Lanka, UN in joint bid to raise international aid

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Sri Lanka and the UN is set to make a joint bid to raise international aid, to complement Government relief and rehabilitation efforts for the displaced in the North.

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told the media yesterday that a meeting with the donor community, sponsored by the UN would take place on Monday.

While appreciating the contribution of the international donors in complementing the Government's rehabilitation efforts, the Minister said the efforts at mobilizing the international donors took place subsequent to the visit of UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief Sir. John Holmes.

During the briefing it was also revealed that the UK had promised 7.5 million Sterling Pounds for the cause. The French Government donated mobile emergency hospital following in the footsteps of India, which donated such a unit a few months back.

In addition, the UNHCR provided 25,000 shelter material while several other organizations had provided large stocks of drinking water, the Minister added.

Commenting on the IDP figures, the Minister said the total number had swelled to 188,535 as of Friday, with 167,118 of them housed in Vavuniya, 11,147 in Jaffna, 856 in Mannar and 5,414 in Trincomalee.

This also includes 12,393 people who had been evacuated by the ICRC using sea routes, he added.

"In addition, we are continuing to supply food and medicine to the 'safe zone' with the latest shipment of 30 metric tons being delivered last Monday," Minister Samarasinghe said.

This stock is to an estimated 50,000 people, although according to intelligence reports, the figure is much lower, the Minister added. Replying to a query, the Minister said the Military continued to carry out rescue missions in the 'safe zone' and was not prepared to go into any kind of truce with the Tigers.

He said contrary to some allegations, the Military had not used any heavy weapons in combat operations during the last three months.

The security forces were able to liberate more than 115,000 civilians with minimal casualties in a very short span without any assistance. They would also liberate the rest in the near future, he added.

The Minister said the Military was not in a hurry and was making their thrust forward inch by inch to prevent any civilian casualty.