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| Thursday, 26 August 2004 |
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Editorial | |
| News Business Features Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| Please forward your comments to the Editor, Daily News. Email : editor@dailynews.lk Snail mail : Daily News, 35, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429429 / 94 11 2421181 Fax : 94 11 2429210 Closely organise relief effort With the international community stepping in to assist Sri Lanka in her drought relief effort, prospects are favourable of succour being directed in time to the most needy in the relevant scorched regions of the land. Yesterday we carried the encouraging news that a number of foreign governments and international agencies are responding positively to President Kumaratunga's call for quick and substantial assistance for our drought relief operation. We hope that from now on, an even more zealous effort would be made to raise the burden of suffering from the shoulders of our drought-hit brethren, by all concerned, on a coordinated basis. We, at Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd, are proud and happy to be counted among those who are giving of their best to the drought relief effort. While droughts and disasters are not new to this country, we believe that such incidents should be turned into opportunities to lavish our care and concern on the less powerful and influential of the country. Such tragic events need to be considered tests of our humanity and fraternal love for the needy among us. Therefore, we are obliged not to run away from our responsibilities towards our fellow humans, at times such as these. However, the country's effort at helping the drought affected and the needy should be carried out on a systematic basis, if it is to bear fruit. It has been our experience in the past that in operations of this kind, most often than not, material and other forms of assistance do not get into the right hands. Parasitic elements in the affected areas have been found to help themselves to the relief on offer, while the really needy remain hungry and empty-handed. Besides, relief efforts are found to overlap or are duplicated. It is clear, therefore, that the drought relief effort should be closely coordinated and organised by the authorities. Nothing could be left to chance. The State authorities need to receive the assistance from well wishers and other parties, and distribute it on the basis of need and those who really require it. There is no ignoring the fact that it is the poor and the disempowered who suffer most in crises of this kind. Those with the necessary means easily ward off the spectre of hunger and disease. Accordingly, attention needs to be paid to long-term programs which would empower the needy. The Government is on the right track by seeking to rehabilitate and use 10,000 tanks. Besides, we note that rain water collection devices are also being focused on by the authorities. Countries such as Israel are flourishing amid near desert conditions. Apparently, we need to take a leaf from such countries. All systems need to go in this drought relief effort. Let's put our best foot forward. |
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