Tsunami hit fishermen to stand on their own feet

AMPARA: Fishermen in the Ampara district who lost all their belongings due to the tsunami on December,26, 2004, has been helped by A.J. Fishing Company (Pvt) Limited, Coastal Campaign to stand on their own feet.

The tsunami brought destruction and calamities and the fishing industry suffered the most. They lost their fishing boats, equipment and nets etc and the disaster made them poor with the loss of their next of kin. They also lost their capital resources, material and houses.

According to information available at the Ampara District Office, in the district alone over 11,000 had died due to tsunami. Fishermen complain that the relief and rehabilitation work in the area is very slow and many are frustrated having to live as refugees in camps for more than two years.

They worry about the delay in reconstruction of their houses, in repairing their boats and mending their nets. While elders and parents worry about the health and life for children, the children face problems related to their education. These unfortunate clamour for a new life, jobs, education and for a healthy environment to live a decent and dignified life, they said.

According to M.M.M.Noorul Hagu J.P. and Secretary of the East Welfare Assocition, these fishermen families who were in great despair now live with hope as they have been satisfactorily assisted by the A.J. Fishing Industries (Pvt) Limited,the Coastal Campaign, being a real friend in need.

It is the A.J. Fishing Industries (Pvt) Limited,the Coastal Campaign which has its Head Office at Katunayaka, that had come to their rescue.

The company receives support from Norway to help the needy fishermen families in the North and East. He also said that Tharma Seelan acts as the coordinator and helps them with finance to repair their boats, purchase new engines and mend their nets enabling them to earn their living. They are also assisted by N.Muthu Mohammed who Supervises the work of repairs to the boat visiting several centres in the East, he added.