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NGOS Shoulder the Relief Effort In Sri Lanka
Members of the human rights relief team interviewing a senior official of Galle, Sri Lanka
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People waiting in line for food at a Galle refugee camp
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Children at Seabridge Gardens Refugee Camp in Galle, Sri Lanka
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A human rights relief team sent out to conduct a fact-finding mission in Sri Lanka has now returned to Los Angeles and reports that the private sector is conducting the major part of the relief effort on the island.
Ramona Greenstein, leader of the team sent out by the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, with the support of Church of Scientology International, stated that the team visited at least 20 refugee camps and orphanages. “We found the camps and orphanages are mainly being run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and churches.”
“We spoke to countless survivors, many of whom had lost their homes and their only means of livelihood — fishing. We interviewed representatives from local welfare groups, churches, and international organizations including UNICEF and Save the Children,” Greenstein said.
Sue Carmel, team spokesperson concurred, “Practically everyone we spoke to in Galle made the same point: the assistance they are receiving is coming from the private sector. What happened to the billions of dollars reportedly donated for tsunami relief?”
She also observed that despite the massive amount of donations, many of the survivors are housed in tents, also provided by NGOs. “We saw all kinds of tents, including ordinary tents you would buy in a downtown store that appeared to have been donated by tourists.”
The team is preparing a report based on their findings that will be submitted to the United Nations and other international humanitarian and relief agencies, who are also noticing the financial anomalies.
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