Japanese Red Cross in Trinco
Pointing out that 8000 families in the tsunami-devastated Trincomalee District, i.e. 10% of all households, are still suffering from unfavorable living conditions, the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) said it is despatching a team with supplies to help.
“They are living in shelters, temporary housing, or staying with relatives or friends. In response to the situation, the JRCS is sending its staff and is delivering relief goods, essential to the everyday lives of those affected, in cooperation with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS).”
“After April 2005, relief distributions in the Trincomalee District by aid organizations became infrequent and there is now little coordination of distribution plans between the organizations,” JRCS said.
“However, evacuees without permanent housing are staying in shelters where the conditions are very rough and difficult, so the demand for the commodities is still high.”
Hygiene kits (comprised of everyday items such as soap, toothbrush sets and towels) from the Red Cross are in high demand along with clothes.
On August 8 to 9, clothes, sarongs and saris, and hygiene kits were distributed to 2,100 families in Kuchchaveli on the eastern coast. Distributions were also conducted on the 18th in Ichilampattai and on the 30th in Kinniya.
The JRCS says it “continues relief distributions and other assistance to improve the living environment of the evacuees who are excluded from the recovery process and are going to be forgotten by the international community.”
Chickenpox vaccinations
Medical staff with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) working in collaboration with Sri Lankan health department staff, last week organized a vaccination campaign against chickenpox for 200 children in Kallady, a camp for tsunami survivors near the eastern city of Trincomalee.
The vaccination campaign for children under twelve followed an outbreak of the disease in the camp in September, IOM said. Some 35 cases among children and adults were diagnosed.
"Chicken pox, like measles, is highly contagious particularly among children in a crowded camp environment and it is essential to act quickly and vaccinate as soon as it is identified," said IOM Colombo Public Health Coordinator, Dr Qasim Sufi.
IOM health workers and health department staff last week also carried out a house-to-house health education campaign in the camp and met camp and religious leaders to enlist their help in stopping the spread of the disease.
Health volunteers were mobilized to visit every house in the camp daily to monitor any further spread of the disease and plans are underway for a visiting mobile clinic.
French funds for Trinco rebuilding
France will provide 74 million Euros (about US$ 62 million) to Sri Lanka in a bid to facilitate the rebuilding of the tsunami affected infrastructure in the tsunami-hit eastern Trincomalee district, the presidential office said last Wednesday.
The two governments signed three agreements in Paris in the presence of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was visiting France, the office said.
A 64 million Euro (about US$ 53.6 million) credit facility at a concessionary interest rate and re-payable in 20 years, will finance the rehabilitation of the highway network, pipe borne water supply and power transmission facilities in Trincomalee, damaged by last year''s tsunami.
The second agreement was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about the Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply Scheme, under which France will provide 10 million Euros (about 8.4 million dollars) credit facility to Sri Lanka.
The French government also agreed to differ Sri Lanka''s outstanding debt of 6.19 million Euros (about 5.19 million dollars). An MOU to this effect was signed last Wednesday.
President Kumaratunga thanked the French government and people for their immediate help after the tsunami.(Xinhua)
Pointing out that 8000 families in the tsunami-devastated Trincomalee District, i.e. 10% of all households, are still suffering from unfavorable living conditions, the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) said it is despatching a team with supplies to help.
“They are living in shelters, temporary housing, or staying with relatives or friends. In response to the situation, the JRCS is sending its staff and is delivering relief goods, essential to the everyday lives of those affected, in cooperation with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS).”
“After April 2005, relief distributions in the Trincomalee District by aid organizations became infrequent and there is now little coordination of distribution plans between the organizations,” JRCS said.
“However, evacuees without permanent housing are staying in shelters where the conditions are very rough and difficult, so the demand for the commodities is still high.”
Hygiene kits (comprised of everyday items such as soap, toothbrush sets and towels) from the Red Cross are in high demand along with clothes.
On August 8 to 9, clothes, sarongs and saris, and hygiene kits were distributed to 2,100 families in Kuchchaveli on the eastern coast. Distributions were also conducted on the 18th in Ichilampattai and on the 30th in Kinniya.
The JRCS says it “continues relief distributions and other assistance to improve the living environment of the evacuees who are excluded from the recovery process and are going to be forgotten by the international community.”
Chickenpox vaccinations
Medical staff with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) working in collaboration with Sri Lankan health department staff, last week organized a vaccination campaign against chickenpox for 200 children in Kallady, a camp for tsunami survivors near the eastern city of Trincomalee.
The vaccination campaign for children under twelve followed an outbreak of the disease in the camp in September, IOM said. Some 35 cases among children and adults were diagnosed.
"Chicken pox, like measles, is highly contagious particularly among children in a crowded camp environment and it is essential to act quickly and vaccinate as soon as it is identified," said IOM Colombo Public Health Coordinator, Dr Qasim Sufi.
IOM health workers and health department staff last week also carried out a house-to-house health education campaign in the camp and met camp and religious leaders to enlist their help in stopping the spread of the disease.
Health volunteers were mobilized to visit every house in the camp daily to monitor any further spread of the disease and plans are underway for a visiting mobile clinic.
French funds for Trinco rebuilding
France will provide 74 million Euros (about US$ 62 million) to Sri Lanka in a bid to facilitate the rebuilding of the tsunami affected infrastructure in the tsunami-hit eastern Trincomalee district, the presidential office said last Wednesday.
The two governments signed three agreements in Paris in the presence of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was visiting France, the office said.
A 64 million Euro (about US$ 53.6 million) credit facility at a concessionary interest rate and re-payable in 20 years, will finance the rehabilitation of the highway network, pipe borne water supply and power transmission facilities in Trincomalee, damaged by last year''s tsunami.
The second agreement was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about the Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply Scheme, under which France will provide 10 million Euros (about 8.4 million dollars) credit facility to Sri Lanka.
The French government also agreed to differ Sri Lanka''s outstanding debt of 6.19 million Euros (about 5.19 million dollars). An MOU to this effect was signed last Wednesday.
President Kumaratunga thanked the French government and people for their immediate help after the tsunami.(Xinhua)
