Field Report from Sri Lanka

Note: Mercy Corps Senior Communications Officer Cassandra Nelson called these details in from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

Aid is flowing to the tsunami-affected areas of Sri Lanka, although slowly. Mercy Corps is currently partnering with local humanitarian organizations to ensure an effective, sustained response to the critical needs of survivors.

According to Mercy Corps' Cassandra Nelson, who recently visited displaced-person camps on Sri Lanka's devastated eastern coast, both travel and delivery of aid are extremely difficult in the wake of the disaster.

"Logistically, getting anywhere is a nightmare," Nelson said. "One day, we drove for nine hours from Colombo toward the coast and were suddenly stopped by a flash flood. We were turned back and there were no other routes open, and so we drove back to Colombo for another nine hours."

Frequent rainstorms and flooding have compounded aid efforts. In many tsunami-stricken areas, bridges have been washed away and other infrastructure has been severely weakened or destroyed. The only way to reach many of the most-devastated communities is by boat.

Early last week, Nelson and other Mercy Corps workers finally reached Sri Lanka's eastern coast through subsequent, persistent attempts. Once there, she was stunned and saddened by the scope of destruction and the grief of survivors.

"There is a tremendous need for post-trauma counseling in the affected areas, especially among the children," Nelson said. "Many survivors who lost family members are committing suicide. Right now, there's no mental health support in the area - there are only two psychiatrists in the entire province."

A major focus of Mercy Corps' initial programming in Sri Lanka is psycho-social counseling and support. The organization expects to have someone in place soon.

Another concern on Sri Lanka's eastern coast is the utter destruction of the fishing industry. The Eastern Province is relatively undeveloped, with very little industry or tourism, and so communities rely almost entirely on fishing for the livelihood of families.

When the tsunami struck, fishing boats, nets and other equipment was tragically lost. As a result, fishing families now find themselves without a way to earn income.

Mercy Corps is working to rebuild the fishing industry and ensure better economic security for Sri Lankan fishing families. The organization anticipates using a combination of innovative economic programs and material aid to accomplish these goals.

In choosing local partner agencies, Mercy Corps hopes to work with organizations who bridge the cultural gaps between Sri Lanka's Muslim, Sinhalese and Tamil populations. Ethnic and religious divisions have torn the island nation apart for years, most notably fueling an ongoing civil war.

While responding to the immediate needs of survivors, Mercy Corps also envisions a longer-term commitment to vulnerable families and communities in Sri Lanka.

"Many groups are coming in, throwing supplies at the population and leaving," Nelson said. "Mercy Corps will be here for months to come, helping local organizations rebuild their communities and standing by families as they recover."