European Commission gives Five million euros to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced Sri Lankans

The European Commission has allocated a further €5 million in humanitarian aid to help conflict-affected people in Sri Lanka with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to the Sri Lankans displaced in violence.
The new funding allocation is a response to the appeal for aid by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This sum €5 million was allocated in addition to the €7 million decision adopted in July 2006. This new allocation will cover basic needs such as shelter, water, sanitation and healthcare with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children. Funds are channeled through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

These humanitarian aids are expected to reach both internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka and those who have fled to South India's Tamil Nadu. It is reported that Sri Lanka has over 200,000 IDPs and over 15,000 have fled to India within this year as violence escalated.

Announcing the allocation the Commissioner Louis Michel said that EC is extremely worried about the upsurge in violence in Sri Lanka since the end of 2005 that has a direct impact on the lives of thousands of civilians.

Mr. Louis Michel said: "The Commission is extremely worried about the upsurge in violence in Sri Lanka since the end of 2005 that has a direct impact on the lives of thousands of civilians. We are committed to easing the suffering of the victims, but it is becoming ever more difficult to get help to the most vulnerable. There also have been attacks and murders perpetrated against relief staff. It is unacceptable. The authors of such appalling acts should be brought to justice. It is essential that the fighting forces comply with international humanitarian law and respect the dignity and human rights of civilians as well as guaranteeing the security of relief workers and preserving the 'humanitarian space' so that aid agencies can do their work."

A delegation of the European Commission is visiting Sri Lanka now. The Head of the delegation Julian Wilson said that this grant has been provided in addition to the Euro seven million provided in last July. The grant is to be utilized to provide housing, medical facilities, drinking water and sanitary facilities etc. to the displaced.

European Commission has provided 64 million euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka since 2004.

Conflict victims will be supported through a wide range of humanitarian interventions - shelter, food, food security, water/sanitation, basic items (kitchen and hygiene kits), healthcare, education, and livelihood support and protection activities. In the Tamil Nadu refugee camps special attention will go to vulnerable people, notably women and children, and to providing better water and sanitation.