Amjad Mohamed-Saleem
Amjad Mohamed-Saleem is a freelance writer and consultant on development issues. He was formerly the country director of Muslim Aid in Sri Lanka where he was involved in post tsunami and conflict reconstruction work from 2005 - 2009.
He also ran the Bangladesh operations from 2006 - 2008. Amjad considers himself a global citizen, having Sri Lankan parents, being born in Nigeria, educated in Ethiopia and residing in the UK.
Working in Sri Lanka's camps calls for creative thinking
These days, it's a question of survival of the most creative. In response to the challenges we face working in camps for internal refugees in Sri Lanka's north, we have to be innovative to overcome operational obstacles. And there are many! Take, for example, the recent news of the end of the war and the death of the Tamil Tiger rebel leader, which brought euphoria to the streets of Colombo and some other parts of the country. For us, it meant a total shutdown of access to the camps. Initially, the authorities slapped a ban on vehicles entering the camps, largely it seems as a security measure. ...
Sri Lanka: On the threshold of a new beginning?
If you are in the business of selling fire-crackers or the Sri Lankan national flag, you've doubtless been doing a roaring trade over the last few days. Since the announcement of the Tamil Tigers' defeat, flags have appeared all over the capital, flying from buildings, lamp posts and cars. News of the death of the Tigers' leader has further boosted the mood in the city and there has been no letting up of the fire-crackers. But some people have been privately voicing concerns as to whether this public show of celebration could further inflame the situation and hurt an already "wounded" Tamil population. ...
Time for aid community to start pulling together on Sri Lanka
It's a pity the Channel 4 News team that was forced to leave Sri Lanka last week after the government revoked their visas - citing "fabricated stories tarnishing the image of the country" - was not able to get more feedback from humanitarian agencies working on the ground. The three journalists who secretly filmed inside a camp for civilians who have fled the conflict possibly didn't realise their actions would just make things difficult for us who have to remain and work here. As news broke of their expulsion, the clampdown took place, as expected. ...
After deprivation, Sri Lanka's displaced nurture hopes of going home
In the last week, some sort of order seems to be coming to the camps here in northeastern Sri Lanka. The task is momentous as the numbers of displaced people are continuously increasing. The camps are expanding, but despite all the preparations, the sheer volume means the early weeks have been chaotic. It seems those who've been displaced to Trincomalee will also end up coming to Vavuniya. That could be a good move in terms of facilitating the aid process and easing logistical difficulties. ...
Sri Lanka camps face food, water and medicine shortages
Since April 20, when army troops broke through an earthen barrier the Tamil Tiger rebels had erected around Sri Lanka's conflict zone, unleashing an exodus of tens of thousands of civilians, chaos has ensued. As the dust settles, and restrictions are eased on access to some areas in the north where those who escaped have gathered, aid agencies face a daunting task. With the estimated number of displaced people now at 190,000, the logistics of handling so many people threaten to overwhelm the authorities. ...
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