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We've asked Sherry to jot down some of her experiences as she travels throughout Southeast Asia helping animals that are in need because of massive natural disasters. Click here for a listing of all of her diaries.
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Sri Lanka Tsunami
Disaster RELIEF
Becomes BELIEF!
27 September 2005
Sri Lanka
On 20th March 2005 The Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust (TMAWT) was founded. Set up by Humane Society International and funded by a list of dedicated supporters and animal welfare organizations. This is a momentous occasion as HSI fulfils its mission of transitioning a disaster relief effort into one that is run by Sri Lankans.
Sherry Grant, Director for Disaster Relief, HSI said, “The TMAWT team is the fulfillment of a vision for long term assistant to Sri Lanka. Their aim is to work in tsunami affected areas to improve the condition of the animals and veterinary care. The team are all Sri Lankan with only one visiting international volunteer at a time, HSI is extremely proud to have been part of the setting up this organization and we looking forward to their continued success’".
The impact of the Tsunami in December 2004 is stunning.
While the devastation brought by the tsunami is no longer front page news, the recovery process goes on and will take years. The non-profit Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust (TMAWT) is dedicated to reducing rabies and dog bites in the disaster zone and refugee camps by the combination of vaccinations and sterilizations. Without sterilization, new generations of animals will compound the problems. Sterilization sand vaccinations provide humane animal population control and reduces rabies and dog bites. This reduces the threat of government sponsored mass killing of animals, and improves the welfare of both the people and the animals.
The Trust is currently working along the East Coast – from Arugam Bay to Akkarapattu and on the South Coast including Panadura and Kirinda. which is located close to Yala National Park. Kirinda is peaceful fishing village that was almost totally destroyed.
The Trust operates a mobile clinic that moves within the tsunami disaster zone and refugee camps. The Sri Lankan people have been very receptive the the Trust helping their communities and animals. The Trust's goal is to vaccinate and sterilize 8,000 – 10,000 animals per year.
Find out more about TWAWT at:
