Volunteers
are always at the forefront of any Red Cross Red Crescent operation
and the post-tsunami recovery programme in Sri Lanka is no exception.
Almost a year and a half after the devastating Asian tsunami,
hundreds of volunteers from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society
(SLRCS) are continuing to work with affected communities, proving
that their skills remain crucial to the country’s recovery
process.
When the tsunami ravaged almost two thirds of Sri Lanka’s
coastline, more than 5,000 Red Cross volunteers from all over
the country responded, helping to rescue people, recover bodies,
and distribute food, clothing, tents and non-food relief items.
Today, volunteers continue to be involved in almost all aspects
of the Red Cross Red Crescent post-tsunami recovery programme,
including first aid and community based healthcare.
In addition, they’ve become involved in several areas
that are new to the Sri Lanka Red Cross, such providing psychosocial
support to affected community members, monitoring and cleaning
wells, purifying and distributing water, carrying out needs
assessments and supporting livelihood initiatives.
“It’s hard work, but it is also very satisfying
when you see the smiles on the people’s faces when they
thank the Red Cross,” says Kathija, a volunteer for the
SLRCS, who works on a livelihoods project in Ampara. “To
have the opportunity to bring hope and change to people’s
lives makes me feel that I am doing something useful,”
she adds.
It is not always easy, though, and volunteers are not always
welcomed with open arms. Kathija describes how a widow chased
her away when she knocked on her door to conduct a household
survey.
“The woman said several people had visited her but none
had returned to help,” Kathija explains. “I was
chased away and told never to come back”.
But Kathija did go back and eventually managed to gain the woman’s
trust after repeatedly reassuring her that the Red Cross genuinely
wanted to help. “We gave her a grinding machine to make
flour and today, she is one of the Red Cross’ biggest
fans,” she says.
Many volunteers were directly affected by the tsunami themselves
and continue to live in temporary shelters located in transitional
camps. For them, working with affected communities provides
a sense of purpose and helps them to recover from their own
personal tragedies.
Subatheepan, who works with the Danish Red Cross psychosocial
programme in Kalmunai, is one such volunteer.
“I lost my mother in the tsunami,” says Subatheepan.
“So I find that I can better relate to the feelings of
the people we work with because I too feel the loss of a loved
one.
“I think that this has helped me in understanding and
responding to people’s needs,” he adds. “It
has also helped me to cope with the loss of my mother.”
Mohideen Muzamil is another volunteer turned Sri Lanka Red Cross
staffer. He was first recruited by the Swedish Red Cross Emergency
Response Unit in Pottuvil to assist with translating. A year
and a half later, he now coordinates the Federation’s
well monitoring and cleaning project in Pottuvil division.
“I lost my house in the tsunami,” he says. “But
my work with the Red Cross has given me a fresh start in life
and it also gives me a sense of satisfaction to know that I
am contributing to the recovery of my own community.”
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Kathija
(left) and a colleague talk to a woman, who is benefiting
from the Sri Lanka Red Cross livelihoods project in Kalmunai,
eastern Sri Lanka.
(p13986)
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Subatheepan
talks to beneficiaries living in a temporary shelter in
Kalmunai, Ampara District.
(p13985)
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