Sri Lanka:Allow Aid Groups to Help Cyclone Victims Vanida Chithtamath 1:11am

Dec.1,2008
1:11am

In the southeastern region of Asia, in the northern tip of Sri Lanka, a Cyclone destroyed and injured many people. In a press release by the New York Times, the humanities effort is being barred by the Sri Lankan government due to the Vanni conflict zones and this is preventing other organizations from coming in to help those in need. Human Rights Watch urges the government to let these aid groups in. Cyclone Nisha has flooded several areas and has made living conditions very poor. Cyclone Nisha hit northern Sri Lanka on November 25, 2008, causing heavy rains and flooding that reportedly forced between 60,000 and 70,000 people to relocate. Thousands of shelter kits and tarps are available from the humanitarian community to provide emergency shelters for the affected families, but the government has reportedly insisted that only tarps without logos from humanitarian agencies will be allowed into the Vanni. This obstruction of humanitarian agencies is causing a strain in the help that is needed at this time. HRW also states that Sri Lankan police are detaining displaced people from the regions of Vanni and not allowed them to physically leave the compound at which they are being held against their will. This act itself is violating the rights of those who are detained and Human Rights Watch is closely watching the actions of the Sri Lankan Government. HRW strongly suggests for the government to open up its restrictions to allow these aid groups to come in and provide assistance before more people die due to the lack of aid.
This situation is not about the cyclone but about control from the government, Sri Lanka is one of the few countries that keep themselves separate from the foreign world and they are trying to keep the aid groups out because having foreign aid is like losing control for them. Also, it is sad that many people are sitting there waiting for aid when they can easy get it if the government stopped being stubborned and opened up their borders to these groups. This one little act of kindness can save many people lives.
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/11/29/sri-lanka-allow-aid-groups-help-cyclone-victims