The Aftermath

Image by alles-schlumpf via Flickr

I really hope the Sri Lankan Civil War refugees get the necessary aid soon. It's so sickening. I was just reading reports from the Sri Lankan national press, and it was very despairing. I know, after close to 3 decades of uncertainty and violence, it is commone for one to jubilantly celebrate the looming peace. But the reports are absurdly propangandized! To me, it seemed overly skewed towards the government (as expected), and overly celebratory. Maybe, I am a bit too critical with the latter comment - I would never completely understand their relief and joy, because I have had a relatively safe and peaceful life. Still, I am rather distressed by the lack of focus on the human cost and need. Somewhere, amid the flurry of excitement and hope, the people of the war seem to have been forgotten.

"The UN can't dictate terms to us. They can always make a request but the UN hasn't asked us to release people. The government has a plan to resettle them. Let these agencies come and join us."
- Sri Lankan defence ministry spokesman, Lakshman Hulugalle

This statement comes after UN requested that people be resettled as soon as possible, to which Hulugalle shot back saying that UN cannot dictate terms regarding the length of stay of these people inside the camps. Idistinctly remember that the government assured the international community that it would try to resettle at least 80% of the people by the end of this year. Now, they are looking at possibly 2 years.

I do agree with Hulugalle in the sense that the situaton in this case is unpredictable with ever increasing list of refugees, and nagging paranoia over possibly remaining rebels. However, it is critical that aid reaches them as soon as possible and that the conditions in these camp be improved. How they manage the refugee situation and treat the Tamils is crucial to the future of the country. The very foundation of LTTE lies in the inadequate treatment of the Tamils. Why would they want to tread the same path again?

This is all the more troubling with the constant reports of international aid being denied or restricted by the government, coupled with refugee reports detailing the poor conditions of the camp.

" Andreas Lindner, head of the German Red Cross team in the region, said the situation facing Sri Lankan refugees presently was 'one of the most complicated and dramatic' worldwide.

"This is the kind of thing I saw after the genocide in Rwanda," he said.

Camps have counted at least 9000 cases of hepatitis A and 2600 cases of chicken pox. There are also individualized cases of typus.

Supplies are also limited at the camps, with refusgees receiving about 2 to 3 litres of water, instead of the recommended 15 to 20 litres. Hygenic facilities are also limited for the 220 000 to 230 000 refugees in the camps."

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"Hulugalle said the government had turned down an offer of 750 previously used blankets from the Hilton hotel group because people did not want to be treated as second-grade citizens. "They are not beggars," he said."

I do not understand why they would reject international aid in this case. It was welcome after the Tsunami disaster. Why not now?