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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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Drought breeds malnutrition by Jayantha Sri Nissanka Malnutrition levels among children are on the increase in the drought stricken 12 districts and diarrhoea has affected some in certain areas in Polonnaruwa. "About seven people were admitted to hospitals with diarrhoea but it is under control as the hospital has all the facilities to curb it", Polonnaruwa District Secretary told Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister Sumedha Jayasena at the Ministry on Friday. District Secretaries in 12 districts and officials of various NGOs participated at a meeting in order to prepare strategies to counter the drought. The number of drought victims has increased to 2.5 million (561,191 families) in 12 districts. District Secretaries expressed fear that the number of victims could be more in the coming two months if rains fail. Over 450,000 people (100,000 families) in the worst affected Anuradhapura District are suffering without proper drinking water in the town, Additional Government Agent H.M.K.Herath told the Sunday Observer. Many district Secretaries claimed that the distribution of drinking water among people has faced difficulties due to the dearth of bowsers, water tanks and other facilities. "We require at least another 500 water tanks and some more bowsers. Already we have distributed 821 tanks.", Minister said. Minister Jayasena requested NGOs and other donor organisations to assist the Government to help the drought victims as the Government alone can not help the victims. However, the Government plans to provide dry rations worth Rs. 1467 to the victims on condition that they engage in a community service four hours per day for two weeks. President Chandrika Kumaratunga on a special Cabinet paper approved Rs.658 millions for the drought victims. Of the allocation, Rs.200 million has already been released to District Secretaries on their requirement. The Cabinet also approved Rs.50 million to repair tube wells and distribute water. The President also directed to use bowsers of Forces and Police to assist drought victims. Failure to implement long term plans to counter the frequent drought faced by the country is the main reason for the suffering of people in the dry zone, an official of a Non Governmental Organisation told the Sunday Observer. She said that rehabilitation of small tanks, construction of rain water tanks, drip irrigation and reforestation in selected areas should be implemented to avoid future disasters. |
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