Tsunami highlights need for regional disaster defense: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Tuesday (AFP) - The world must beef up regional first lines of defense to quickly react to disasters such as last year's Indian Ocean tsunami, says UN emergency relief coordinator Jan Egeland.
Reviewing the extraordinary world response to the killer waves that devastated coastal communities in 12 countries, the 48-year-old Norwegian said: "The tsunami started in the most dramatic way possible, with nature at its worst and humanity at its best."
 

Fishermen in Negombo get rafts

 The Small and Rural Industries and the Regional Infrastructure Development Minister S. B. Nawinna handed over 30 rafts to fishermen in Negombo area which was badly affected by the tsunami. Funding is a total of Rs. 1 million for these thirty craft which has been provided by the Rotary Club in Nikaweratiya, a grant from its UK based Rotary Club.
Minister Nawinna told the Daily News that this donation would improve the fishermen's livelihood by encouraging them to get back to their professions.
 

Pakistan Epidemiologist On Tour of Tsunami Affected Areas
A renowned Pakistani epidemiologist and researcher Prof. Aurangzed Hafi who has conducted an extensive survey of the newly born babies in the tsunami affected areas in this region is raising an alarm of a risk increase of child retardation in such children and calls upon health organisations like the WHO and UNICEF to consider taking early action on the problem.