Lifeline Daily Radio Show #231 (11 December 2009)
Demining is being carried out as fast as possible in the resettlement areas, says MAG International. Civil Military Liaison Units has been identified as the key element in the rebuilding efforts in the North and East. Postal services are expected to resume soon in the North and East as well. Also, Women In Need have set up a 24-hour hotline to help women who are victims of violence.
- Demining speeds up
- Civil Military Liaison Units to help rebuild the North and East
- Postal services to resume in resettlement areas
- WIN hotline to help women who are victims of violence
Demining speeds up
Llewelyn Jones, Country Programme Manager for Mines Advisory Group (MAG) said that MAG has taken steps to increase the number of machinery and manpower in order to speed up the demining process. “The focus is on the Mannar Rice Bowl area and Vavuniya,” he added. Jones explained that much of the work in the Mannar Rice Bowl area and surrounding residential areas have been completed, but rain has slowed down the process.
Civil Military Liaison Units to help rebuild the North and East
The government has established Civil Military Liaison Units in resettlement areas in the North and the East in order to assist resettling families, and to improve communication between the various groups involved in rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the war.
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinhe, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights said that Vavuniya District was the appropriate place to commemorate International Day for Human Rights, as many government and non-government organisations were working on protecting the rights of those being resettled and ensuring that their basic needs are being met. Prof Wijesinha made these comments at a workshop held on December 10 to commemorate World Human Rights Day, bringing together representatives from the police, military and humanitarian communities to discuss the way forward in rebuilding conflict affected areas.
Postal services to resume in resettlement areas
Telecommunication and Postal Services Minister M.S.Sellasamy said that postal services will soon be back to normal in North and East. “We already provide many services such as money order and telephone facilities in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. We are hoping to open many more post offices in those areas as well,” he added.
Postmaster of the Northern Province.V.Kumaragura said that postal services are being provided in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi through sub post offices for the moment, but that normal service will resume soon.
WIN hotline to help women who are victims of violence
Women In Need have set up a special 24-hour hotline to assist women who are victims of violence. The hotline number is 4718585, and the WIN team hopes to assist women who want to legal action with regards to violence. WIN also has many regional offices in the North and East where women can make complaints and get advise of staying safe.
