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| Wednesday, 2 March 2005 |
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by P. Krishnaswamy A spokesman of HUMEDICA, a German-based NGO engaged in providing assistance for rebuilding the lives of tsunami affected fisher families of Vadamarachchi in the North expressed concern that fishermen to whom they have already distributed boats, engines and nets to recommence their profession have refused to do so until the NGO's commitment of similar assistance to a total of 1000 fishermen was completed. On conditions of anonymity, the spokesman also said that the fishermen were being instigated to make this demand by fishermen's associations of which they were members. Their NGO has drawn up a long term plan to provide boats, engines, nets and a bicycle, each set costing Rs.300,000, to one thousand affected fisher families of Vadamarachchi and has already distributed them to 90 families selected by the relevant government authorities, he said adding that, it was unbecoming on the part of the fisher families who have already received the assistance to say that they will not return to the sea until the others were also extended similar assistance. Meanwhile, General Manager of the Point Pedro Fishermen's Association (PFA) and board member of the Union of Northern Fishermen's Co-operative Societies (UNFCS), Suriyakumar, said that the fishermen were making the request because they did not want their fellow fishermen being singled out even for a short period for sentimental reasons. A maximum four boats were being manufactured in boat yards per day and it might take more than six months to manufacture the total number of boats required for distribution, but the fishermen will wait until then rather than immediately returning to the sea, he said. The Norwegian MD of AG fishing gear manufacturers in Katunayake recently disbursed funds to their fishermen's association for setting up boat yards to repair boats damaged in the tsunami, Suriyakumar said. They have already set up the boat yards at Thambalai and Madagal in Vadamarachchi and at Vagarai in Batticaloa and would be setting up more boat yards in the near future, he said. Care International and the Humedica have undertaken to build 500 and 300 houses respectively, each at the cost of Rs.500,000, in Vadamarachchi, Suriyakumar said. |
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