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Viagra? Bad food? Not your basic necessities

GALLE, Sri Lanka - At the main warehouse in Galle, mountains of cardboard boxes and suitcases ready to burst take up a quarter of the cavernous building.

Some are labeled "Aid for Tsunami Victims," but their contents - winter jackets, expired cans of salmon, stiletto shoes, winter tents, thong panties and Viagra - have left Sri Lankans scratching their heads.

Unprecedented aid poured in after the Dec. 26 tsunami, but some of those wanting to help were perhaps too eager, shipping items of no use in tropical Sri Lanka. Now no one knows what to do with some supplies piled up at government buildings, aid agencies and refugee camps.

"These items just cannot be used here," said storekeeper H. Wickremabandara, noting the average temperature is 82 degrees.

Banners along the devastated coast read "We need your help," with an arrow pointing to a nearby refugee camp. But authorities, aid workers and the displaced have a common plea - no more clothes and bottled water, please.

In the warehouse in Galle, where aid is being distributed to 120,000 people, cardboard boxes are stacked to the ceiling.

Battered suitcases tied with rope or tape contain blankets, winter coats and woolen Mickey Mouse pajamas. One suitcase held only heavily embroidered curtains - complete with steel hooks.

Boxes were torn apart by the weight of bottled water, some collecting dust as more unwanted stocks arrived.

Although bottled water was initially needed urgently, most water sources have been restored.

Officials say incorrect labels mean every box must be inspected. Three boxes labeled sheets actually contained wool blankets. Expired cans of salmon were found among clothes.

In a country where most people wear flip-flops or sandals, some boxes held used shoes, including soccer cleats, boots and silver evening shoes with 4-inch heels.

Most of these unusable supplies are from individual donors, small overseas charities or private companies. Others were from Sri Lankans who seemed to have cleared out their closets.

Keerthi de Soysa held her head as a truck unloaded seven cardboard boxes full of clothing at a makeshift camp in Balapitiya.

"Oh no! More clothes," she said. "We're not beggars. We don't need these hand-me-downs."

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:25:13]