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25197
Sat, 10/18/2008 - 09:56
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UN to seek security assurances before sending relief to Lanka
T V Sriram
Colombo, Oct 17 (PTI) A major U.N. food convoy carrying essentials for the internally displaced people in Sri Lanka's restive north was forced to turn back due to fresh fighting between security forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) in the region, prompting the world body to halt the supplies till the warring sides assure it of security.
The U.N. will seek renewed security assurances from both
sides before attempting to make the route again, the world
body's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka,
Neil Buhne, said here after the convoy was forced to return.
The convoy – the second to be dispatched in as many weeks
– had been headed for the northern Wanni in a bid to reach an
estimated 230,000 civilians displaced behind the lines of
confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
The World Food Programme (W.F.P.) convoy was carrying 750
tonnes of food in 50 trucks when it left the town of Vavuniya
Thursday afternoon and was expected to reach its destination
by Thursday evening.
Intensified clashes between the military and L.T.T.E. in
recent weeks have displaced tens of thousands of people and
sparked warnings from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other
U.N. officials about the humanitarian impact on civilians.
According to the officials, the U.N. convoy loaded with
essential food items had crossed the Omanthai entry/exit point
but had come under the L.T.T.E. artillery fire and a claymore
mine attack and had to turn back to Vavuniya.
Officials said the Tiger cadres fired "indiscriminately"
at the food convoy meant for the Internally Displaced Persons
(I.D.P.s).
The lorries were carrying a large stock of medicine and
essential items such as rice and sugar, officials said adding
18 other food lorries will be sent to civilians living in
I.D.P. centres in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.
Five of the 18 vehicles will be distributing essential
food items coordinating with relevant authorities in
Mullaitivu district while the remainder will be distributed in
Kilinochchi district.
Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Essential Services
S.B. Divaratne submitted a report to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa on the ongoing operations to supply foods to Wanni.
The report states that the government has been able to
continue provision of sufficient food stocks to civilians in
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts effectively "despite non-
cooperation of some international aid agencies," state-run
Daily News said.
"Further, the report recalls that it is the government of
Sri Lanka that has been providing food to terror-stricken
areas during last 20 years and ... this has been carried out
with the utmost commitment to protect its own citizens but not
to satisfy any international agency," it said. PTI TVS
Colombo, Oct 17 (PTI) A major U.N. food convoy carrying essentials for the internally displaced people in Sri Lanka's restive north was forced to turn back due to fresh fighting between security forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) in the region, prompting the world body to halt the supplies till the warring sides assure it of security.
The U.N. will seek renewed security assurances from both
sides before attempting to make the route again, the world
body's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka,
Neil Buhne, said here after the convoy was forced to return.
The convoy – the second to be dispatched in as many weeks
– had been headed for the northern Wanni in a bid to reach an
estimated 230,000 civilians displaced behind the lines of
confrontation in the districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
The World Food Programme (W.F.P.) convoy was carrying 750
tonnes of food in 50 trucks when it left the town of Vavuniya
Thursday afternoon and was expected to reach its destination
by Thursday evening.
Intensified clashes between the military and L.T.T.E. in
recent weeks have displaced tens of thousands of people and
sparked warnings from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other
U.N. officials about the humanitarian impact on civilians.
According to the officials, the U.N. convoy loaded with
essential food items had crossed the Omanthai entry/exit point
but had come under the L.T.T.E. artillery fire and a claymore
mine attack and had to turn back to Vavuniya.
Officials said the Tiger cadres fired "indiscriminately"
at the food convoy meant for the Internally Displaced Persons
(I.D.P.s).
The lorries were carrying a large stock of medicine and
essential items such as rice and sugar, officials said adding
18 other food lorries will be sent to civilians living in
I.D.P. centres in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.
Five of the 18 vehicles will be distributing essential
food items coordinating with relevant authorities in
Mullaitivu district while the remainder will be distributed in
Kilinochchi district.
Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Essential Services
S.B. Divaratne submitted a report to President Mahinda
Rajapaksa on the ongoing operations to supply foods to Wanni.
The report states that the government has been able to
continue provision of sufficient food stocks to civilians in
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts effectively "despite non-
cooperation of some international aid agencies," state-run
Daily News said.
"Further, the report recalls that it is the government of
Sri Lanka that has been providing food to terror-stricken
areas during last 20 years and ... this has been carried out
with the utmost commitment to protect its own citizens but not
to satisfy any international agency," it said. PTI TVS
