Sri Lanka: Vanni Emergency OCHA Situation Report No. 3

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Sri Lanka on 29 April 2009 and visited the Kataragama model village and Cheddikulam hospital in Vavuniya. They called on the Government to end its military operations and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the conflict zone.

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs committed US$ 3.15 million in humanitarian assistance for Sri Lanka on 29 April 2009. In a press release, he restated his view that the safety and protection of civilians must be the absolute priority for all sides engaged in fighting in northern Sri Lanka. Australia also urged that a UN humanitarian team in Sri Lanka be given access to the conflict zone. Read more ...

World aid pours in

In response to the appeal for international aid to help the sudden influx of IDPs since last Monday, much assistance is now expected to pour in with France taking a lead role from among the international community with its Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner himself arriving next week with crucial assistance.

Early this week Kouchner caused consternation here with his remarks that the fleeing IDPs were drowning in the sea and it required a boat rescue mission. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who spoke with his French counterpart over the matter on Friday told The Nation yesterday, that he had cordial exchange with Kouchner and explained all such misconceptions.

According to Bogollagama as Sri Lanka had nothing to hide, he had invited Kouchner and UN Humanitarian Chief, John Holmes to visit the more than 100,000 IDPs who fled from Tiger captivity in the No Fire Zone early this week and are now in IDP camps in the north. Read more ...