Kuchchaveli welfare centers short of relief supplies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 January 2005, 01:21 GMT]
Several hundreds of Tamil and Muslim families from coastal villages of Vellore, Veerancholai, Irrakakandy, Iranaikerni, Kumburupiddy, Salli Munai, Kuchchaveli along the north of Trincomalee district, displaced by the tsunami disaster and now sheltered in welfare centres complain of inadequate relief supplies reaching them. These villages are administered as part of the Kuchchaveli divisional secretariat division in Trincomalee district.

Salapai Aru bridge area damaged by Tsunami waves

Mr.Sampanthan, Mr.Thurairatnasingham talking to Tsunami Muslim vctims in Kuchchaveli

Houses in ward No-1 in Kuchchaveli village razed to the ground

Irrakakandy bridge

In the Kuchchaveli division 159 persons were reported dead and 08 were missing since December 26 Tsunami till Tuesday January 25, according to Trincomalee district secretariat report. 5036 persons from 1324 families are sheltered in 10 welfare centres, which are located in Kuchchaveli division. However 28603 persons from 7687 families have been affected in the disaster in Kuchchaveli division on the overall, report added.

Several Tsunami victims complained to Trincomalee district parliamentarians Mr.R.Sampanthan and Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham when they paid a visit to most of the welfare centres in the north of the district Tuesday that they are being ignored by government authorities when providing relief and other assistance, sources said.

A group of Muslim victims of Salli Munai said that neither government official nor the village level officer of the village visited them. They complained that they have not received any food relief from the government except some assistance from non-governmental and social organizations. Two to three displaced families live in one tent, as adequate tents are not supplied till Tuesday even after one month since the disaster, sources said.

Villages of Veerancholai, Vellore and Kuchchaveli have mostly been levelled by the tsunami. Mr. Manikkam, a survivor who escaped from the waves with his family asked the visiting parliamentarians how long they could be in tent shelters with their children depending on the relief without going to the sea. He should be relocated in a safer place from the present site and should be provided with new fishing boats and gear to restart his profession, he said.

Displaced fishermen said that they are prepared to live in new locations, three hundred meters away from the shore as their children still fear the sight of the sea.

In most of the welfare centres bottle lamps are used in nights. A mother of three Ms S.Lakshimi said they fear of using bottle lamp with little children moving about.

Hurricane lamps are provided to some victims in welfare centres and not to all. Refugees who live in tent shelters fear for snakes in rainy days as shrub jungles surround the sites, NGO sources said.

Several victims said the authorities do not supply drinking water regularly. They do not use well water in their areas as most wells have been filled with sea water.

The highway from Trincomalee to Kuchchaveli is in a deplorable state as the two main bridges, Irrakakandy and Salaipai Aru along the route have been damaged by the tsunami.

Moonlight dinner in Veerancholai welfare centre Monday