Evacuating 122,000 civilians:

FCCISL and Regional Chambers commend Govt

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and the Regional Chambers have praised the Government, Armed Forces and the police specifically the three Forces manning the operations for successfully evacuating over 122,000 civilians in the humanitarian operations launched to rescue those trapped in the No Fire Zone. The most important factor is the comparative low casualty rate considering the large number of civilians and spontaneous logistical arrangements to help them on arrival.

The next task would be for continuous shelter and food supplies, essential medical care, trauma counselling and economic reintegration. Though this process may need to follow a particular order, it will be useful to study and establish the identities of those who have the means and as well as capacity to venture on their own immediately with the least support, and help them to begin a new lease of life.

The others could be divided into need-based categories and attended accordingly. A spokesman for FCCISL called upon the international community to assist the Sri Lankan government in bringing IDPs to safer areas and expedite the efforts of the Government to relocate them to their villages after clearing operations as soon as possible to resume their livelihood as citizens of this country.