COLOMBO, 9 January 2005 — The Kingdom’s relief aid, including a cash donation of SR307 million from Saudis, is being distributed among the tsunami victims in all parts of the island. The recent tidal waves killed more 30,860 people living in the coastal belt of the island who were Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese.
“This was a national calamity which has affected people from all communities and it is nothing but right for us to help all those who survived the catastrophe,” Saudi Ambassador in Sri Lanka Mohamed Mahmud Al-Ali told Arab News pointing out that most of the donations from the Kingdom are being channeled through his mission in Colombo.
He said the cash donations from Saudis were made spontaneously on a request made by the Saudi government. “Saudis feel for the people in friendly countries and they want to help those in distress without any hesitation,” Al-Ali said. The cash donation was handed over to the government by the ambassador himself. Ever since disaster struck, Saudi Embassy officials have been working round the clock to help the refugees in all parts of the island nation. Saudi TV crew and journalists from Arabic and English dailies from the Gulf are also currently in the country covering various relief activities.
The Saudi Arabian Airlines brought in a planeload of relief materials yesterday. “This was the fourth consignment from Riyadh which will be distributed to the victims through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” the envoy said, adding that the cash donations were given for rehabilitation programs in the tsunami-affected areas.
In addition to the relief supplies, the Kingdom has given $300,000 to the ICRC. This will be utilized to carry out various health projects in the affected areas, he said. More than one million have been rendered homeless in districts of Galle, Colombo, Batticaloa, Pottuvil, Hambantota, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Amparai.
Each of the 300-ton consignments comprises 1,500 tents, 7,000 blankets and 2,000 packages of dry ration that includes rice, sugar, oil, milk and baby food. The ambassador said these items were being distributed under the supervision of a special team comprising officials from the Saudi Red Crescent, ministries of finance, health and information in cooperation with the ICRC.
He said the Makkah-based International Islamic Relief Organization has also given $300,000 for relief work. A team from the organization arrived here yesterday to supervise distribution of relief materials which will be purchased locally.
Al-Ali who is accredited to Maldives, also said the Kingdom sent a planeload of relief materials to Male and he personally handed over the items to the Maldivian government on Thursday.
