Visiting UN humanitarian official commends government for progress in Sri Lanka's North and East

A top ranking United Nations official who visited Sri Lanka's conflict and flood affected areas in the Northern and Eastern provinces today to assess the humanitarian needs of the displaced people commended the government for making a significant progress in meeting the needs of the displaced.


United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Catherine Bragg who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (19) to get a first hand look on the devastation caused by the rains and floods visited Mullaitivu and Batticaloa districts.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Neil Buhne and Sri Lankan government officials accompanied Ms. Bragg to the affected areas to meet the aid organizations and the affected people.

Ms Bragg launched the Flash Appeal for the floods seeking for US$ 51 million to meet the urgent needs of one million people for the next six months.

During her stop in Mullaitivu, the UN official, observing the development of infrastructure taking place in the area has commended the government for making significant progress in meeting the needs of the IDPs and promoting return processes.

"However, those who have been released now face a daily struggle to rebuild their lives, and have to start from scratch," Ms. Bragg has noted and added that the returnees are going to need "schools and teachers, hospitals and doctors, and basic social services."

According to the UN country team, during the visit to Mullaitivu, aid organizations have expressed their wish to provide help the returnees to meet their needs upon their return.

"We are here to support them. It is good that the Government has invested significantly in infrastructure, but this should be combined with investing in the people as well." Ms Bragg has said.

Ms Bragg has also visited the Batticaloa district in the Eastern province where the recent floods have caused the worst destruction of affecting over half a million of people and destroying houses, roads, and paddy lands.

Local government and aid organizations have shown the visiting official the extent of the damage, especially to over 400,000 acres of paddy lands.

During the launch of the Flash Appeal, Ms Bragg has announced that a US$ 6-million grant from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has been allocated to jumpstart key life-saving projects listed in it.