Red Cross launches programme to redress damage from X-Press Pearl cargo ship fire

Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) launched a programme to address the aftermath of  X-Press Pearl disaster with the financial support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

In coordination with MEPA and the Sri Lanka Ministry of Fisheries, and as an initial step, the SLRCS is targeting  a programme that will uplift the economic predicaments faced by the affected fisher communities in the most hard-hit districts of Colombo and Gampaha, and also help authorities to eliminate the toxic debris that has accumulated on the country’s shoresm, a statement from the humanitarian agency in Colombo said.

As a primary component of the programme, 3000 small-scale fishing families in the two aforementioned districts of Gampaha and Colombo will receive cash grants through the programme in order to counteract the toll taken on their livelihoods in the last month.

“Additionally, and in consideration of the future impacts of the disaster on fisher communities’ means of income – and undoubtedly the marine environment itself – specifically-tailored beach cleanup campaigns will be organized and carried out by the SLRCS with immediate effect to augment the efforts of MEPA and the military to resolve the crisis,” SLRCS said.

This aspect of the programme incorporates a cash-for-work component, in that the aforesaid cleanup activities will be implemented by selected members of the affected fisher communities themselves in exchange for financial compensation.

The cargo ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ (with little under 1500 containers onboard carrying chemically hazardous cargo) caught fire about 16 kilometers off the coast of the Colombo commercial shipping harbor on May 20.

The ship continued to be engulfed in flames till the end of the month, but has since been contained owing to the efforts of the country’s tri-forces and the Indian Navy.  Regardless, the fire has already succeeded in spilling approximately 3 billion tiny plastic pellets, damaged containers, chemicals and other noxious substances into the sea – adversely affecting coastlines across the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam and Kalutara, while plastic pellets were found in abundance on the beaches of Galle, Matara and Mannar districts as well.