Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), an independent Non-Governmental Organization registered with Government of Sri Lanka, appealed to the Tamil expatriates Sunday to donate towards meeting the humanitarian crisis unfolding following the tsunami wave triggered flooding in residential areas along the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Majority of families affected were from the NorthEast of Sri Lanka.

Full text of TRO's media released issued in Vanni Sunday26 December 2004,  follows:

The North and East coast of the Island of Sri Lanka has been devastated by unexpected tidal waves which have swamped several villages and towns in the Amparai, Mullaitivu Batticaloa Trincomalee and Vadamarachi districts.

Violent waves entered villages located up to 3 kilometres from the coast in the districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee. According to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) working in these districts at least 2,000 people are unaccounted for. The majority of those unaccounted for are women and children. The TRO along with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and an army of civilian volunteers are working together to provide immediate relief and transport to those affected by the bloods, to safer areas.

The Trincomalee district is now said to be free of the flood with survivors being housed at the St Xavier and Jamalia High Schools.

6 bodies are being temporarily held at the Trincomalee General Hospital; more than 300 bodies have been discovered in the Mutthur area and 52 bodies in the Vadamarachi district. Over 300 people are being treated for shock and injuries in hospitals in the Vadamarachi district. In mullaitivu district hundreads of deaths reported.

People are unable to return to their villages as there is uncertainty and fear of further tidal waves.

TRO's resources are badly stretched in meeting the immediate needs of the people affected by these floods.

TRO appeals to the International Community for urgent assistance to help meet this crisis.

The entire proceeds of the donations to be made in response to TRO's appeal on TTN's and IBC today and tomorrow are to be used exclusively to provide immediate relief to the victims of the tidal wave.

TRO calls upon the Tamil diaspora to respond generously and urgently in this hour of need. It directs this public appeal to all Tamil organisations (temples, churches, businesses, social association's etc) throughout the world."

For Information on donations, please use:


TRO Bank account in Colombo, Sri Lanka:

Bank A/C: 01607837001
Standard Chartered Bank
Wellewatte Branch
Colombo 06
Sri Lanka

TRO
410/112, Buller Street
Buddhaloga Mawatha
Colombo 7


Phone: +94 1 69 32 54
Fax: +94 7 471 65 76


Telephone numbers in USA:

Seattle, Washington.......360-5140747
North Carolina................919-7837519
Chicago, Illinois.............920-9070911
Columbus, Ohio.............614- 8322010
New Jersey.....................609-7797746
California.......................661-9421036
California.......................626-8067178
California.......................626-3368334
California.......................916-2533945
California.......................408-7368094
Florida...........................954-3454236
Florida...........................954-6756883
Kansas..........................620-3436292
Tennessee.....................615-3086862
MA................................781-9427087
New York.......................718-6579463
Maryland.......................301-7292722
NY (Buffalo)...................716-8648236
Texas...........................972-3702532


Send your US checks to:
Tamils Rehabilitation Organization
517 Old Town Road, Cumberland, Maryland 21502