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| Monday, 17 January 2005 |
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by Nadira Gunatilleke The Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry recruited 1389 graduates recently and sent them to serve Tsunami victims who are being housed in several camps located in 14 districts, Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Ms. Sitha Rajapakasa said. She said that the Social Service Officers supervise the newly recruited graduates and they take care of the welfare of Tsunami victims staying in the camps, especially children, women, elders and disabled persons. The graduates have been recruited as social development officers, women's development officers, child welfare officers and for some other posts. Although the number of camps have been reduced, several Tsunami victims still stay in camps. At the beginning there were nearly 850 camps in the affected districts. She denied all media reports which state that relief has not reached some areas, " Most of the relief providers and organizations abandon their projects after some time, but it is the Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry and the Departments which function under it and take care of the needs of IDPs at the end", she added. The division has also made arrangements to look into the social problems of victimised women and children. Counsellors have been sent to several camps to provide counselling for victimised women. They will also direct complaints of such women to the Children's and Women's Desks of the relevant police stations. According to the Senior assistant Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Jayantha Rukmani Siriwardena, women victims of the Tsunami who stay in camps and other places are undergoing several abuses and harassments. Some women have gone to their half destroyed houses and other places looking for shelter due to unbearable harassment, but they do not have anything. Some victimised women do not come out and ask for help because of fear and shame. But, they are the real victims who do not have anything to wear. The Women's Empowerment Division of the Ministry has made arrangements to prepare `Ladies packs' and distribute them among all affected women living in camps and other places. These packs consist of sanitary towels, underwear, and items required by expecting mothers. Arrangements have also been made to provide counselling for victimised women through the National Committee on Women located at the Women's Empowerment Division of the ministry. |
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