Assist Resettlement & Renaissance புனர் வாழ்வும் புது வாழ்வும்

GTV presenter Mr Jegan interviewed Assist RR trustees Dr V Sarveswaran and Dr R Jeyapooranabala on various issues related to living conditions of the innocent victims of war in the east and north of Sri Lanka.  Please watch the interview below:

It is well known that there has been little rain in the Northern province since January 2014, which has been insufficient for farming activities. As a result, farmers have been struggling to engage in cultivation and also lost their crops due to sever drought. It is understood that drought caused by no or lack of rain this year is worse than the drought experienced in 2012. This year’s drought is causing immense hardship to farmers as they are unable to carry on with their farming activities and support their families. It is also forcing families to struggle for drinking water. Many wells have dried up and have become unusable. Although NP has been supplying water using bowsers to many villages, it is understood that NP is struggling to cope up with the demand due to lack of funds. Children’s Hunger Relief Fund (CHRF), UK, recently was sent hundreds of requests from families in Vanni for assistance. Further to discussions with CHRF and due to the overwhelming demand for wells in Vanni, Assist RR have decided to join hands with CHRF and participate in providing wells to families who desperately need them. Assist RR and CHRF therefore would like to appeal to Diaspora Tamils to consider helping the unfortunate people in Vanni by helping  to them to have access to water. These people have already suffered enough as a result of the war and are suffering further due to lack of or no water.  Could we please help them by providing water?

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We are happy to inform that we have reached a milestone of assisting around 1000 cataract surgeries since June 2013 with the support of Vision 2020. These surgeries were organised by Assist RR and sponsored by many organisations including Assist RR and many generous individuals as follows: Friends of Assist RR & Gods Own Children Foundation, Australia; SCOT UK; Tamil Engineers, Singapore; Batticaloa Social Welfare Organisation and Australian Fund for Mahalirillam;  Enlightenment Circle, an arm of Saiva Munnetta Sangam, UK; Friends of Assist RR in the UK; Hartley College Past Pupils Association (HCPPA) of NSW, Australia. Nearly 600 surgeries were carried out in Surgery Camps arranged by Vision 2020: 3 camps in Mannar, 2 in Mullaitivu and 1 in Batticaloa. All these 600 surgeries were carried out single handed by a great service minded surgeon, Dr Jeyasiri Dias, who is currently serving at Batticaloa Teaching hospital. Another 200 surgeries are being assisted by donating 200 foldable lenses and other consumables to be used at four hospitals: Kalmunai; Batticaloa; Trincomale; Puttalam. Another 200 surgeries, which were funded by a Colombo based Charity, Youth Progressive Foundation, and by an anonymous donor, were carried out in a camp in Colombo on 17/18 August 2014.

        
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Following our appeal for building the first floor paediatric ward at PTK hospital, Children’s Hunger Relief Fund (CHRF) and Dr Philomina Karthigesalingam responded positively and have managed to raise enough funds to start the project. The construction work has now started and expected to be completed by 20th Sept. Dr Philomina has successfully completed her sponsored walk on 29th June and managed to raise nearly £6000 including gift aid.  CHRF made an appeal to their friends and families and raised nearly £12,000. Assist RR would like to express its gratitude to CHRF and Dr Phil on behalf of people of PTK for their selfless efforts towards assisting people affected by the war. We are now confident that we will raise the necessary funds to build another male ward so that the hospital will have the basic facilities to cater for the thousands of families depend on it.

We are happy to inform that another cataract surgery camp organised by Assist RR and sponsored by Gods Own Children Foundation was successfully completed today (03/08/14) in Mannar. Surgeon, Dr Dias Jeyasiri, carried out surgeries to 98 patients single handed. The local eye doctor asked to convey the gratitude of the local people to the donors and organisers. He also mentioned that they already have another 200 patients on their waiting list. He is very keen to have another camp soon in Mannar. Assist RR will endeavour to fund and arrange another camp with the support of Vision 2020. Assist RR and people of East and North are indebted to Dr Dias for his selfless services to the vulnerable and poor patients. Dr Dias has now completed nearly 600 surgeries organised by Assist RR in the East and North of Sri Lanka. Assist RR also wish to express its gratitude for the financial support of Gods Own Children Foundation of Australia to this camp. Finally, we would like to thank Vision 2020, in particular Dr Asela Abeydeera, for their continued support in organising surgery camps in the East and North of Sri Lanka.

Dr Philomina Karthigesalingam’s has successfully completed her sponsored walk on 29th June and managed to raise nearly £6000 including gift aid.  This is a massive achievement by the consultant and should be applauded by all of us.  I would like to express our gratitude to Dr Phil on behalf of Assist RR and people of PTK for her selfless effort towards assisting our people affected by the war.  Dr Phil’s hard walk gave us the confidence that we can start thinking about the first floor ward that was needed to be built at PTK hospital on top of the ground floor ward that was built by Assist RR (please see attached photos). Assist RR also made a specific appeal for building the first floor ward on 26 June 2014. Children’s Hunger Relief Fund (CHRF) responded positively and made an appeal amongst their friends and families.  They have received nearly £12,000 so far.  The construction work is now starting on Monday, 21st July, and expected to be completed by 20th Sept.