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Working in Sri Lanka's camps calls for creative thinking
Written by: Amjad Mohamed-Saleem
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Doctors see patients at a camp clinic in Sri Lanka's war-torn north. PHOTO/Muslim Aid
These days, it's a question of survival of the most creative. In response to the challenges we face working in camps for internal refugees in Sri Lanka's north, we have to be innovative to overcome operational obstacles. And there are many! Take, for example, the recent news of the end of the war and the death of the Tamil Tiger rebel leader, which brought euphoria to the streets of Colombo and some other parts of the country. For us, it meant a total shutdown of access to the camps. Initially, the authorities slapped a ban on vehicles entering the camps, largely it seems as a security measure. There's still some uncertainty as to whether rebels are mingling with civilians in the camps, and the authorities are putting in place a screening and registering procedure to determine that. But as a result of the ban on vehicles, our access was limited and most aid agencies were kicking up a fuss as usual. Some even said publicly that they would withdraw from the camps. My colleagues on the ground decided to explore other means of access - from accepting the status quo and walking, to getting bicycles or hitching rides with the water bowsers. The surgical masks they've been provided by the doctors come in handy as they don't inhale the dust covering the sites. Equipment has also been an issue. We use generators for our water purification equipment and mobile hospital, but the wear and tear is starting to show. There's no chance of getting a mechanic in to do a proper service, and so you improvise to keep things running. Bits of string and twigs are used to secure loose parts. The same goes for our vehicles. Every day, there's a new noise emanating from your tractor or van, or another part malfunctions. When you complain to the manufacturer or dealer, they just say, "These things aren't meant to be used day in and day out without a break." Well, if that's the case for machinery, how about our staff who are working tirelessly in the camps? TOUGH CONDITIONS FOR AID WORKERS Accommodation is a big problem for them. As in the wake of most emergencies, the best places are usually taken quite quickly and at any cost. The laws of economics kick in, and as demand increases, the prices go up. Hotel rooms in Vavuniya now cost three times more than before the latest displacement crisis. If you're local rather than expat staff, you might opt for accommodation closer to the camp, which is cheaper but very basic. The houses are small with poor facilities. So you end up sharing three to a room and maybe taking a shower from a water bowser as there's no piped supply. In effect, you start to live like a displaced person too. Food is another challenge, especially in places close to the camp. There are no eating joints you can stroll to in the evening for a bite. When you're inside, it's difficult for aid workers to find proper refreshment. "We can't eat or drink publicly in front of the camp residents when they are having difficulties as well. It's not right," says one of my colleagues. This poses a dilemma. How can you eat and drink when others are going without? But how can you do your job properly if you're hungry and thirsty? So you have little choice but to sneak off into a secluded corner or your vehicle to grab a quick snack. And while toilets are an issue for the displaced population, there's absolutely nothing for aid workers (though things are are slowly improving). "Solves the problem of not eating or drinking," quips another colleague. There's no time for rest since you know the demands are huge. Spare a thought for the aid workers and medics who stay in one place, sometimes under the scorching sun, examining patients all day with barely a moment or a place to sit down. As the day ends, all you want to do is get back to your room, shower, eat and sleep. Weekends are the same. Day in and day out. Despite this, if you try taking someone out for a break, you'll be met with protests: "We can't leave here! These people need us." And so, fuelled by dedication to serve those in need, relief workers carry on. In most cases, they summon up enough energy to get the job done. Once you're detached from the situation, though, perspectives become clearer. Everyday problems seem petty and minor. Do I really care if my bus was late today? Why am I bothered if there's too much salt in my food, or when a guy cuts me up in traffic? Instead, what does upset me is someone wasting food or complaining about how bad life is. Once you've experienced the hardships endured by war-displaced people who've lost practically everything, your own trials and tribulations rightly pale into insignificance.
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6 responses to “Working in Sri Lanka's camps calls for creative thinking”
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Amjad Mohamed-Saleem classifies himself as a 'global citizen' - born in Nigeria, educated in Ethiopia and Britain, and now based in Sri Lanka. Following careers in engineering and management consultancy, he joined British relief and development agency Muslim Aid in April 2005. He was posted to Sri Lanka to work on reconstruction after the Indian Ocean tsunami and is now country director. He also oversees Muslim Aid's Bangladesh operation and coordinates its international disaster response unit. On the rare occasions when he's not globetrotting or on the road in Sri Lanka, Amjad enjoys books, music, socialising and going to the gym.
02 Jun 2009 10:31:32 GMT
Thank you Amjad for bringing the story. It is an eye opener for people who are in the affluent society who waste a lot of things.
Mahinda and Co. was crowing about they were prepared to receive "his people" as he called them a few months before the war ended with a blood bath of "his people". But what preparations did they make to receive the unfortunate people. It looks like they wanted to "punish" them for living in the Vanni, their ancestral land. They lost their livelihood, dwellings, self respect, loved ones. How long does it take for Mahinda and his cronies to identify a 76 year old man or woman that they are harmless? How long does it take for them to find out that woman with children aged 6,4,2, or a boy of 8 who has lost his parents, to decide that they do not pose a threat? The entire thing is a ploy to subdue and subjugate the Tamils!! They have money to bomb and shell repeatedly and money to pay for the mercenary pilots and buy shophisticated weapons but no money to plan for the camp and to provide some sort of accomodation for the staff who are supposed to manage the "concentration camps" They repeatedly said that there are only 70,000+ civilians in the camp. In the end it turned out to be 5 times as what they said. (leaving the 20,000+ they massacred!!) Is the underestimation was done deleberately to (1). so that they can send little food and get away with it? (2). Allow enough room to the people they were planning to kill to bring the Tamils to the knees!! Atleast they can publish the names of the inmates, so that the loved ones who are trekking from camp to camp in search of their relatives will come to know whether they are dead or alive!!02 Jun 2009 10:32:11 GMT
Many of the 'issues' that are written here are inherent to the real basics of humanitarian work. In spite of a lot of the degrading comments that you read and sometimes hear in Colombo. Luxuoury life in 5* hotels are just a simple example! Workers in the Ethipian desert, Darfur, or eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are faced with similar or even worse conditions. The main difference here is that there is locally very little recognition for the work of national and mainly international staff employed in the area. While the Colombo hot shots, relatives and influential business people come in their convoys of 4*4 luxury vehicles and zoom in and out of the camps, making few photogenic appearances that show them off well to their electorate or business friends. While the hard work as is shown here by Amjad, is done by the humanitarian workers that are often forgotten or labelled as profeteers by the Sri Lankan elite and anti NGO medi! a.
02 Jun 2009 10:38:48 GMT
May I congratulate you on an interesting and unbiased article about the IDP camps. You are doing wonderful work and should be congratulated. A few less people shouting and shrieking and a few more offering help may make your job easier and the lot of the refugees inproved.
02 Jun 2009 10:40:41 GMT
Thanks to Amjad Mohamed Saleem for presenting the extra special difficulties aid workers have been confronted, in the working environments of the special unhealthy security camps, set up for displaced in Vavuniya. when these problems are threatening the aid workers smooth living and working among these suffering displaced war refugees. It like walking in a knife edge for most of them in the prevailing difficult situations in their careers as aid workers helping to reduce the sufferings in the camps.
What most of these rich farmers from villages like Viswamadu and Muthayankadu have never in their life suffered in such as bad living,without proper food and water. They have been never living in such a very bad unhealthy places with their families and the mental agony they will have about any loss of family members their farm lands and their dwellings. This time of the year in Vavuniya temperature will be very hot and the shortage for water will also exist. One of the camps set up in chettikulam Manik Farm is suppose to be the biggest in Asia itself housing over 100,000 displaced. Only the Srilanka government will be able to help these displaced civilians difficulties by quickly speeding up the security clearance and organising the resettlement's firstly. Hatred against these displaced should be forgiven as a Buddhist nation, their rights must be granted for a quick resettlement.03 Jun 2009 15:42:55 GMT
Thank you for helping those totured people,may god bless you for doing his work. is the situation getting any better are they getting food supplies now . tks for doing this we all appreciate it tamil all over the world
05 Jun 2009 11:58:41 GMT
A young woman sent to the Vavuniya Hospital for her first confinement was refused permission to join her relatives after delivering the baby. What is the logig in taking her back to the camp?. Can she live in the subhuman camp conditions?.