by Senior Frist Aide, Bob Stevenson
posted January 6, 2005
After a long trip with a longer than expected layover in Frankfort, Germany we arrived in Sri Lanka at approximately 7 a.m.
Frist and Landrieu had a short meeting with the U.S. Ambassador Lunstead and Deputy Foreign Minister Vishwa Warnapala. Frist and Landrieu spoke to the local media expressing sympathy and support for the Sri Lankan people. They said the purpose of the trip was to express solidarity with the Sri Lanka people, to offer assistance, access the damage, and report back to the Senate on what needs to be done.
At approximately 7:30 a.m. they boarded a helicopter and headed south along the coast for the area around Galle – a seaside city on the southern coast that is a popular destination for locals and tourists. The Senators toured the wreckage from the air. Houses flattened with only the outline of a foundation to indicate they were ever there; rubble strewn everywhere – wood, concrete, brick, 40-foot fishing boats lifted by the giant wave and deposited a quarter-mile inland; ocean-side resorts – many near 100-percent capacity when the Tsunami struck – severely damaged. A train, running some 300 yards from the ocean, was swept away by the wall of water, cars scattered and the tracks twisted apart.
The helicopter landed in Galle where the Senator proceeded to a Red Cross/Red Cresent Mobil Medical Unit and refugee relief center. More than 1,000 people are now at the center. Here the Senators met with doctors, medical students and nurses treating the sick and injured. Dr. Frist examined a wounded man’s foot while Senator Landrieu met with children from the center.
The senators met with the victims of the tragedy and heard hundreds of stories too sad to tell. They met with a mother who lost her husband and four of her five children. Now, left alone and homeless, she lives at the refugee camp with her surviving three-year-old son. This is only one example of the horribly tragic stories they heard today.
Here the senators donated “CamelBak” backpacks to relief workers to ensure they have fresh water during the recovery work. They also brought cartons of “Pur”. Manufactured and donated by Procter and Gamble, Pur is a small packet of power capable of purifying 20 liters of water. Frist emphasized that a supply of pure water is the key to avoiding the spread of infectious disease.
They then went to Sarvodaya – a charitable organization with some 80 centers throughout Sri Lanka where they care for orphans, provide relief, food and clothing, and other community services. They met with Dr A.T. Ariyaratne, founder and head of Sarvodaya.
At Sarvodaya they presented cases of Pedialyte, which helps prevent dehydration while suppling needed nutrients and electrolytes in infants and young people. The Pedialyte was donated by Abbott Laboratories it was shipped to Sri Lanka free of charge by Fed Ex. Both senators thanked the companies involved and said it was a perfect example of government, the private sector, and non-government organizations working together.
At Sarvodaya, Frist announced that his charitable organization “World of Hope” pledged $25,000 to the organization.
From Galle the Senators flew by helicopter across the island to the Ampara district of Sri Lanka. This was one of the hardest hits areas of the country and, once again, the destruction was apparent from the air.
Here they visited a refugee center at the Wesley College in Kalmunai. They witnessed medical evaluations and toured the cramped quarters of the refugees. They also announced the delivery of USAID-funded medical equipment. Both Senators took time to mingle with the displaced Sri Lankans, to express their support and their sympathy.
They proceeded to the Kalmunai Hospital - now at capacity with between 400 and 500 patients – where they met briefly with medical staff and doctors before accompanying them on rounds at the hospital. Dr. Frist also observed doctors in the operating room while Senator Landrieu visited the women recovering in one the hospital’s six wards. Both members spoke highly of the treatment being received at the hospital.
The Senators then traveled to a CARE distribution center to help deliver clothing and soap. Both Senators helped unload a truck filled with clothing and distribute the items to a long line of refugees.
From there they headed back to Colombo for a meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
They also visited the Relief Operations Headquarters in Colombo and met with Director Tara De Mel.
Some quotes from today:
Frist: “We come here to express our condolences and our sympathy. We want you to know that the people of the United States are concerned for your well-being.”
“This was an incomprehensible disaster. The devastation was even greater than we had anticipated.”
“We have been impressed by the spirit of the Sri Lankan people. The people of the United States stand ready to assist you as you recover and rebuild.”
Landrieu: “The devastation is almost incomprehensible. The pain and suffering is hard to describe.”
“We are talking about rebuilding more than 100,000 homes.”
Landrieu on the need for early detection: “How may lives could have been saved with better warning systems?”
Frist on Early Warning: “If the people had five or ten minutes warning it would have had a significant impact. It is time for all of us in the world community to come together to establish an early warning system for Sri Lanka and southeast Asia."
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