Jan 12 (IL) The relief aid disbursed by the Government and the foreign relief teams deployed in the devastated areas, in the aftermath of the tsunami tragedy, includes the North East as well, states the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), in a press release by the Government Information Department.
The Government categorically denies extracts in the Tamil media quoting international media, that reconstruction work carried out by foreign relief teams are not sighted in Tamil areas.
Since December 26, the Government has dispatched 5000 metric tons of essential dry food to Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Killinochchi, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee areas devastated by the tsunami. Foreign relief teams have also been sent to these areas as well.
The US army is engaged in humanitarian aid and relief work in the Batticaloa, Ampara and Hambantota districts. In addition the Indian army is engaged in relief work in the Trincomalee, Galle and Colombo districts, while the British army is engaged in relief work in the Batticaloa and Ampara areas.
Yesterday, one of the Tamil language newspapers quoted the international media that although foreign armies could be seen in the South,they are not seen in Tamil areas. It has further quoted an officer in charge of relief aid, at the Presidential Secretariat, Niranjan de Soyza as saying that they could not supply immediate relief aid to Tamil areas, which is totally false. The officer concerned denies issuing such a statement to any media at all.
According to a report issued by the NDMC 300 metric tons of rice, 300 metric tons of sugar and 67 metric tons of dhall has been received in Jaffna by Jan. 07.
Although 793 refugee centres were established soon after the tragedy, it has now being reduced to 556 camps.
The Government is expected to make a special announcement on January 15, with regard to granting special assistance to people who volunteer to afford lodging to people who are displaced .
