ICRC announces decision to close office in Mannar in November

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced today (9) that it will close its office in the Mannar District at the end of November 2010.

The ICRC in a press statement has informed the media that it will continue to support communities that are being resettled in the area from its office in Vavuniya.
The ICRC Vavuniya office is also to assist beneficiaries of the organization's Family Visits Assistance (FVA) programme.
"Recognizing the lasting impact of armed conflict on people's lives and the importance of support in the early stages of recovery and reconstruction, the ICRC continues to respond to humanitarian needs in the area," Head of ICRC in Sri Lanka, Paul Castella has said.
The ICRC had commenced its activities in Sri Lanka in 1989 and carried out a vital role inside the country as a neutral third party during the war between Sri Lanka Government and LTTE.
Especially during the later stages of the conflict the ICRC assisted evacuating thousands of sick and injured civilians from the combat zone to hospitals in the East over the sea route as the land routes were not accessible due to the fighting between government troops and the rebels.