ASIAN HEALTH INSTITUTE

Messages from Asian Friends
on the Recent Earthquake and Tsunami Disasters
(Updated: Dec 29, 2004)

Messages from Herman Kumara, NAFSO, Sri Lanka

SEVERE GALE AT SRI LANKA (Sun, 26 Dec 2004)

1.
Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:41:39 +0600
Subject: SEVERE GALE AT SRI LANKA

My dear Tom and friends, it is very sorry to report at this very important moment of Christmas that our people in the coastal areas has been undergone thereat of SEVERE GALE ALL OVER THE ISLAND. Some media reported this is due to a earth quake at Andaman islands at India. In that sense there should be affect to Bangladesh, India ,Myanmar, Thailand and some other countries at that region.

In Sri Lanka, more than 300,000 families already affected and most of their houses had been washed away to the sea. According to the reports of District Secretary at Kalmune, in that particular area alone [at east coast] there are 150 dead bodies were found. The same situation is at the Akkaraipattu and Pothuwil areas too. No one knows how many fishers disappeared and loss their lives due to the gale in other parts of the country. Number of multi day fishing boats are at the sea still and those people's fate is uncertain.

But still the waves are going up and very difficult to get the information from North -[Jaffna area] as the telephone lines are not functioning. But in the west coast of Colombo- suburbs[Wattala, Pamunugama, Hendala etc] , Panadura, Moratuwa, KAlutara, [ All these are at west coast] Galle, Matara, Dondra, Tangalle, Hambantota areas are very badly affected. Roads are totally damaged. Some boats are in the roads and some are drifted away.

In Galle, the water level rosed up to 80 feet at the beginning and invaded more than 1.5 Km in to the land. Roads are totally destroyed and number of vehicles damaged.
In Matara the water level at this moment rose up to 18 feet, that is up to the second floor of a two story buildings. Can you imagine the depth of the problem.
In Dondra, the Colombo-Hambantota main road was totally washed away to the sea and no road at all. The boats at Puranawella Harbour was drifted to the sea and number is not known.
In Negombo, in some Islands the problem is severe. Duwa, Munnakkara and Pitipana villages where the highest density of population is living is also affected. There is around 4 feet water level covered their houses. There should be urgent attention to these victims. In Baticoloa area there were more than hundred dead bodies found and the families became victims.

Number of boats had been drifted to the sea and no way to protect them when it is happening as no one is ready to take the risk. Met. department says that they can not predict anything and what will be the final situation.
It is very clear that more than million people affected and the damage can not be measured at the moment.

THE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE WEST, EAST, NORTH/WEST AND I would like to know the situation at Pacific region and also other countries like India and Maldives at the moment.
How ever I urge all the people who see this message to help us to restart
our life.

SOME LOST THE LIVES. SOME LOST THE HOUSES. BOATS, ALL THE LIFE LONG COLLECTION OF THE WEALTH. ANIMALS, VEHICLES, ROADS WERE ALSO DAMAGED.

AS ALL THESE HAPPENED AT THE COASTAL AREAS OUR MEMBERS SEVERELY AFFECTED.
WE CAN NOT ASSES THE DAMAGE SOON. BUT WE NEED YOUR DEEP ATTENTION AND HELP IMMEDIATELY. COULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS AND PASS THIS TO ALL THOSE WHO CONCERN THE SITUATION.

We urgently need your kind attention and assistance. At the same time I would like to know the situation at Maldives, India, Bangladesh Myanmar and Thailand and any other countries which affected by the Earth Quake at Andaman Islands.

PLEASE HELP US URGENTLY.
Herman Kumara,
Convener-NAFSO,
General Secretary-WFFP
No.10, Malwaththa Rd. Negombo,
Sri Lanka.