A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Disaster Strikes Sri Lanka, December 26, 2004

The following was written by the staff of the Home for Human Rights (HHR).

Colombo: One of the worst natural disasters in recent history struck the island nation of Sri Lanka when a giant tsunami hit. More than thirty thousand people have died and many more have been injured, affected or displaced. The Sri Lankans way of life in some of the villages along the costal areas has come to a complete stand still, starvation is rampant, and the ability to reach these areas has been impacted as transportation and communication have become huge obstacles due to the destruction.

Tsunami survivor: The mother of this Sri Lankan girl was killed by the tsunami.

The northern and eastern portions of the island have sustained the greatest damage. According to some reports, an estimated 67% of the destruction occurred in these regions. Immediate relief in the form of food, clothing and shelter is urgently needed. Those who survived the calamity are living in temporary camps, such as schools, temples and churches.
One of the most unfortunate aspects of this tragedy is that the northern and eastern sections of the island are being neglected with regard to the distribution of relief (food, clothing, etc.). Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working within these regions are trying their best to help the affected people in these areas.

A family from a village in Batticaloa called Poonochchimunai, Navatkudah east, the village that HHR has adopted. The house is still surrounded by dirty water that accumulated from the tsunami as well as from recent rains.

The Home for Human Rights (HHR), an NGO based in Sri Lanka, has been working within these communities at the grass roots level for the past 27 years. Though we have been primarily involved in human rights issues, we have been forced to work on humanitarian issues as well. This is largely due to the geo-political nature of the country and the conflict that has engulfed the small island nation for the past 27 years. Because of our long standing experience and grass roots connections in the affected areas, HHR has the capacity to carry out urgently needed humanitarian work through our staff and branch offices.

HHR's work will comprise a two-pronged approach - immediate relief and long term rehabilitation and reconstruction.

We are appealing to you personally and individually to contribute whatever amount that you can afford to aid victims of this devastating natural disaster.