Photo Credit: Refugees International/Eugene Carlson
01/09/2005

A young Sri Lankan girl finds something to smile about in the face of the tsunami disaster.

On Refugees International's mission to Sri Lanka, RI found that the wisdom of relying on local structures, such as the temples and schools, and local humanitarian organizations, such as Sewa Lanka, an established non-governmental organization with offices throughout the country, is clear. They have made quick and accurate assessments of need, they have excellent community contacts, the people trust them, and they are committed to retaining a local presence long after international relief agencies depart.

The simplistic response might be -- knowing that temples are housing homeless -- to throw food, water, clothes, and medicines at each one. That would be a waste. Needs vary. At one temple, the road access was so narrow that a truck bringing food couldn’t make it to the temple. So it offloaded a ways away and neighbors grabbed the food and ran. That temple needed supplies. Most didn’t, or their needs were limited. RI found that the monks seemed completely honest about their needs; there appeared to be no attempt to stockpile or hoard food or supplies.