By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune
Washington, 21 May, (Asiantribune.com): As the fighting in north-east Sri Lanka comes to an end, the scale of the challenges facing UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies on the ground become more apparent. "It is now estimated that up to 80,000 people have left the former fighting zone in the last three days, which brings the total who have fled the fighting in the last several months to 280,000."
In a statement issued by the agency today, some 230,000 have been screened and registered and are currently accommodated in 41 sites spread across four districts. Another 50,000 people are undergoing screening and registration at various points and awaiting transportation to the sites.
The Government of Sri Lanka is facing great challenges in providing assistance to the internally displaced population. The latest massive influx of people, who have endured extreme conditions, will put an even greater strain on the IDP sites in Vavuniya, Jaffna and Trincomalee, which are already buckling under the pressure of the existing population, according to the statement.
UNHCR says that it has put up 25,000 emergency shelters and is putting up an additional 10,000 to accommodate the tens of thousands of civilians who have left the combat zone and who are expected to arrive seeking shelter in coming days.
"Our immediate priority is to support the government in decongesting the camps to allow more space to deliver essential services. Efforts are being hampered by the sheer numbers of IDPs, the speed at which they have been arriving and the limited space available to accommodate them," it says.
In addition, restrictions to enter the IDP sites imposed by the authorities over the weekend are hindering UNHCR’s ability to deliver assistance to the IDP sites in the district of Vavuniya, where a majority of the displaced population has been accommodated. The UNHCR says that this act has hindered its ability to deliver assistance to the population in need.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
UNHCR must understand why
UNHCR must understand why various actions are being taken by the govt. If they were not given access for a day or two, there must be a good reason. It is better to discuss this with the point of contact UNHCR has with Govt.
Purely making statements against the govt is not a solution. It is the govt who has to look after its citizens. UNHCR simply provide partial assistance.
Problem with the West and those affiliated organisations is that they want to control the world.
We have not given a part of Sri Lanka to UNHCR. So, either help us or go out. Option is yours. We do not demand help and we do not have a right to demand.
Please understand that UNHCR has no right to demand as well.
Gamarala above has said it
Gamarala above has said it well. Where was UNHCR when LTTE was controlling the Tamils and conscripting children? What have they done to prevent this mayhem? How come they did not know LTTE was amassing weapons to topple a democratically elected government. None of the LTTE leadership was democratically elected to any office. How did all this NGO and INGO operating in LTTE territory never divulge to the world what was going on in the tiger territory. The UN and its agencies have failed us both the Sinhalese and Tamils alike. All the resources LTTE received from NGO, INGO and Diaspora was put to weapons and war materials. Yet, the government was blamed for not supplying the necessities of Tamil people. Government had to supply food, medicine, hospital services, education and all civic duties while LTTE was building this war arsenal to destroy the very government giving human assistance to Tamil people. I cannot belive the war infrastucture, submarines, bunds, trenches, artilary pieces, how LTTE got them. What was the cost for them. How long were they collecting them. What did the peace monitors from Norway did. Now I understand retired servicemen in Norway worked for LTTE giving valuable advise, and technical knowhow. Even one Norvegian Officer had a Company supplying weapons and high tech stuff. The international agencies, even Red Cross has not performed its duties impartially in Sri Lanka, and the government has a right to control their access to these areas for good reason.
Gamarala above has said it
Gamarala above has said it well. Where was UNHCR when LTTE was controlling the Tamils and conscripting children? What have they done to prevent this mayhem? How come they did not know LTTE was amassing weapons to topple a democratically elected government. None of the LTTE leadership was democratically elected to any office. How did all this NGO and INGO operating in LTTE territory never divulge to the world what was going on in the tiger territory. The UN and its agencies have failed us both the Sinhalese and Tamils alike. All the resources LTTE received from NGO, INGO and Diaspora was put to weapons and war materials. Yet, the government was blamed for not supplying the necessities of Tamil people. Government had to supply food, medicine, hospital services, education and all civic duties while LTTE was building this war arsenal to destroy the very government giving human assistance to Tamil people. I cannot belive the war infrastucture, submarines, bunds, trenches, artilary pieces, how LTTE got them. What was the cost for them. How long were they collecting them. What did the peace monitors from Norway did. Now I understand retired servicemen in Norway worked for LTTE giving valuable advise, and technical knowhow. Even one Norvegian Officer had a Company supplying weapons and high tech stuff. The international agencies, even Red Cross has not performed its duties impartially in Sri Lanka, and the government has a right to control their access to these areas for good reason.
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