a bit of reference
for the record all of this is my opinion and my understanding of whats going on here. which really means, I am nearly out of line by even talking about it because I don't know a damn thing.
The clean up is so far behind for numerous reasons. not the least of which is that there is and has been a long standing issue with refuse and waste disposal here in Sri Lanka. there is no place to put it,not much in the way of land or means has been focused on the issue. So there is no where to put the trash and debris. (haha power just went out here in the cafe....back on!) Second and a huge concern for everyone is the government directive to not allow any rebulding within 100 meters of the shore. in case this ever happens again. now the problem there is not evey home was wiped away, some were heavily damaged, some in other areas where not touched, so the idea is to some that if your house is up and gone then you have NOTHING to fix so your out of your home and the claim on the land. IF you have a home that can be "fixed" then you may have a claim to rebuild on that site. the railway and roads are within 100 meters and they are being fixed why cant my home? get it?
People cant just move inland 100 meters, its not really feasible. there are houses already there, they have lived there all their lives and this has never happened before etc etc. Also if the government or an NGO builds them another house somewhere, what happens to the guy whose house was badly damged but has been living in it anyway does he get a new home too? where? you can see how this gives rise to problems in other areas too like boats, trucks etc. mine is gone i need a new one, mine was damaged but kinda works why dont i get a new one?
when i asked about where the US Military were in all this? ( I can spot em off duty a mile away! high and tights and helmet tans and navy mustaches, creepy squids)I see them around but the i didnt know where they are or what they were doing. So, they are here down south, they are doing what they can, when they are allowed to. I was told by one person that no NGO would ever want to associate with any military (bad idea, now you are taking sides) so they cant accept the help of them, the government doesnt want to look inept and needing help to help its own people so they dont really want to make cull use of them, and any one every associated or having been in the military will understand the paperwork BS involved with this is back breaking. so as i understand it you have a whole lot of people with a whole lot of money and supplies and equipment , standing around at times waiting for permission to work. now there are also private aid groups that have to appease no one. they are kicking in doors and getting it done. they are well financed but not as well as the NGO's but dont have to answer to anyone, so they come in rebuild a village and leave. they are not there for the longterm. the long term planning is where you need help and permission and the paper work bogs you down. Oxfam and Save the Children are i believe looking at 3-5 year programs, these private groups work for a few months and split.
There are merits to each approach as I have been explained. But rebuilding a few homes and buying a few boats doesnt help deal with long term psychological health of the people.
some groups like P.E.A.C.E are neither, they are here for the duration, they have been here for years and will stay forever, they are not however geared towards doing this kind of work. but they are.
I dont want to give the idea that there is enough money and that the problem is nearly solved its not, by a long shot, nor will it ever be solved in a manner of speaking. I just wanted to put it in perspective if possible.
Colombo was all in all untouched by this, so where i am is a major city, I did have to walk around a bull on the street to get to the internet cafe though and yes the power went out a few minutes ago but its a major city. its pretty much the rest of the island that was hit and in different strengths. some areas are just gone. as in no longer there at all. others look like a tornado ripped through it (where i was just South of Colombo) I hope to be traveling South to Matara and east to Batticoloa and Trincomolee next week but I am not sure yet, if all else fails i will go on my own maybe.
side note, if people still want to email me they can, they dont have to drop feedback here if they dont want to.
Take care folks.
D
The clean up is so far behind for numerous reasons. not the least of which is that there is and has been a long standing issue with refuse and waste disposal here in Sri Lanka. there is no place to put it,not much in the way of land or means has been focused on the issue. So there is no where to put the trash and debris. (haha power just went out here in the cafe....back on!) Second and a huge concern for everyone is the government directive to not allow any rebulding within 100 meters of the shore. in case this ever happens again. now the problem there is not evey home was wiped away, some were heavily damaged, some in other areas where not touched, so the idea is to some that if your house is up and gone then you have NOTHING to fix so your out of your home and the claim on the land. IF you have a home that can be "fixed" then you may have a claim to rebuild on that site. the railway and roads are within 100 meters and they are being fixed why cant my home? get it?
People cant just move inland 100 meters, its not really feasible. there are houses already there, they have lived there all their lives and this has never happened before etc etc. Also if the government or an NGO builds them another house somewhere, what happens to the guy whose house was badly damged but has been living in it anyway does he get a new home too? where? you can see how this gives rise to problems in other areas too like boats, trucks etc. mine is gone i need a new one, mine was damaged but kinda works why dont i get a new one?
when i asked about where the US Military were in all this? ( I can spot em off duty a mile away! high and tights and helmet tans and navy mustaches, creepy squids)I see them around but the i didnt know where they are or what they were doing. So, they are here down south, they are doing what they can, when they are allowed to. I was told by one person that no NGO would ever want to associate with any military (bad idea, now you are taking sides) so they cant accept the help of them, the government doesnt want to look inept and needing help to help its own people so they dont really want to make cull use of them, and any one every associated or having been in the military will understand the paperwork BS involved with this is back breaking. so as i understand it you have a whole lot of people with a whole lot of money and supplies and equipment , standing around at times waiting for permission to work. now there are also private aid groups that have to appease no one. they are kicking in doors and getting it done. they are well financed but not as well as the NGO's but dont have to answer to anyone, so they come in rebuild a village and leave. they are not there for the longterm. the long term planning is where you need help and permission and the paper work bogs you down. Oxfam and Save the Children are i believe looking at 3-5 year programs, these private groups work for a few months and split.
There are merits to each approach as I have been explained. But rebuilding a few homes and buying a few boats doesnt help deal with long term psychological health of the people.
some groups like P.E.A.C.E are neither, they are here for the duration, they have been here for years and will stay forever, they are not however geared towards doing this kind of work. but they are.
I dont want to give the idea that there is enough money and that the problem is nearly solved its not, by a long shot, nor will it ever be solved in a manner of speaking. I just wanted to put it in perspective if possible.
Colombo was all in all untouched by this, so where i am is a major city, I did have to walk around a bull on the street to get to the internet cafe though and yes the power went out a few minutes ago but its a major city. its pretty much the rest of the island that was hit and in different strengths. some areas are just gone. as in no longer there at all. others look like a tornado ripped through it (where i was just South of Colombo) I hope to be traveling South to Matara and east to Batticoloa and Trincomolee next week but I am not sure yet, if all else fails i will go on my own maybe.
side note, if people still want to email me they can, they dont have to drop feedback here if they dont want to.
Take care folks.
D
posted by davidlang at 1:03 PM
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