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Sri Lanka
by Ken Magee
November 17, 2005

Dear Jo and Others,
Here I am back in Colombo for a few days while the national election takes place. We will hope to go back to Kuchevelli on Sunday, after most of the violence has hopefully calmed down. Talked with Dr. Oren in Kumalea this a.m. and several people have been shot there in the last day. What is going on in the Tricomali area near us is unknown.
Sri Lanka is like two different countries. It is very modern here in Colombo. As one procedes towards Trincomali and then Kucheveli the roads gradually deteriorate and finally become big mudholes with sandy dirt along the nearby Indian Ocean. But it is a beautiful area with lots of nearby beautiful jungle, flowers and wildlife. We have seen elephants (wild) several times, a jackal, huge (6 ft. long) monitor lizards, all sorts of beautiful birds including one that looks much like a goldfinch, only much larger, etc.
You would love the people. Most are very poor plus their lives being disrupted by the tsunami and much war. Sadly, there are remnants of burned out and wave destroyed buildings everywhere. There is very little medical help for people in this remote area, possibly the least served on this large island. Many NGO's are helping with rebuilding of both very temporary housing and now more permanent houses. There are areas of jungle being cleared that are further back from the coast for this housing. There are about 17 thousand people yet living in this coastal area, two Sri Langan Drs. and no other medical help unless peolple are transported down the coast to Trinco.. There are two tiny unused hospitals with only one Dr. in that area, and the other MD is in a very beaten up hospital that has beds for only ten patients. Both want help badly. We think there is a wide-open opportunity for NWMTI to help these hospitals and Drs. The first two non-working hospitals were badly hit by the Tsunami but yet have intact buildings. There is no such thing there as an EMT service. One hospital has an Ambulance, but no one with EMT training and no equipment. Ron Hays, you will be pleased that the government of Sri Lanka has just authorized NWMTI to develop an EMT service in Sri Lanka (About 13 million people) They are thinking about doing an initial trial in our Kucheveli area. This is a reflection of all your hard work in starting such services in so many parts of the world.
We are seeing lots of sad people, lots of lung , skin and gastrointestinal problems among some less common things. Of course, we hear many stories. The seaside is rich in seashells. We saw two fishermen who are diving very deep in the ocean to fish who are suffering some of the longterm effects of ascending from very deeply, about one-hundred,feet too rapidly. Dr. Wendy is also a diver so has good information to pass on.
I am a bit tired of curry and pepper on everything but maybe will get used to it?
Well I will hope that we get e-mail service soon. We couldn't even make phone calls for a while but now have one that generally reaches out. Of course no TV or such.
Blessings on all, Love, Ken

November 23, 2005
Dear Jo and Others, Getting near to the time of our departure. Will soon be going back to the capitol city as the Tamil leader is to give a speech on Sunday and here such things lead to unhappy things. We have had heavy rains with a lot of flooding making it near imposssible to to reach some of the IDP camps. What a beautiful country! We continue to see so many interesting things. Lots of pictures to show. So many interesting people. So many interesting stories. I am a bit tired of curry but our cook does a great job. Saw monkeys, peacocks, etc. yesterday.
Today I plan to work a bit at the hospital here at Kucheveli and then go to a distant camp in the afternoon. The heavy rains made the ferry (a very simple thing) inoperable for a few days. About 500 of our IDP camp families had to evacuate because of the flooding. Yesterday our afternoon clinic was in a place where things are different, BUT there were kids at a nearby school shouting and playing just like kids at home.
Well I must close, Love to you all, Ken

Letter from Sri Lanka by Jenna Barnett -- Home from Sri Lanka by Ken Magee