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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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Tsunami a 'great opportunity' to rebuild nation Sarvodaya leader A.T Ariyaratne called upon all political leaders to make use of this great opportunity to work as a team to build the nation after the Tsunami disaster . "We should forget all petty political opinions to create a just and free society at this juncture,"Ariyaratne said at the launching of the 'tsunami to deshodaya' program, to assist the tsunami victims in the country. He said that, the Sarvodaya movement that operates in 25 districts including North and East.They are helping victims in all 14 affected districts in the country. Ariyaratne also said that women, children and orphans are the most vulnerable section in the society and Sarvodaya is willing to undertake them until the government establishes a proper program to help them. This section has to be looked after properly from the psychological trauma they have undergone due to the Tsunami calamity. "If we neglect them we will have another social problem in a few months time," he said. Ariyaratne said that their rehabilitation program will be followed by reconciliation, reconstruction and reawakening for the affected parties who are suffering from the disaster. Executive Director Sarvodaya- Dr Vinya Ariyaratne said that from first 24 hours after the diaster they were able to provide water, sanitation, first aid, medical supplies and tents to affected areas through the organisation. He said that by focusing on families and communities of victims and Sarvodaya has identified certain critical work to be done, with immediate effect. The co-ordination of these selective actions will be primarily at two levels including village and national level. At the national level, Re-awakening Council of the movement will take part in the co-ordination function. Affected families and associated communities will be supported by the Council , Ariyaratna said. Communities will be involved in the development work at all management levels within the community, as in the usual Sarvodaya practice and this will ensure co-ordinated work will be done by them, he said. "It will also ensure "transparency" in every activity and will also result in the effective mobilization of the community," Executive Director Ariyaratne said. Under their 'Tsunami to Deshodaya' program, they will assist in the areas of water and sanitation, health and preventive care management, community management and governance, environmental management and ecology, livelihood support and trade, micro-finance disaster management and mitigation, he said. He said that the value of contributions received for the Sarvodaya Disaster Relief Operation will be used for all relief operation activities and that accounts will be handled in a transparent way. |
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