A statement issued by the UN country team in Sri Lanka said a one-year program, called the "Joint Plan for Assistance for Northern Province in 2011" (JPA) that identifies priority activities and strategies to be undertaken during the year, was put forward today.
"A plan has been developed in support to the overall national programme to help the people of the Northern Province to recover, rebuild, and return to a normal life in the coming years," the statement said.
Speaking at the occasion, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Neil Buhne has noted that the process of recovery in the North, from humanitarian relief to economic development, would take several years.
"The ultimate aim is to ensure the long-term sustainable development of the Northern Province within the shortest timeframe possible," Buhne has said, emphasizing the importance of strengthened partnership and planning to realize the goal.
The Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa has said that the government is well aware of what needs to be done to support re-establishment of lives and livelihoods.
The Minister has invited the donor community to invest in the reconstruction and development of the Northern Province.
"Through partnership with the UN and NGOs more investments will be made to move towards full development of the region to reach similar standards found in the rest of the country," the statement quoted the Minister.
The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg who visited the island last month to assess the needs of the displaced people commended the government's progress in the region but said more work need to be done to address the humanitarian needs of the people.
During her visit Ms. Bragg launched a flash appeal to raise US$ 51 million in emergency funds for the people affected by the recent floods in the East and North and urged the donors to give generously and to keep in mind both the medium- and long-term assistance that was needed to restore lives and livelihoods.
The program launched today provides a framework for meeting immediate needs while linking interventions to early- and medium-term recovery, including building shelters and homes and supporting agriculture, food security and livelihood recovery.
The JPA, which outlines the considerable accomplishments made by the Government and its partners in the post-war years for the displaced families to return to their homes and begin to recover and rebuild their lives, includes a wide-range of early recovery efforts.
Among the recovery efforts proposed are plans to improve health and nutrition and clear mines to support continued resettlement, education initiatives, water and sanitation strategies, and strengthening of civil administration and national protection mechanisms.
The Government through the Presidential Task Force, involving technical Ministries, the Northern Provincial Government, Government Agents, the United Nations and its agencies, has developed the program.
The recovery plan has been developed through a consultative process led by national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Organizations (IOs).
The UN team says regular monitoring will be carried out on the JPA, which aims to ensure that assistance targets the people and the institutions that most need it, that interventions continue to be consistent with the Government's plans, and with internationally established principles for such assistance.
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