Conditions in welfare centres, UN Under-Secy General satisfied

Chaminda PERERA

UN Under Secretary General Vijay Nambiar expressed his fullest satisfaction over the condition of welfare centres and the measures taken by the Government to ensure better welfare facilities to the civilians after a visit to the Manikfarm welfare centres yesterday. According to Resettlement and Relief Services Minister Rishad Badiudeen, the visiting UN Under Secretary General welcomed the Government's program to provide welfare facilities to the displaced civilians.

The Minister said Vijay Nambiar met civilians and witnessed how the Government agencies are working round the clock to provide relief to these civilians.

He said the Ministry set up a new welfare camp namely Zone V to accommodate the civilians who fled the terrorist atrocities last week.

The Government agencies have provided infrastructure, health and sanitation facilities to over 14,000 civilians in the centre.

Over 24,000 civilians were transferred to the Anandakumaraswamy welfare centre where they have access to all facilities, the Minister said.

A total of 34,000 civilians who crossed over to the cleared area are given cooked meal by the Government and arrangements are in place to provide them dry rations after the common kitchens are established by the ministry, he said.

The civilians are allowed to prepare their own meal using the dry rations given by the Government after the construction of common kitchens are completed. Kitchen utensils will also be given by the Government, he said.

The Minister said he extensively discussed the welfare projects being carried out by the INGOs, NGOs and UN agencies at a meeting attended by Vavuniya Government Agent. G. A. Charles.