Bonn. Welthungerhilfe welcomes the cessation of the fighting which has continued for years between the Tamil rebel group, the LTTE, and the government in Sri Lanka. 'We are pleased that the people are no longer threatened by the terrible fighting' says Dirk Altweck, Welthungerhilfe's Regional Director for Sri Lanka in Colombo. However, we are continuing to work around the clock in order to provide the refugees in the north of the country above all with food.'
In Omathai, a small town in the Vavuniya district which is not far from the refugee camps, Welthungerhilfe is currently providing food for up to 3,500 exhausted people a day in conjunction with its partner organisation, Sewalanka. 'Most refugees are totally exhausted and emaciated when they reach us. Many die on the way to the rescue stations' Altweck says.
Welthungerhilfe is also operating in the refugee camps. In the last few weeks more than 3,000 families have been provided with sanitary articles such as soap, toothpaste and detergent in addition to food. In addition, blankets, matting, mosquito nets, hand towels, clothing and kitchenware have been distributed. But the situation in the camps is being severely exacerbated by the influx of people. We also don't know how many more people will reach the camps from the areas which were previously fought over.
'The government now has a duty to work out a strategy for the return of the refugees to their villages' says Altweck. According to official estimates there are about 250,000 people who need to be resettled in their home area. Welthungerhilfe will assist the displaced persons by building temporary accommodation and by distributing seed and tools to the families.
Welthungerhilfe has been operating in Sri Lanka since 1972. Over this period the aid agency has carried out projects to a value of 55 million euros. 11 projects are running this year, with a total value of over 11 million euros. These primarily involve providing supplies to refugees. Welthungerhilfe works in conjunction with a partner organisation in Sri Lanka, and employs 7 seconded employees.
Further information is available at www.welthungerhilfe.de
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
A doctor checks an internally displaced girl fleeing a military offensive in the Swat valley, at a UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) camp in the outskirts of Peshawar May ...
