International   

European Union grant for the displaced persons in Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: As the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) due to the conflict in Sri Lanka rose to three lakhs, European Commission on Tuesday announced Euros 7 million in aid for those rendered homeless.

Head of the European Commission delegation Julian Wilson told a news conference here that the funding aimed to provide shelter and food security for people returning home or relocating to new land, improve the conditions of the displaced people in "welfare centres" and meet the emergency needs of those newly displaced.

Expressing serious concern over the rapidly expanding numbers of the displaced, Mr. Wilson said the number has gone up to 50,000 since January.

To a question on the E.U. ban on LTTE and its possible impact on the humanitarian programmes funded by the European Commission, Mr. Wilson said, "There is no direct threat to us. The aid related activity is impartial."

Mr. Wilson said he would not like to be dragged into the row over the E.U. decision as negotiations were in progress. The LTTE has set September 1 as deadline for replacement of E.U. members from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

Mr. Wilson said the funding would be routed through the established international and local non-governmental organisations engaged in relief and rehabilitation work.

According to the mission, since the commencement of the hostilities in 1983 in the north and the east, 65,000 lives have been lost and up to 800,000 persons have been internally displaced.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

F-16s a legitimate requirement: Islamabad
Soldier's life may not be in danger
European Union grant for the displaced persons in Sri Lanka
Putin warns of clash of civilisations
Nepal's plea to U.N.
Novel study on food
Elected Lord Speaker

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu