Sri Lanka's envoy thanks Russia for help

Itar-Tass ^ | 29.12.2004, 16.02

[jb6]

MOSCOW, December 29 (Itar-Tass) - Sri Lankian Ambassador Wijekoon Mudiyanselage Ukkubanda Wijekoon thanked Russia for its quick assistance in overcoming the consequences of the tidal waves that had hit his country.

It is the biggest tragedy for the country. A tremendous number of people died in one day -- more than 21,000 -- while over one million were hurt. In some areas, tidal waves swept several kilometers into the country, according to the envoy.

Immediately after the disaster, Sri Lanka's President Candrika Kumaratunga announced the whole territory of the country a zone of calamity and requested the world community to provide emergency assistance.

Many countries promptly responded; Sri Lanka is receiving foodstuffs, clothes and medicines.

The diplomat noted Russia’s efforts in this sphere. "I wish to make special note of efforts by the Russian leadership, which immediately instructed the Emergency Situations Ministry to render assistance to us and detail two aircraft," the diplomat said.

The situation has normalized in the country at present, but it is still experiencing shortages of drinking water.

"We are settling this problem and making efforts to repair water supply systems," he emphasized.

The ambassador thanked ordinary Russian citizens who keep phoning the embassy asking it how they can help the victims.

"I wish to thank all the Russians for the help and support," the ambassador said.

Two central banks in Sri Lanka opened special accounts to which money for the victims can be transferred.

Sri Lanka's Embassy in Moscow will open a book of condolences in the near future, and organize a money-raising action to help victims

[jb6]

I wish they gave a monetary figure, because I'd like to compare it to the facist Super State EU which has also shown itself to be a grinch (of course they are atheists turning Islamics, so what does Christmas mean to the unGodly?) who are giving only $4 million to the whole region.

[snowsislander]

The flows are starting. From this afternoon's Wall Street Journal :

Four relief planes arrived in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, bringing a surgical hospital from Finland, a water purification plant from Germany, doctors and medicine from Japan and aid workers from Britain, the Red Cross said.

Meanwhile, trucks fanned out across the island nation to deliver bandages, antibiotics, tents, blankets and other supplies to the hardest-hit areas, the southern and eastern coast. A dozen trucks left the U.N. World Food Program depot in Colombo on Tuesday. The military said a fleet of 64 trucks packed with rice, sugar, tents and other essentials entered Tamil areas Wednesday. Sri Lanka has been torn for years by a conflict with separatist Tamil rebels who control parts of the north, demanding independence from the mostly-Sinhalese nation.

Indonesia's military said a navy flotilla was headed to Sumatra's western coast. Supplies, including 175 tons of rice and 100 doctors, reached Banda Aceh, but with aid not arriving quickly enough, desperate people in towns across Sumatra stole whatever food they could find, officials said.

Widespread looting also was reported in Thailand's devastated resort islands of Phuket and Phi Phi, where European and Australian tourists left valuables behind in wrecked hotels when they fled -- or were swept away by -- the torrents.

An international airlift was under way to ferry critical aid and medicine to Phuket and to take home shell-shocked travelers. Jets from France and Australia were among the first to touch down at the island's airport. Greece, Italy, Germany and Sweden planned similar flights.

Donations for recovery efforts came in from all parts of the globe. The governments of the U.S., Australia and Japan pledged a combined $100 million while taxi drivers in Singapore put donation tins in their cars and volunteers in Thailand text-messaged acquaintances to give blood to the Red Cross.