Thursday, Dec 30, 2004
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004 |
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COLOMBO, DEC. 29. Trucks and cargo planes ferried food, drinking water and medical supplies on Wednesday to some of the 1 million Sri Lankans left homeless by the massive Asian tsunami, amid reports that some supplies were being hijacked. Hopes dimmed of finding more survivors from Sunday's enormous tidal waves as the country's official death toll rose to nearly 22,493. Officials said bloated corpses were still being dragged out from debris, rivers and lagoons. In a gesture to the Tamil Tigers, the Government said it had offered help ``without discrimination,'' and invited the leaders to coordinate relief efforts with a committee appointed by the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga. ``The biggest problem we are facing right now is the disposal of dead bodies and coordinating the relief efforts to reach the most affected areas,'' said Migel Bermeo, head of the United Nations' agencies in Colombo.
Health concerns
Reports of measles and diarrhoea were beginning to reach health authorities, causing concerns about an epidemic, said Thilak Ranaviraj, the Government's top official handling relief efforts. ``The most important thing is the quality of water,'' he said. Bodies were hurriedly buried after being photographed and fingerprinted when possible, he added.
Food shortages
In the southern city of Galle — the country's second largest — nearly all homes within about a km of the coast were destroyed or damaged. The city was suffering food shortages as shaken refugees crowded into churches, mosques and Buddhist temples. Bandages, antibiotics, tents and blankets donated by India, France, Russia and others were being sent from the capital, Colombo, to the northeastern and southern coasts, said the government's Disaster Management Unit. A German aircraft brought water purification equipment, a British plane had logistical support teams and a Japanese aircraft carried in doctors and medicine.
— AP
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