Press Release

 

The Humpty Dumpty Institute

 

The Humpty Dumpty Institute Distributes  Humanitarian Supplies Provided by LDS Charities to the IDPs of Sri Lanka 

 

December 8, 2009

New York – The Humpty Dumpty Institute is pleased to announce the distribution of over $300,000 in humanitarian aid consisting of school, hygiene, and orphanage kits to the the victims of the recent conflict in Sri Lanka.  This aid was generously provided by LDS Charities.  The handing over ceremony was held on November 20, 2009 at the Government Food Storage facility in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mr. A.K.K. Kumarasiri, Secretary to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Nation Building and Infrastructure Development, Mr. R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri, Project Director, World Food Program, Elder Scott Biggs from the LDS Church, Dr. Anton Kumarasamy, LDS Church District President, and Mr. Namal Jayaweera, Assistant Country Director for the Humpty Dumpty Institute in Sri Lanka were present.

On November 25, the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) distributed 1,855 hygiene kits and sanitary kits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at a women's detention camp located at Pamapmadu Vavuniya in Northern Sri Lanka.  These kits will allow close to 2,000 IDPs in the camp to better care for themselves during this transitional period in Sri Lanka.  Many of the recipients were severely injured during the recent conflict and are in need of ongoing assistance.  Also on November 25, 62 school and orphanage kits were distributed to orphans at “Sethsirliya” Home in Vavuniya. The children expressed their appreciation as resources in the school are extremely limited.  These kits will help to provide a level of support while the orphans wait for further national and international assistance.   On the following day, November 26, an additional 2,148 hygiene kits were distributed to camps in Omanthai and Gamini School in Vavuniya. These camps house the surrendered male cadres of the LTTE.  In addition school kits were distributed to 5,000 school children and 960 hygiene kits were given to former male fighters of the LTTE.

Ralph L. Cwerman, the President of HDI, said "We greatly value our partnership with LDS Charities and the work we have been able to accomplish together in Sri Lanka.  LDS Charities' contribution to HDI's humanitarian work greatly impacts the lives of those caught in the recent conflict and our ongoing partnership provides unmatched assistance to those in need".

HDI is a US-based Institute that forges innovative public-private partnerships to find creative solutions to difficult humanitarian problems through a series of unique programs. Currently, HDI's mandate is to improve U.S.-U.N. relations, to remove landmines around the world, and to help alleviate domestic and international hunger. To learn more about HDI's international programs, please visit www.thehdi.org.