World Humanitarian Day:

Safe lives free from need

Speech made by UN-Sri Lanka Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne at the ceremony held to commemorate The World Humanitarian Day yesterday morning

It is my pleasure to welcome you here this morning to mark World Humanitarian Day.

We are honoured to have with us today Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and several of our key government counterparts. Our partnership and collaboration with you is key to supporting the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts to help the most vulnerable people in this country.

Why are we marking this day?

First for a sad reason. Seven years ago terrorists bombed the United Nation Headquarters in Baghdad, killing 21 of the best and brightest humanitarian workers from Iraq and from around the world, including Sergio de Mello, UN Undersecretary General and a man who had led some of the most complex humanitarian operations in the world.

Many others were injured, including a number of colleagues, who work within our team here.

Secondly for more positive reasons. Over the last year and half, through a broad partnership in support of Sri Lankan national efforts, hundreds of thousands of people who had to flee from fighting to safety, were given humanitarian assistance.

Security Forces

Difficult, hard and urgent work was done by Sri Lankans - whether from government, non-governmental organizations and the Security Forces and by people from countries all over the world, working for organizations in the UN country team and international NGOs - saved lives, and helped people get back their strength to rebuild their normal lives. Funding for this work came from the Government, people throughout Sri Lanka, from governments and people throughout the whole world.

Difficult times

There were many challenges, many difficult times, times when people become frustrated. Ultimately through hard work, through good cooperation, through applying humanitarian principles and through the efforts of the effected people themselves - the corner was turned and people regained the capacity to start returning and rebuilding their lives. They and everyone else in country have the chance to use the opportunities from peace.

We look forward to supporting you now to rebuild and recover, and lay a firm foundation for safe lives free from need for all Sri Lankans. Much has been done by a range of humanitarian workers in different places and working for many organizations and parts of the government.

However, as all of us know, there is much more to be done - recently returned people are still vulnerable, especially until livelihoods are restored, and people are still displaced both in Menik Farm, and in other places as long-term IDPs. But the finish line is in sight - and we hope that as the issues these people face become ones of development, future humanitarian work will only be needed for people affected by natural disasters. In doing humanitarian work it is important to improve awareness of and respect for the principles according to which this work is conducted; humanity, impartialty, neutrality and independence.

It is important to remember that this work is universal and the most humanitarian workers are from the countries which are affected - not from the North, South, West or East part of the world, but from the country itself.

Humanitarian work must meet its main objectives - saving lives, but it should also be done in ways that build national capacity, while drawing on the best international experience.

This day is being commemorated through the world - we are humanitarian workers in many places.

This is true especially in Pakistan right now and where many are working to help the hundreds of thousands of people hit by unprecedented floods in Pakistan. It is also true in Haiti where humanitarian workers are supporting Haitians in trying to rebuild after a devastating earthquake earlier this year.

Playing a role

In both places Sri Lanka is playing a role - through contributing supplies to the Pakistan relief work and through hundreds of Sri Lankans who serve as part of the UN mission in Haiti. Here in Sri Lanka, we look forward to supporting you now to rebuild and recover and lay a firm foundation for safe lives free from need for all Sri Lankans.

[ What was done]

* In the first half of this year, food was provided to a half million people.

* 130,000 students in the North received mid-morning school meals.

* 40,000 families who returned received a shelter grant of Rupees 25,000 per family.

* 92,800 families received non-food item packages.

* During 2009 and this year, almost 300,000 displaced people gained access to safe water, proper sanitation and more, resulting in reduced outbreaks of waterborne and sanitation related diseases.

* From January to May humanitarian operators from both international NGOs and the Government cleared 123sqkm of land.

* In return areas, 2,915 dug wells were cleaned and 515 upgraded.

* Cash for work schemes have created 2,751 work days.

* 19,000 household were provided with agriculture, fishery and livestock supplies.

* 75,000 acres of abandoned paddy land and 17,000 acres of abandoned land are being targeted for cultivation.

* Disease outbreaks in Menik farm were controlled

* From figures of up to 30 percent the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition in children under-five in IDP sites was reduced to two percent and remained stable.

* 57,673 students are registered in newly opened schools.

* 3,219 houses for returning families were constructed/repaired.