ICRC briefs press on post-tsunami effort

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 June 2005, 16:33 GMT]
Mr.Patrick Walder, Head of Sub-delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that during the last several months the ICRC been been working with tsunami victims and affected families, and has considerably increased its presence in the Trincomalee district. ICRC has also been implementing humanitarian assistance programme for tsunami victims, he said briefing the Trincomalee based media persons Wednesday at the Sri Shanmuga Boy's Home located along the Inner Harbour Road, Trincomalee.

ICRC is now focusing on planning and co-ordinating the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction in the areas affected by tsunami. Work also continues to ensure adequate mid-term shelter, health care, water and sanitation for the people left homeless, Mr Walder said.

Mr.Patrick Walder, Head of ICRC sub delegation in Trincomalee speaking at the press briefing.

The Red Cross Movement has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health concerning the rehabilitation of more than fifty medical facilities in various regions including the north and east, added Mr Walder.

With Mr Walder, Ms Pia Hussein, Protection Delegate of the ICRC, Trincomalee delegation, Ms Solveig Olatsdottir, Communication delegate of the ICRC Colombo headquarters, ICRC Information Officer Mr.Sukumar Rockwood, Mr. A.Thavanesan and Mr.M.K.M. Shakeeb, Field Officers of ICRC participated in the briefing.

Pia Hussein, ICRC Protection Delegate in Trincomalee and Solveig Olatsdottir (r), Communication Delegate in ICRC Colombo headquarters.

Mr.Patrick Walder further said that the ICRC has been continuing its activities to protect and to assist the victims of the conflict in Sri Lanka in accordance with ICRC's mandate.

The ICRC, which has been present in the North East of Sri Lanka for fifteen years, is co-ordinating the humanitarian response to the tsunami disaster, said Mr.Patrick Walder.

More than thirty National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have come to help the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. Red Cross Societies from Austria, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland are currently working in Trincomalee district.

Considering the wider scope of programs in the Trincomalee district, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) have deployed a delegate to support program implementation and promote co-ordination for capacity building programs, said Mr.Patrick Walder.

ICRC has been visiting detainees held in prisons in government areas and in Sampoor in LTTE controlled areas, he said. ICRC has initiated inquiry into complaints about the reported disappearance of two fishermen in Trincomalee Sea recently, Mr.Patrick Walder said concluding the media briefing.



ICRC officials at the press briefing.