IFRC delegation leaves for India

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross Crescent Societies (IFRC), headed by federation President Padateru Konoe, left for India yesterday after meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees where he pledged support for flood victims and internally displaced people in Sri Lanka.

Konoe handed over a report on a housing program carried out by Red Cross to President Rajapaksa regarding completion of 600 houses in the Kilinochchi district on his request to be given among internally displaced families in the area.

Konoe told President Rajapaksa that they have successfully completed the project. Sri Lanka Red Cross(SLRC) Director General Tissa Abeywickrama said , they are constructing 2,000 houses for displaced people in the North and Eastern Provinces under a owner-driven housing program introduced by them in keeping with an idea proposed to them by President Rajapaksa.

He also said they got approval of the Presidential Task Force to construct 900 houses in the Kilinochchi District under the project.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Red Cross(SLRC) has appealed from IFRC to provide funds to it to the tune of US$ 11 million to help the flood affected.

Abeywickrama said they handed over an appeal in this regard to IFRC president Konoe .

Konoe who travelled to flood hit areas during his Sri Lankan visit told the public in Kirimatiyana, one of the worst flood affected areas in the Polonnaruwa district that he will do his best to help them.

The IFRC delegation together with SLRC officials distributed some 6,000 packs of Non Food Relief Items (NFRI) containing bath soap, towels, shampoo, mosquito nets, hygiene packs and other basic non food items to the flood affected in Polonnaruwa.

Konoe arranged distribution of tents and dry rations to the victims.

Abeywickrama said, “based on the funds they get from the IFRC they will be able to rebuild houses of the affected flood victims, provide them with an allocation of Rs.15,000 to repair their damaged houses.”

”We plan to help at least 10,000 families of one million Sri Lankans who are in need of emergency support,” he said.

The SLRC intends to provide the victims with funds to restart their vocations, help farmers to repair their damaged irrigation canals, help them buy paddy seeds to get on with their lives,” he said.