Question : AID TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS

(a) whether the Union Government had sent essential medicines to a Kilinochi hospital in Sri Lanka recently through the Government of that country;

(b) if so, the manner in which the Government identified the need in that particular area; (

(c) whether certain LTTE held areas received aid during the Tsunami disaster through certain NGOs;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has evaluated the effective distribution of these relief materials to the needy; and

(f) if so, the details of NGOs that distributed relief materials?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) Yes.

(b) The decision to supply medicines in that area has been taken on the basis of a request from the Kilinochi hospital and Sri Lankan health authorities.

(c) Post-tsunami relief was distributed in the Northern part of Sri Lankan through a NGO.

(d) One consignment consisting of ten-truckloads of relief supplies donated by the Confederation of Indian Industry was handed over.

(e) The Government is in touch, through its High Commission, with people and officials in the Northern province of Sri Lanka to obtain an assessment of the distribution of these materials.

(f) The relief materials were handed over to the Ramakrishna Mission, Point Pedro.