Albedo Crew and Families’ Aftercare

MPHRP South Asia organised counselling and reassurance sessions.

Albedo Crew and Families’ Aftercare in Sri Lanka

MPHRP South Asia organised counselling and reassurance sessions for the two Sri Lankan seafarers returned from the captivity of Somali pirates after nearly 4 years. The crew members of MV Albedo attended the counselling with their families at Hotel GSH Colombo on 18 June 2014. Counselling was carried out by Dr K.M.U. Samarasinghe, psychologist.

The crew and families were counselled individually and also in groups. Dr Samarasinghe advised the crew members of good practices to follow in their future life, gave them moral support and said that they will need time to rest and recuperate from the physical and mental hardships suffered by them and also by their families during the long traumatic ordeal of captivity by Somali pirates.

Dr Samarasinghe briefed the families that it is expected that they will observe changes in the behaviour of their loved ones who have returned, but with due care and motivation, they will return back to normal life once again.

Dr Samarasinghe gave very useful advice to the spouses to make slow adjustments and to remind the partner that he is still needed in the family. He advised both the crew to stay in touch with each other and to refrain from repeating their ordeal if they are not comfortable to do so.

Chirag Bahri, MPHRP Regional Director- South Asia, briefed the crew and families and reassured them of the support offered by MPHRP and its partners. He also handed over a monthly allowance to financially support both families on behalf of MPHRF (Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Fund). The families have been supported by MPHRF with a small monetary allowance every month, which provides for the education of children, medical and counselling support in the absence of the crew.

Both crew and their families thanked MPHRP for the generous support and the humanitarian assistance provided to them during and after the ordeal. One family said “We lost all hope that my husband will return back. MPHRP gave them a new life. They are like GOD to us.”

Source: mphrp.org