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Sri Lanka: European Commission provides €5 million for conflict victims and refugees in Tamil Nadu

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The European Commission has allocated a further €5 million in humanitarian aid to help conflict-affected people in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, India, in addition to the €7 milliondecision adopted in July 2006. This new allocation will cover basic needs such as shelter, water, sanitation and healthcare with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children. Funds are channelled through the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel

Louis Michel said: "The Commission is extremely worried about the upsurge in violence in Sri Lanka since the end of 2005 that has a direct impact on the lives of thousands of civilians. We are committed to easing the suffering of the victims, but it is becoming ever more difficult to get help to the most vulnerable. There also have been attacks and murders perpetrated against relief staff. It is unacceptable. The authors of such appalling acts should be brought to justice. It is essential that the fighting forces comply with international humanitarian law and respect the dignity and human rights of civilians as well as guaranteeing the security of relief workers and preserving the 'humanitarian space' so that aid agencies can do their work."

Since 1983, the conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka government in the North and East of the country has claimed more than 65,000 lives. Up to 800,000 people have been internally displaced during this time. Today, there are around 80,000 Sri Lankan refugees in neighbouring India, with a significant increase recorded since January 2006. The new funding allocation is a response to the appeal for aid by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and will benefit over 250,000 displaced and vulnerable persons.

Conflict victims will be supported through a wide range of humanitarian interventions - shelter, food, food security, water/sanitation, basic items (kitchen and hygiene kits), healthcare, education, livelihood support and protection activities. In the Tamil Nadu refugee camps special attention will go to vulnerable people, notably women and children, and to providing better water and sanitation.

Projects will be implemented by the Commission's humanitarian partners already working in the field - NGOs, UN agencies and the ICRC.

Since 2004, the Commission has given a total of €64 million in aid for victims of humanitarian crises in Sri Lanka. €42 million was provided following the tsunami in December 2004 and €22 million has been directed towards conflict victims.

For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/field/sri_lanka/index_en.htm

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