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Plea for continued donor support :
UN hails Govt’s progress in resettling 440,000 people
A senior United Nations relief official yesterday praised the
Government’s progress in resettling over 440,000 people since the end of
terrorism three years ago, and called for continued donor support for
the country, the UN News Centre reported.
 “The scale of what Sri Lanka has accomplished over the past three
years – the pace of resettlement and the development of infrastructure –
is remarkable and very clearly visible,” said the Director of Operations
of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
John Ging, who had concluded a three-day visit to the country.
The Security Forces achieved victory over the LTTE in 2009 ending
terrorism that had raged for nearly three decades killing thousands of
people. A large number of Sri Lankans was displaced, especially in the
north in 2009.
Ging pledged support for continued partnership with the authorities
to jointly agree on and meet remaining humanitarian needs.
He also welcomed the Government’s commitment to address peace and
development issues through the country’s Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission.
During his visit, Ging met various Government officials and travelled
to the Jaffna district, where he met some displaced people.
He also visited Tellipalai town, where he spoke to people returning
to their homes after 20 years and are now rebuilding their lives. OCHA
reported that people sought the basic needs such as toilets, clean
water, shelter, electricity and livelihood support.
Despite these urgent needs, OCHA said that humanitarian partners are
downsizing due to funding shortfalls.
Only 18.4 percent of the funds needed under the Joint Plan of
Assistance to the Northern Province for this year have been received
to-date.
“This is a critical moment for Sri Lanka,” Ging said. “I appeal to
all donors, including those who have already been so generous with their
bilateral and development aid, to increase their humanitarian
contributions.”
“We need their help to restore the dignity and hope for those who
have endured and lost so much and now urgently need support in
rebuilding their lives.”
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