The government yesterday informed the
Consultative Committee on Humanitarian
Assistance (CCHA) that all UN agencies and
the INGOs working in the Wanni should
relocate their humanitarian and development
operations to Vavuniya with immediate effect
for the safety of personnel and property.
This decision was communicated to the CCHA
during a high level meeting between the
Minister of Disaster Management and Human
Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe and the CCHA.
At this meeting Minister Samarasinghe stated
that as the UN and INGOs are working in the
Wanni at the government's invitation, the
government has an obligation to ensure the
safety and security of all those working
there.
"Expressing his appreciation to the agencies
for contributing and complementing the
government in providing assistance to
displaced persons in the Wanni, the Minister
requested them to continue with their good
work by supporting the government in the
provision of humanitarian assistance by
relocating their operations to the
humanitarian hub established by the
government in Vavinuya," the Ministry of
Disaster Management and Human Rights said in
a statement issued today.
Minister announced to the international
partners that the government will ensure
that the IDPs in Kilinochchi will continue
to be looked after by the government through
the Government Agents as was done in Vaharai.
The government is fully committed to further
strengthening the Government Agents of
Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar
districts in order that they can carry out
their responsibilities in providing
humanitarian assistance to the people in
Wanni, the Ministry further said.
Here is the text of the statement
issued by the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Human Rights:
UN, INGOs to relocate humanitarian
operations to Vavuniya
At Monday’s [08 September 2008] high level
policy meeting of the Consultative
Committee on Humanitarian Assistance [CCHA],
Minister of Disaster Management and Human
Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, Chair of the
CCHA, informed the CCHA that the Secretary/Defence
had communicated a decision taken by the
Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that all UN
agencies and INGOs working in the Wanni
should relocate their humanitarian and
development operations to Vavuniya with
immediate effect for the safety of personnel
and property.
This decision was communicated at a
discussion Minister Samarasinghe held prior
to the CCHA with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, M.P.
Senior Advisor to the President, Secretary
to the Ministry of Defence Mr. Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa, Additional Secretary Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, the
UN Resident Coordinator, Heads of Agencies
of WFP, UNICEF, the Senior Advisor to the UN
on Safety and Security (UNDSS) and
representatives of UNHCR and the ICRC.
Minister Samarasinghe stated that, as the UN
and INGOs are working in the Wanni at the
GoSL’s invitation, the Government has an
obligation to ensure the safety and security
of all those working there. Expressing his
appreciation to the agencies for
contributing and complementing the GoSL in
providing assistance to displaced persons in
the Wanni, the Minister requested them to
continue with their good work by supporting
the GoSL in the provision of humanitarian
assistance by relocating their operations to
the humanitarian hub established by the
Government in Vavuniya.Minister
Samarasinghe announced to the international
partners that the Government will ensure
that the IDPs in Kilinochchi will continue
to be looked after by the Government through
the District Secretaries (Government Agents)
as was done in Vaharai. The GoSL is fully
committed to further strengthening the
Government Agents of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu,
Vavuniya and Mannar Districts in order that
they can carry out their responsibilities in
providing humanitarian assistance to the
people in the Wanni. The CCHA also appointed
a committee to be chaired by Hon. Basil
Rajapaksa, M.P. to discuss operational
issues with the UN and INGOs.
Background
The CCHA, chaired by Hon. Mahinda
Samarasinghe, Minister for Disaster
Management and Human Rights, is a high-level
committee appointed to deal with important
policy issues concerning humanitarian
assistance. The CCHA meets monthly and is
attended by Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaska,
Secretary/Ministry of Defence; Mr Basil
Rajapaksa, Advisor to the President,
Secretaries of the ministries of: Foreign
Affairs, Nation Building and Estate
Infrastructure Development, Resettlement and
Disaster Relief Services, Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources, Health; the Commissioner
General of Essential Services (CGES);
Secretary General of the Secretariat for
Coordinating the Peace Process; Chairman of
the Co-chairs and Ambassador to the United
States of America – His Excellency Robert O.
Blake; Representative of the Presidency of
the European Union – Ambassador to France –
His Excellency Michel Lummaux; Ambassador of
Japan – H.E. Kiyoshi Araki; Head of
Delegation of the European Union, Mr Neil
Buhne the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator
of the UN; heads of ICRC, UNHCR, UNOCHA;
ECHO and the Consortium of Humanitarian
Agencies (CHA).
The co-chairs of sub-committees developed
under the CCHA: Resettlement and
Welfare, Logistics and Essential Services,
Livelihoods, Health, and Education,
represented by high-level Government
officials and UN heads of agencies – UNHCR,
WFP, ILO, UNICEF, and WHO, were also present
to update members on progress made to date.
The sub-committees address operational
issues that fall within their respective
areas.
09 September 2008
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