Estimates that 1/3 of dead are children
Millions more homeless
Australians urged to donate
Plan staff in Sri Lanka available for interview

Plan's Program Unit Manager R W W Wijerathne reports from Hambantota, on Sri Lanka's South Coast, one of the parts of Sri Lanka worst hit by the devastating tsunami. Plan, an international child centred community development organisation works in over 60 countries, including Sri Lanka.

The Hambantota District lies within Plan Sri Lanka's South Eastern Program Unit, where some 1200 Plan Australia sponsored children live.

Mr Wijerathne managed to get through to Hambantota within hours of receiving the news of the disaster.

According to recent figures 1,000 people in Hambantota District alone were killed . some estimates stating that 1/3 of the dead in Sri Lanka are children - and there are eye witness accounts of many more bodies still floating in lagoons.

"One especially awful fact is that so many of the victims seem to be either young children or old people, who were least able to survive the savagery of the sea. Many had come in from surrounding villages to enjoy the market days in three coastal urban centres when the waves struck," said Mr Wijerathne.

"Many are grieving for the death of children and other loved ones. Over 11,000 people in Hambantota District alone have lost everything . their homes, their means of livelihood, and even their clothes. Children are now in temporary camps in temples and schools, where ensuring clean water, sanitation and food is going to be a major problem."

Plan has launched an international appeal and is already in receipt of pledges of over US$975,000 but much more is needed. Funds raised will be used to support both short and long-term emergency relief and rehabilitation, including much needed food, clothing, housing and fresh water.

Plan is committed to working with affected communities for the long term and thus funds are required to both meet basic needs and also to support the rehabilitation and restoration of family livelihoods.

Plan Sri Lanka quickly contributed $200,000 to the National Disaster Coordinating Committee, $100,000 to support immediate relief needs throughout the country - which means that Plan's donation for emergency relief is already at work, supporting hard-pressed government services - and $100,000 earmarked for rehabilitation in Hambantota District.

"There has been a tremendous spontaneous response by people throughout Sri Lanka, who have collected food, clothes and other necessities to send to affected areas, but more funds are desperately needed to support the ongoing, long-term rebuilding of Sri Lanka", said Lucy Perera, Plan Australia staff member presently in Colombo.

"And meeting the immediate needs is just the beginning of the problem. It isn't just that people must rebuild their homes. Many must try to earn a living again, having lost their means of livelihood. For example, many small open fishing boats on which the areas economy largely depends, have been smashed," said Richard Sandison, Director of Child Centred Community Development for Plan Australia.

Plan Sri Lanka is now identifying priority needs for relief and long-term rehabilitation, More Plan staff are on their way to Hambantota to see the situation first hand to help identify priority needs for relief and long term rehabilitation.

Plan has no religious or political affiliation. Child sponsorship is the basic foundation of our work with children around the world. For more information on Plan.s work in Sri Lanka visit www.plan.org.au.

To make a secure online donation to the Tsunami Asia Appeal, visit Plan's website www.plan.org.au or call 1800 038 100.

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Media enquiries for more information or to arrange an interview with Lucy Perera, Michael Diamond, Richard Sandison or Ian Wishart (Plan Australia CEO) contact:

Tim Cansfield-Smith
Media & Communications Manager
Plan Australia
Phone: 03 5348 3634
Mobile: 0411 642 194