Post-tsunami situation in Sri Lanka “shameful”
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Almost three years on from the tsunami, fishermen and their families still live in makeshift tents in Sri Lanka as rebuilding and economic recovery is delayed. That is the warning launched by the fourth assembly of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) held between November 29 and December 3rd in Kochchikade, north of Colombo. In 68, delegates from fishing communities throughout the world visited villages hit by the tsunami and expressed their “concern” for the living conditions of survivors.
The newly elected Coordinator of the WFFP, South African Naseegh Jaffar, said “we as the WFFP extend our sadness over the post Tsunami situation which we witnessed in Sri Lanka and the sad situation of the Tsunami victims, specially the victims of fisher sector are still suffering in the camps”. In a press briefing yesterday, Jaffar further added “we regret because these victims have lost their dignity, lost their basic human rights. Not only their property. We believe that the Sri Lankan government has a big responsibility to rehabilitate them”.
Among delegates who visited the camps, Joyce Oruko of Kenya and Marie Ademar of Europe told AsiaNews “the whole world helped Sri Lanka when the Tsunami hit but it is very sad to see the innocent fisher victims are still in camps and struggling with their day to day lives. It is very hard to believe that there are still Tsunami camps”.
Born in 1997 in New Delhi, the WFFP unites small fishing communities and those involved in the fishing industry in coastal zones and on islands in 25 countries throughout the world. The WFFP aims to make the voice of this category of workers heard and bring their demands to the attention of governments and international organisations.
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