Tsunami Disaster Appeal - Tamil Eelam | Executive Director, TRO meets UN Secretary General
and submits letter detailing TRO's lead in the NorthEast
in providing Tsunami relief 9 January 2004
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Excerpts from letter from Mr. Reggi, Executive Director, TRO to UN Secretary General, 9 January 2005
"Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) mobilized within hours of this tragedy and deployed truck loads of critical relief items. We write to you, on this occasion of your visit to Sri Lanka, to provide information on our relief operations since the 26 December 2004 tragedy and our “self-help” strategy for relief and recovery.
Our organization mobilized immediately by clearing dead bodies and debris. In the period leading up to yesterday, we have dispatched 137 trucks (938 metric tones) of relief items (which includes volumes of international aid and government distribution), clothing and food items, tents for 3,200 families and 40,000 temporary sanitation facilities in collaboration with international organizations. Jointly with other organization we have 40 operational medical units. In the Jaffna district, we have effectively consolidated 35 camps into 17 currently operated by us and other local organizations (with aid from international agencies and the government). In Trincomalee, we have commenced preparatory work to resettle 900 families (with support from the International Organization of Migration).
In this time of need, Tamils from our local and Diaspora communities have galvanized behind us. On the ‘ground’ in the north and east, our 3500 local personnel spread across our eight district offices are being assisted in the rescue and relief efforts by a 5500 strong team of volunteers. On days immediately after 26 December 2004, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization mobilized 12,000 in the region.
Over a hundred professionals from the Diaspora network and the international community are presently working with us in afflicted regions and in our Colombo Office. Twelve medical teams (including fifty-two doctors from the Diaspora and eighteen international doctors) are addressing and assessing the health situation to curtail a major disease epidemic; fifteen engineers are considering options for immediate and long-term rebuilding of shelters, water purification and sanitation; local psychiatrists are attending to many who were traumatized by the tidal waves; and others are directly involved with coordinating relief efforts from the Colombo office.
With the ever reliable assistance of our Diaspora community and the continued support of the international community, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization has developed into a pivotal humanitarian agency. An analysis of our response and strategy since the 26 December 2004 will demonstrate that our policy is based on clear and strategic thinking, practical solutions, strong logistical support and rapid response times. Our strategy is based on an in-depth understanding of the critical health issues facing the displaced population and it is based on a self-help foundation.
We are now mobilizing to construct short-term welfare centers with improved sanitation standards, and organized and continuous access to food, water and medicine. Self-sufficiency or self-help is our major priority – the improved conditions at these short-term facilities will help in the road to rehabilitation and recovery as the afflicted will have access to contribute to their recovery through employment and awareness on public health and psychological issues.
We appreciate the support the United Nations and other international organizations have demonstrated in the past and we must credit them for their hand in our development. In this desperate time of need, we, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, urge the United Nations to substantially increase their support and help us cater to the desperate needs of those in the north and east." |
