are fisherman who have lost their boats and their houses.


The Statistics

160 familes reside here.

85 died in Vellur

6 died in Nilaveli 2nd Div

There are approximatly 150 children in this camp.

Main Needs and Assesment

Since there is a large number of children in this camp it is recommended that their immediate physical and pyscological needs are met. Since there is a strong military and L.T.T.E presence in this camp it is reccomended that care is taken in the distribution of aid. Basically it is better to hand over all aid goods to the staff that are already operating in the camp. However since this camp is located in the Eastern part of the country aid has been scarce in arriving at this camp and even basic things like milk bottles for feeding infants are hard to come by.

1. Baby feeders

2. Mosquito coils

3. Milk powder

4. Clothes for children

5. Mosquito Nets

This items are the one's needed the most. And they are needed in bulk for approximatley 400 people. What is most important is the wellbeing of the children in this camp and they are becoming totally dependant on the aid. It is the same for everyone in the camp. What would be best is to give these people houses and open an infastructure for them to re start their lively hoods.

By Kanishka Ratnapriya

Mannarkadu Tsunami devastated village and the Puloli Methodist College T.R.O Displacement Camp 08/01/05

The Village

The displaced people in this camp consisted mainly of individuals from the Mannarkadu high security zone area.

Mannarkadu was a village in the vicinity of a high security army camp. In normal circumstances this area is normally inaccessible to the general public. But with the utter devastation that the Tsunami caused both the army and the villagers were equally badly affected and security restrictions had been lifted temporarily.

The drive into the village was littered with the debris of houses and household utensils. Bicycles, sari’s, pots, pans and plates were all over the place. It was a grim reminder that the ruins that we were seeing were houses that were inhabited only a couple of days ago. The army camp that was right next to the see did not exist anymore. It was leveled to the ground by the Tsunami. We found sandbags that belonged to the camp about 300 meters away from where the camp was situated.

It was here that we heard horror stories of how a barbed wire security fence had ripped people to shreds as the sea came inland and pulled people back onto the fence as the waters receded. Truly something that had been created to protect people had turned foe and added to the death toll of the village. What was even more horrifying to hear was that the government had given an order to re erect the fence.

There had been an orphanage in the area of which only 2 kids had survived. The garden in front of the big Blue St Anthony’s church in the village was the site of the resting place of more then 40 children. The statue of St Anthony lay on the ground covered in mud and debris. The trees adjacent to the main road leading into the central part of the village had been bent back and now covered the road making the center of the village inaccessible.

On our way out we noticed a hill covered with crosses and the T.R.O representatives that were accompanying us stated that this was were they had buried the dead. It was a really big hill but it was totally covered with crosses. We could not stay here for long as we were on our way to the displacement camp that the villagers now lived in, their village was uninhabitable.

The Displacement Camp

The Displacement camp is located South East of the Mannarkadu village; it is about a 30 minute drive to get tot the camp. The old school building is adjacent to the main road and houses the supplies for the camp and it also houses the administration and aid distribution centers for the camp. The old class rooms of school had been converted into temporary housing for the displaced people. In the back yard the relief workers had also erected makeshift white colored tents that had been supplied to them by an international N.G.O.

There was small boy that I spoke too in this camp who recounted his story of how he had lost his whole family. He did not know what to do and where to go and sadly neither did I. There were however a bunch of kids playing football. They were laughing and shouting at each other being the children that they were. In the heart of sadness in this displacement camp there still lingered the smiles and joys that only children can bring. The little toys and aid that we brought and distributed truly warmed the hearts of all that were there. My respect and admiration must be expressed to wards the T.R.O relief workers that were running this camp. They were doing the best that they could with the little that they had got. On our way out we met the leader of the female cadres of the L.T.T.E of the Mannarkadu area. She was on an inspection tour and thanked us saying that even our presence was great thing. Even though there had been reports that the Sri Lankan government had discriminated in the distribution of aid in this area. The T.R.O camp consisted of Muslim, Tamil and Singhalese people living together. They unlike the government that represents us had not discriminated.

Please help the people in this camp.

Essential items that are needed

Drinking water
Milk powder
Baby feeder bottles
Sleeping mats
Any kind of cook able food (Ex-Rice, Dahl)
Cooking utensils
And if you could spare it toys for the children

It’s the little things that count in these peoples lives. They are traumatized and shocked by what has happened to them. To bring a smile to their faces is the only true relief that we as citizens of the world must strive to achieve.

By Kanishka Ratnapriya

TRO Relief Center
(Info on Displacement Camps)

The T.R.O (Tamil Rehabilitation Organization) for the Jaffna Peninsula affected Tsunami victims is located in Nelliadi. It is located centrally to the Tsunami affected area’s of Velbettiturai, Point Pedro and Manalkadu basically the North Eastern tip of the Jaffna Penisula. It is a well organized relief distribution and damage assesement center compromising local N.G.O, the L.T.T.E and the civil society of Jaffna.

* To get to Nelliadi from Jaffna you must follow the #18 road which leads to Kannkasenturai upto the Chunnakam junction and turn right,

* After which you proceed to Puttur.

* From the Puttur junction you turn left and proceed past the road that leads to Achchuveli crossing the bridge adjacent to it and turn right at the next main junction.

* After which it is possible to reach Nelliadi.

* It is also possible to not turn right at the main junction past the Achchuveli bridge and instead proceed on the road leading to Puloli (Puloli also includes a displacement camp) and turn right at the first main road right before Puloli and reach Nelliadi. This root is s recommended as it better kept then the other road and due to the fact that it is safer.

* The roads are somewhat better then they used to be and it is possible for an average sized truck to reach Nelliadi within an hour from Jaffna.

For further reference concerning these roads refer to

http://map.tamilnet.com

These are the Tsunami displacement figures which were aquired from the T.R.O office in Nelliadi on the 08/01/05.
It includes the names of the main displacement camps and the amount of families there. (Be aware that these figures are subject to change.)

In the Karaveddy Area

* Thamothara School – 57 Families

* Uduppiddi A.M College – 360 Families

* Uduppiddi Girls College – 49 Families

* Imayanan G.T.M.S – 16 Families

* Kalaivani C.M.C – 230 Families

* Kamaparmalai G.T.M.S – 106 Families

* Gnanasaiyar College – 32 Families

* Vitnesvara College – 65 Families

* Vathiry North M.M.S – 67 Families

* Nelliady M.M.V – 112 Families

* Sacred Heart College – 39 Families

* V.M.T Vannichchi Amman – 19 Families

* Sianathompy Vidhaylaya – 12 Families

In the Point Pedro Area

* Puloli M.M.S – 250 Families

* Thambasiddy M.M.S – 178 Families

* Puddalai M.V – 320 Families

* Alvai Sri Lanka Vidhyala – 278 Families

* Polikandy M. Vidhyalaya – 287 Families

* Kottawattai G.T.M – 50 Families

* Thicmam Stthivinaya – 104 Families

* Vadamindu Girls College – 474 Families

* Velautham M.V – 101 Families

* Alvai Muththumam – 134 Families

* Lourdeo Matha College – 163 Families

* Katkoullam M.M.S – 60 Families

* Kerudukovil South – 102 Families

* Thampolai Simpidurai College – 140 Families



The Basic Needs For These Areas (They are listed in order to importance)

* Soap
* Mosquito Nets
* Mosquito Coils
* Feeding Bottles
* Mats
* Bed Sheets
* Sarongs
* Ladies Underwear
* Shirts
* Towels
* Lanterns
* Bowls
* Baby Towels
* Gripe Water
* Plates

As it is evident even though the Karaveddy Area was hit hard the bulk of displaced individuals seem to be heading towards the Point Pedro camps. Government aid is scarce in these areas and most of the aid seems to be flowing from International and Local N.G.O’s, the Civil Society and the L.T.T.E.

I appeal to all that read this that they try to help those that have been forgotten by the authorities.

Kanishka Ratnapriya

TSUNAMI DISPLACEMENT CAMP
CHITTAMBARA COLLEGE, VALLVETITURAI
08/01/05 11.00 to 13.00

The First camp we visited was the Chitthambara College, Vallevettiturai camp said to be the school and birthplace of none other then Vellupillai Prabhakaran himself. One of the T.R.O members that were escorting us pointed out a little blue house with a black gate at a three way junction and told us that it was Mr. Prabkharan’s birth house. He also asked us whether we would like to visit it. In any other circumstances it would have been an amazing experience to have visited the house of the leader of the L.T.T.E but the point of this visit was to get to as many relief centers as soon as possible and we just did not have the time.
The drive to the camp was exciting enough; the carnage was close to unbelievable. Some individuals traveling in the same vehicle said that of all their witnessing of the destruction of Jaffna due to war they had never witnessed such destruction as the Tsunami had done to this coast. Nature truly could teach us a lesson if she wished too. The drive from Jaffna to Point Pedro takes about an hour. The drive is pretty normal, you always pass the odd army checkpoint/camp at the junctions that connect the smaller roads to the main road leading to Point Pedro and these are high security areas where anything can “happen” even though our drive was uneventful.

Rounding a corner we turned into absolute chaos, this area was about 200 meters away from the sea. Houses had collapsed, the water line on the houses were taller then the height of an average lorry and there were boats strewn across what used to someone’s backyard. I Say, “used to be” not because the backyard did not exist but because the house did not exist and apparently neither did the owner and his family, all 7 of them. The coastline drive up to the relief center would have been scenic had it not been for the absolute chaos that had engulfed it. There was not a single house that had not been affected. Not a single house in a 200 meter distance from the ocean in this are had been spared. In some cases the fronts of these houses are untouched but behind them are scenes of destruction that no Hollywood movie could equal. The leaves of most coconut and Palmyra trees had been turned from bright green to a deathly yellow brown that imposed a mood of somberness in this whole area. But there was a lot of activity on this road; people were rushing from place to place in bicycles, tractors and Lorries. These brave Tamil people had already started to get their lives together even though they had lost everything.


We finally arrived at Chittambara College which was a temporary displaced people’s center. The smell as we exited the vehicles was close to unbearable. Anyone who has smelt a rotting corpse will never forget that smell. There was a U.N.D.P mobile water carrier in the middle of the school courtyard. There were 3 school buildings surrounding the courtyard 2 of which were 2 floors high. All the buildings were packed to the brim with people. Whole families with grief stricken faces were walking around with buckets for food collection. There were 5 kids playing marbles in the sand. There was a little girl drinking water from the water carrier. Life seemed hectic but these people did not complain. They accepted their fate and continued their lives. A great wave had come and swept their lives away within 8 minutes.

But here they were in a refugee camp I saw no tears only the grim determination to pull things together and collect enough supplies for the day for their family. At one point sitting by the side of one building was a grandfather and his granddaughter. Both seemed to be dwelling on their fate and the expressions on their faces seemed to suggest that they seemed lost and confused about their situation. But they did not howl and cry while begging for food. They sat there quietly and thought on letting the relief workers that were running around them do their job. The T.R.O organizing in this camp was commendable, far better then the camps I saw in the South of the country. There was one food distribution point and everyone cued up to collect the food for their family. Every single individual had their own pillow, their own bed sheet and at least a “paduru” mat to share with someone. There was massive U.N.D.P water carrier that supplied water for the whole camp. And compared to the outside of the camp it seemed to be much more hygienic and livable. The smell of Ditto was ever present.
At this point I must mention a word about the foreign N.G.O’s that were in the area and coordinating with the TRO in conducting joint relief operations. They seemed to be cooperating well with the L.T.T.E and other local N.G.O’s and providing the people with what ever they needed. In this situation they did not question to whom they were giving aid to and they did not bother how much aid was needed. They gave all they could give and nothing more could be said about their commitment towards the rebuilding process of the people in the area.
We distributed the aid that we had brought with us and continued to stay in this camp for at least 1 hour collecting what information that we could about this camp. Their short term needs and their long term needs. When we noticed what they needed the most was someone to talk too about their problems and their views on the disaster that had befallen them. Someone that would make them feel human again instead of like refugee’s in a displacement camp.

Specific needs

1. There are more then 500 people in this camp.
2. 100 children.
3. 50 children with no parents
4. Food, water and long term housing seemed to be the main needs.
5. Milk for small kids
6. Psychological Counseling for loss of family members and loss of livelihood is strongly suggested as well.

BY Kanishka Ratnapriya

Reduced to rubble

I was taken aback when I went to Hambantota. Despite the countless footage of the devastated town, I was NOT prepared for what I saw. Not that there was much to see unless you count flat ground and rubble. It was bad enough seeing dead people and horror on tv but somehow the vast area of rubble disturbed me. I had seen rubble decorate the side of the Galle Road all the way to Hambantota. While I was still adjusting to the new look of familiar settings, I walked into Hambantota. As I was walking I saw a tree that had saris and clothe knotted in its branches, fluttering in the wind. Colorful I thought. A second later I realized how morbid that was. Those belonged to people who obviously tried to save themselves. Those were the remains of people that danced in the wind.

My photographer and I made our way to the Mahalevaya, the main saltern in Hambantota. Last time I was here it was a nice sight. 500 acres ….. just salterns. Now there was debris and mud all over and over 250 army personnel were clearing out the entire place. I walked along the salterns and saw shoes, bottles, tvs, fridges, bits of furniture. Despite the fact that everyone working on the clearing kept staring at us (obviously the last thing one would expect would be a journalist and a photographer taking a tour of the salterns) I kept going around and trying to imagine what it must have been like 2 weeks before. A reel from a cassette was sprawled all over. I sometimes have a sick sense of humor I admit. I was getting restless and also bored as the photographer was engrossed in taking pictures from the best possible angle. So ….. I decided to follow the reel. I ended up at the end of the saltern near some houses. I regretted doing this now that knew the place of origin. The field officer there told me that they were clearing up the salterns and emptying it completely. Seawater would be filled again. There would be no shortage of salt he assured me, as they had stocks for another 8 months.

Went back to Hambantota town. Was mesmerized by the communications tower (or what ever those great big hulking red and white signals towers are called!) which lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. I was amazed that water could do such a thing to this giant. Spoke to some people working in camps. They tell me that they’re running out of food and aid. They’re bitter about the fact that they’re not receiving as much aid as much as Galle and Matara, despite the fact that Hambantota was hit much harder. As I turn to leave they tell me in Sinhala “The Prime Minister came and said Ayubowan. This is not a classroom. We want food and help. But all we get is Ayubowan and the people will die of starvation.” How does one react to this? I heard countless number of stories from people who told me how they survived. How their loved ones are still missing. I think most of them just wanted to talk. I went there for business stories. But I’m glad I spoke to people who really needed to get it all out. I won’t be writing their stories in the paper. They don’t really care. But I’m glad I listened and glad I could direct aid to them through some people who contacted me. But I’ll never forget all that rubble. Truly, seeing is believing. And as weird as it is, in the midst of all the rubble, there are bright blue tents which people are living in now. Bright blue tents from some generous foreign country. It was a funny sight though …… bright blue tents in the middle of rubble and destruction.


Disaster Tourism

As I write countless stories (which I hope a few people will at least read on Sunday!) about the tsunami and how it has affected tourism I realize that there is a new kind of tourism in Sri Lanka. Disaster Tourism!!!!! Countless numbers of people make their way to affected areas (of course taking some kind of aid with them to show how generous and caring they are!) just to see the destruction from their own eyes. In Hikkaduwa, all the hotels are closed. Coral Gardens is functioning as the US Marines are staying there. Foreign journalists are staying at Nippon Villa. Shopkeepers tell me that business is bad but they making some sales. I was quite surprised ….. who would buy souvenirs from a place like this and at such a time? Surely there were no tourists? He tells me that they mostly sell their wares to foreign media and relief workers. It’s the same story everywhere. Most of the hotels are playing host to relief workers and media. In New Zealand, a tour operator is selling holiday packages where tourists can help in ‘disaster stricken areas’ and after a few days/weeks make their way to non affected areas and have a holiday. I’m not passing judgment …… those who read this can make up their mind and opinion about ‘disaster tourism’. This is just how I see it.

by Iromi Perera