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| Wednesday, 2 February 2005 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi Director General of the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) Brunson Mckinley was confident Sri Lanka could recover from the devastation caused by the tsunami and attain normalcy. "I was shocked to see the damage caused to human lives and property by the tsunami," Mckinley told a press briefing after visiting tsunami affected areas in several parts of the country. "However, I was encouraged to see that Sri Lankan society was responding quickly to help the tsunami victims and I am confident that despite the grave loss of human lives and property, Sri Lanka could recover quickly," he added. "My impression is that the Sri Lankan Government and international agencies have done a good job in helping those affected people." he added. The IOM has been operating in Sri Lanka since 2002 and has a number of ongoing development assistance projects countrywide. Mckinley who is on a four day visit to Sri Lanka further said he was confident that all sectors of Sri Lanka would return to normal. " I think tourism also will come back with more tourists arriving Sri Lanka." He explained that the main focus of the IOM was to provide shelter to those affected while extending assistance to continue their with former livelihood."We are working very closely with at all levels with the Sri Lankan Government to provide assistance to the affected people." In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, IOM staff had been involved in the rescue and care of victims including hospitalisation and relocation in temporary accommodation. It has also handled registration of victims. Mckinley said IOM's shelter program is being carried out in four phases."Providing immediate shelter, individual shelter, transitional houses and finally permanent houses." On the medium term, IOM will maintain its focus on registration and shelter while continuing with assisting in the transport sphere. Chief of Mission of IOM in Sri Lanka Mary Sheehan said the IOM also targets existing livelihood assistance programmes to individuals and small enterprises in affected areas. |
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