Rs. 500m immediate relief to civilians who cross over

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said Rs. 500 million have already been allocated to provide immediate relief to the innocent civilians fleeing from LTTE clutches.

"We are making maximum efforts to assist the helpless civilians entering the cleared areas and our officials and relief workers are very much active throughout the day," Minister Bathiudeen added.

The present arrangement is such that a displaced person will receive a snack pack with biscuits, glucose and an energy drink along with a water bottle immediately on reaching the cleared areas. This is in addition to the basic facilities such as cooked food, water and medical facilities they receive from the security forces on their arrival.

Before being transferred to respective welfare centres they are given other essential commodities such as clothes, kitchen utensils, essential dry rations enabling them to prepare meals for their families.

Each family is provided with 20kgs of rice, 5kgs of sugar, 10kgs of flour, 3kgs of dhal, 1 kg each noodles and soya beans and three tins of canned fish along with packets of spices and two packets of milk powder with tea leaves.

The initial pack of cloths includes three towels, baby towel, three sarongs, ladies cloths, six t-shirts and five bed sheets per family.

Soap, shampoo, detergent powder, tooth brushes, tooth paste, mens' shaving razors, mats, lanterns, mosquito coils etc., are also given to each family in addition to the kitchen utensils and cookers provided to them.