Flood assistance:
UN lauds Govt
*Priority projects get US $ 6 m
*Resettlement drive praised
Chaminda PERERA
Assistance: UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg
and UN Sri Lanka’s Coordinator Neil Buhne at the press
conference yesterday. Picture by Roshan Pitipane
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The United Nations yesterday lauded the Government’s efforts in
assisting the people who were affected by floods in the Eastern, North
Central and Central Provinces.
UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy
Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg addressing the media at the
conclusion of a three day visit to Sri Lanka, said the Government’s
response towards assisting the people affected by the floods was
extremely good.
Bragg said the UN made a flash appeal for a US $ 61 million emergency
fund for the flood-hit people in the Eastern and Central provinces.
She also announced US $ 6 million contribution from the UN’s Central
Emergency Response Fund for the commencement of priority projects.
The UN Deputy Humanitarian Chief also said that she met several
Senior Ministers and Government officials and discussed humanitarian
needs among other issues.
Bragg said she met Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa,
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Disaster Management Minister
Mahinda Amaraweera and discussed humanitarian assistance programs.
She reiterated that the UN is committed to continuing humanitarian
assistance work as an when it is required. She stressed the importance
of having a more closer partnership between UN agencies and Local
Government bodies.
She said the country needs immediate humanitarian needs.
Bragg commended the progress achieved by the Government in resettling
people who were displaced by terrorist atrocities in the North.
Only 20,000 out of 280,000 people who were driven out of their houses
are in camps.
She said the Government deserves commendation for initiating
infrastructure development projects in the North and reaffirmed the UN’s
continuous assistance to rebuild the North.
Bragg also visited the North, particularly the Mullaitivu district
and met the resettled people.
UN’s Sri Lanka Coordinator Neil Buhne told the media that a number of
Mine Action groups are working in the Northern region and the largest
group is from the Sri Lanka Army.
Demining groups from India and various other countries are working in
the North and focus is on clearing of mines in the settled areas.
He said the mine clearance is a long term process and priority has
been given to clear mines in the areas where people had lived. |