Since 1983, a civil war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Army has claimed the lives of over 68,000 people. Despite a brief cease fire from 2002- 2006, fighting has erupted again in northern and eastern parts of the island. Thousands of families are fleeing the fighting. Camps and temporary shelters have been established but are being inundated and overwhelmed. Camps in and around the Batticoloa District are designed to house about 25,000 civilians. Over 156,000 civilians are now displaced and staying in these camps. Rations of food, access to clean water, and the provision of health care services are all at critically low levels.
Global Medic has deployed the Water Purification Unit of its Rapid Response Team. Three Toronto based team members including a Toronto Police Officer and a Toronto Paramedic are being joined by two Indonesian based members in Sri Lanka. Global Medic has air freighted life saving water purification equipment. The team will install portable systems in a number of camps and create a large scale potable water distribution program to serve up to 100,000 civilians daily.
The team is working in partnership with local groups and NGOs including Muslim Aid. Local staff will be trained and all of the water equipment will be donated. Muslim Aid will oversee continued delivery of water during this emergency.
Global Medic has worked in Sri Lanka in the past. In November 2003, Global Medic built a school in Koomankulum, trained 42 land mine clearance personnel as paramedics, donated an ambulance, medical equipment, and text books. A Rapid Response Team deployed to the Tsunami. The nine member team treated over 4000 patients, cleaned 480 wells to restore access to clean drinking water for 110,000 civilians, built a clinic, and donated a large amount of medicines. In May of 2005, a Global Medic training unit certified 9 instructor paramedics to help mobilize teams to clear displaced mines and restore safe access zones for civilians.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
