The death rate speculated by some section of the media with regard to some relief villages and camps accommodating the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka were “exaggerated”, said the new Representative for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Sri Lanka, Dr. Firdosi Rustom Mehta.

He pointed out that the actual figures were well within the accepted standards and informed that the WHO had also issued a clarification in this connection. He also stated that he had visited the camps over five times during the past three months and that during each visit, had found the situation to be “rapidly improving”.

Commending the Government of Sri Lanka in this connection, he said that the Government should be given "full credit" for the efforts taken.

Referring to the work done by the WHO in Sri Lanka, Dr. Mehta outlined the areas of concern for the WHO such as maternal and childcare, the outbreak of dengue, H1N1 and the situation of the IDPs in the camps.