Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, which has shouldered a heavy responsibility in providing humanitarian services in any disaster situation has been of assistance to the government, since its inception. In the aftermath of the tsunami, the Sri Lanka Red Cross was instrumental in constructing houses, schools and providing hospitals with medical equipment, developing infrastructure and mobilising Red Cross volunteers to assist relief operations and supply food parcels to internally displaced persons. These activities have been the major tasks carried out by the Sri Lanka Red Cross.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe spoke to ‘The Island’ on the overall activities involved in by the organisation and the action taken by the SLRCS to assist the IDPs.

Q: The fleeing IDPs were in dire need of food and medical attention, as some have been suffering from chronic malnutrition and respiratory diseases. How has the Sri Lanka Red Cross assisted the humanitarian work?

A: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has already provided 2000 food parcels to IDPs settled in welfare villages and it will extend food distribution to 10,000 IDPs soon. During the last few days, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Vavuniya branch distributed relief items, including milk powder, biscuits, bottled water, clothing, hygiene kits, bed covers, towels, soap, toothpaste and other items to displaced families staying in welfare centres. Water is distributed through water bowsers. In addition to that, 50 water sealed latrines have been installed and another 50 latrines are in the process of being built. Three ambulances with volunteers are working round-the-clock, transporting sick IDPs and attending to their medical needs. the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society Vavuniya branch has deployed 25 volunteers to the Vavuniya hospital to assist medical staff. The SLRCS has also spent Rs. 3 million to rehabilitate and extend the Vavuniya hospital because the hospital has reached saturation point. Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Trincomalee branch volunteers are helping the medical staff to provide a better health service as patients are brought to hospital by the ICRC ships from conflict areas. The SLRCS has organised two blood donation recruitment programmes for the use of IDPs.

Q: The Red Cross Movement has collected large sums of funds to assist tsunami-affected people. Are you going to utilise the remaining funds to assist the IDPs in the North?

A: In fact, the same people have been affected by both the tsunami and the conflict. I have been discussing with the International Federation of the Red Cross whether to utilise the remaining funds for IDPs and I have a feeling that it will be a success. Apart from that, the National Society has already made an appeal to the general public to donate cash for humanitarian activities for IDPs. The intention of this appeal is to expedite humanitarian work for displaced persons, without waiting for foreign funds.

Q: There are a number of both local and international NGOs operating in Sri Lanka and they have claimed that they have provided services for the affected people in the North. But the government has made accusations against those NGOs, because there are no indications to prove that construction of settlements or development of infrastructure in the cleared areas have taken place. What are the humanitarian activities carried out by the SLRCS in the North?

A: The SLRCS, with the support of its sister societies and the Red Cross Federation has taken action to construct houses for tsunami affected people in Mullaitivu. 316 houses in Vanankulam, 3005 houses in Uppumaveli and 358 houses in Chemmalai have been constructed for IDPs and the Vavuniya hospital has been extended with new wards with required medical equipment catering to the needs of IDPs and the general public. The Red Cross has also assisted to extend the Jaffna Maruthenkernny peripheral unit, Kilinochchi Lallai peripheral unit and the Mullaitivu new General Hospital.

Q: As fare as I am concerned, some seen and unseen forces are actively engaged in conspiring against the country. As the President of the SLRCS what have you got to say?

A: As a humanitarian movement, we have been working in 186 countries, neutrally, impartially and independently in accordance with our international mandate. The ICRC has been working in conflict-affected regions for the last three decades and the IFRC has been working in the rest of the country with the National Society. I am pleased with the trust and confidence placed in the Sri Lanka Red Cross by the government and the Sri Lanka Red Cross has become an auxiliary organisation of the government. The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society carries out its humanitarian work with total transparency and accountability. If there is any conspiracy against the country, the Sri Red Cross will be with the government.