|
Government says at least 70 percent of tsunami victims yet to receive aid, relief
Associated Press,
Wed February 2, 2005 03:13 EST .
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Aid for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka has reached only 30 percent of the almost 1 million people affected by the disaster because of bureaucratic bungling, a top government official said Wednesday. The Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami killed more than 30,000 in Sri Lanka and affected a further 960,000 people who lost family members or their homes. Ranavirajah said bureaucratic incompetence and ignorance of tsunami survivors had considerably slowed aid delivery. His figures excluded areas in the north and east under Tamil Tiger rebel control. His comments came a day after the government began investigating complaints that food aid intended for tsunami victims in eastern Batticaloa had disappeared and that some of the homeless living in camps were being fed rotten supplies. The government estimates that it will cost US$103 million (euro79 million) to compensate the surviving families and provide food rations for the next six months. ``I don't know from where the treasury will find the money, but my problem is that our public servants have failed to deliver what the government wants given to those in need,'' Ranavirajah said. ``There will be a certain amount of corruption,'' he said, vowing action against anyone found guilty. On Monday, hundreds protested in the eastern town of Trincomalee, claiming the government had given them no food aid and offered no help to rebuild their lives. Ranavirajah also ordered all government employees involved in relief activities to report to work on Friday despite it being a national holiday for Independence Day.
Published: Wed Feb 2 04:26:37 EST 2005
|
