fyi.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Pwd] Re: info on tsunami affected pwd's
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 05:26:08 +0900
From: Hiroshi Kawamura <[log in to unmask]>
To: D.P.M.Weerakkody <[log in to unmask]>
CC: <[log in to unmask]>
References: <[log in to unmask]>
Dear Wimal:
Thank you very much for your information which I was most afraid of.
When information is available, please inform me of the situation of Kumara
and his school for the blind which I believe located in the most Southern
part of Sri Lanka.
Since the first report of the great earthquake of magnitude 8.9, I have been
threatened by the imagination of the great disasters because I was educated
as a geographer and, in last few years, I have been engaged in R&D Project
of Disaster Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities as a professional
researcher funded by the Japanese government.
I am going to coordinate a joint US-Japan group of persons with
disabilities, parents and professionals to give input to the forthcoming UN
World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 18-22 January 2005 in Kobe, where we
lost thousands of lives by earthquake 10 years ago.
I recognize that first aid response to survivors is still highest priority
but this stage should be seamlessly connected to long-term reconstruction of
the whole community with a clear vision that guarantees everybody to have
knowledge to understand the situation for human security. Those who do have
different way of communications, reading and writing, comprehension, or
mobility must be equally protected from disasters in the reconstructed
community. Disaster Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities will become
the best basis of the human security for everybody in the community
including foreign visitors.
In memory of those who lost lives by the Tsunami Disaster as well as other
disasters, I would like to call upon our joint action to develop a clear
strategy for Disaster Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities as one of
the most important action items of the 10 Years Action Plan to be decided by
the 2nd phase of WSIS in Tunis in November this year.
Best
Hiroshi
----- Original Message -----
From: "D.P.M.Weerakkody" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 2:39 AM
Subject: info on tsunami affected pwd's
>
>
> D.P.M. Weerakkody B.A.(Cey).,Ph.D.(Hull)
> Professor of Western classics
> Department of Classical Languages
> University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
> Tel: Office: 94 81-2388301-5, and 94 18-2388345,
> Residence: 94 81-2389163
> Fax: 94 81-2388933,
> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> Dear friends,
>
> First of all I wish to thank you most sincerely for your
> generosity in offering to help persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka who
> were affected by the recent disaster. I give below the information as I
> have it at present.
>
> 1. Regarding the tragedy involving blind children from the School for
> the Deaf and Blind Tangalla, I finally managed to contact the school by
> phone and speak to the founder Mr. W. Rupasinghe Perera. There had been
> twenty persons in the vehicle which travelled from Tangalla to Colombo on
> the 26th to attend the Christmas party which had been organized for them.
> All the 16 children were blind, and were accompanied by one teacher, two
> assistants and the daughter of one of the assistants, all sighted. Twelve
> blind children, one teacher, and one assistant died. Four blind children
> escaped and helped the other assistant and her daughter to get out of the
> danger. The school plans to set up a fund to assist the surviving
> children and the families of those who died, these being mostly very poor.
> I would suggest, however, that, rather than sending contributions directly
> to the school, they should be sent to the Sri Lanka Council for the
> Blind, which is the principal service organization for the blind in the
> country, stating clearly that they be sent to the school for the fund.
> Please contact the Hon. Secretary, Mr. S.L. Hettiarachchy, Sri Lanka
> Council for the Blind, 74 Church Street, Union Place, Colombo 2, Sri
> Lanka; tel. 0094 112 329564, email: <[log in to unmask]>. He will report to
> you on how the funds were utilised..
>
> 2. There are isolated reports of various blind and other disabled
> persons being affected, and the Council plans to help them within the
> following financial terms, i.e. per individual.
>
> Rebuilding home: $500.00 each.
> Wheelchair: $125.00 each.
> crutches/elbow-crutches: $25.00 each.
>
> Once again, please contact Mr. Hettiarachchy from whom I got the
> information.
>
> 3. In galle, in the south of the country, there is a private home for
> children with physical and mental handicaps. It is called Sambodhi. I
> hear that 50% of the building and the children were washed away.
> Unfortunately, I do not have any details or the contact information, but
> the Council for the Blind should be able to help.
>
> 4. Although initially there were requests for food, linen and
> medicine, I believe these are adequately covered by the existing
> government and other relief operations.
>
> On behalf of the persons with disabilities I thank you once again.
>
> With best wishes
> D.P.M. Weerakkody.
>
>
>
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