Northern recovery process:

Red Cross president appeals to int'l community for assistance

Hardships of the thousands of people in the North and East are mainly due to the lack of enthusiasm and disappointing response of the international community, said Sri Lanka Red Cross Society president. Jagath Abeysinghe, in an appeal to the international community for greater assistance for the reconstruction efforts of the North. These communities have faced the traumatic experience of 30 years of conflict and natural disasters', such as floods, drought and the Tsunami.

The Red Cross appeal emphasized that it was time for the international community to re-dedicate itself to uplifting the conditions of the people in the North, by providing humanitarian assistance and support to Sri Lanka.

"These are over 160,000 families in need of permanent housing, livelihoods, water and sanitation. The government is engaged in providing infrastructure for the post-conflict recovery programme. The rebuilding efforts cannot be all borne by the resources of the country. Abeysinghe appealed to the international community to tarry no longer in bringing a new lease of life for these families.

The Red Cross president reaffirmed the commitment of the Red Cross volunteers to the recovery phase, engaged in building houses, providing livelihoods, water, sanitation and other vital community based activities.