FAO seeks $23m for Northern resettlement

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) yesterday launched an appeal for more than $23 million to assist the return of some 200,000 Sri Lankans affected by the conflict.

The funding for the FAO emergency response plan aims to promote self-sufficiency and prevent further dependency on food aid for some 50,000 rural families returning to the northeast.

Nearly 130,000 people had returned as of December since the Government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May last year.

"We want to assist the Government in reducing the poverty level among conflict affected population by enhancing income-generating and employment opportunities", said FAO's Representative in Sri Lanka Patrick Evans.

As part of ongoing emergency relief efforts, FAO is already providing over 6,600 vulnerable families with rice and other crops.