Time for aid community to start pulling together on Sri Lanka

It's a pity the Channel 4 News team that was forced to leave Sri Lanka last week after the government revoked their visas - citing "fabricated stories tarnishing the image of the country" - was not able to get more feedback from humanitarian agencies working on the ground.

The three journalists who secretly filmed inside a camp for civilians who have fled the conflict possibly didn't realise their actions would just make things difficult for us who have to remain and work here. As news broke of their expulsion, the clampdown took place, as expected.

Cameras are now prohibited in the camps and security has been tightened, which means the circle of influence we initially enjoyed has now shrunk and we have to regain that trust and acceptance from the government and the authorities running the camps.
The world has seemed so concerned about what is happening inside the "no fire zone". I am not here to explain or criticise what has happened there, nor who is shelling whom. This is beyond the remit of most humanitarian agencies. But, according to our mandate, what we can and must do is respond to the growing emergency needs of those who have been displaced. Read more ...