Sri Lanka, 3 - 8 - 2005: Fisher families needed better treatment: "Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 13:42 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Mar 08, Colombo: Coordinator of the World Forum for Fisher People Pauline Tangiora, who has visited fisher families affected by the tsunami disaster, says these families deserve to be treated better.
She said the families have not received the assistance they should have received. She observed that with the onset of the monsoon rains, these families would face further difficulties, as they still live in tents or temporary shelters.
At a media conference held in Colombo, Ms. Tangiora said the Sri Lankan government's decision to impose a 100 meter buffer zone has aggravated the situation in fishing communities.
They cannot understand why they cannot rebuild their houses. They have been living all through the coastal area and they have no choice left now. No one has come to guide them in making their decision either to live in the places in the coastal [belt] or go beyond the imposed 100 metre buffer zone. This has caused a lot of anger and a lot of resentment of these lots who suffer as the victims of tsunami, she said.
Ms. Tangiora added that decision-makers should consult affected people at the provincial and district level. I have seen the rubble yet remain uncleared along the coastal belt. It needs immediate cleaning 12 kilometres from Colombo. Otherwise people living in these areas will be infected and would suffer from various diseases, she said. "
Mar 08, Colombo: Coordinator of the World Forum for Fisher People Pauline Tangiora, who has visited fisher families affected by the tsunami disaster, says these families deserve to be treated better.
She said the families have not received the assistance they should have received. She observed that with the onset of the monsoon rains, these families would face further difficulties, as they still live in tents or temporary shelters.
At a media conference held in Colombo, Ms. Tangiora said the Sri Lankan government's decision to impose a 100 meter buffer zone has aggravated the situation in fishing communities.
They cannot understand why they cannot rebuild their houses. They have been living all through the coastal area and they have no choice left now. No one has come to guide them in making their decision either to live in the places in the coastal [belt] or go beyond the imposed 100 metre buffer zone. This has caused a lot of anger and a lot of resentment of these lots who suffer as the victims of tsunami, she said.
Ms. Tangiora added that decision-makers should consult affected people at the provincial and district level. I have seen the rubble yet remain uncleared along the coastal belt. It needs immediate cleaning 12 kilometres from Colombo. Otherwise people living in these areas will be infected and would suffer from various diseases, she said. "
