U.S. Ambassador Urges Protection and Announces Food Aid for Displaced Persons in the North

Colombo, January 27, 2009: In a ceremony held today in Wellampitiya, U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake handed over US$6.9 million (785 million rupees) in food aid to the World Food Program (WFP) for distribution to internally displaced person in the North. The donation demonstrates the United States’ continued concern for the welfare of Sri Lankans who have been displaced and trapped by the ongoing conflict.

Today’s donation, including 1,344 tons of lentils, 779 tons of vegetable oil, and 4,270 tons of wheat, is the most recent contribution of food relief by the Government of the United States through its development arm, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It comes as part of the $29 million in food assistance that the U.S. provided in 2008 to the people of the North in Fiscal Year 2008. World Food Program and Government officials are working together to move the ongoing food relief donations to warehouses closer to the conflict area so it can continue to be distributed to the men, women, and children affected by the conflict who depend on the assistance.

In his remarks, the Ambassador expressed grave concern for the more than 230,000 internally displaced persons trapped by fighting in the north who currently face great danger as fighting gets closer to the no-fire zone established by the Government. He urged both the LTTE and the Government to take special care now to protect civilians.

“The LTTE must immediately desist from firing heavy weapons from areas within or near civilian concentrations. The Government must also resist the temptation to launch retaliatory shelling into areas populated by civilians,” stated Ambassador Blake. “Both sides must exercise maximum restraint to ensure civilians are not caught in crossfire.”

Ambassador Blake thanked Adnan Khan, Director, World Food Program; the Honorable Risath Bathiyutheen, Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services; and Mr. W. K. K. Kumarasiri, Secretary, Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, for their organizations efforts to reach citizens in need and provide the services they so desperately require.

(US Embassy, Colombo)