Sri Lanka: humanitarian convoy reaches Vakarai
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Colombo / Geneva
(ICRC) – A convoy of 35 trucks, organised by the Department of Essential Services in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations reached the town
of Vakarai, Batticaloa district of eastern Sri Lanka, in the early afternoon local time today
The convoy brought 250 MT of food, water and other items such as tents, hygienic kits and medicines for distribution to more than 30,000 displaced people fleeing the fighting in the north of the district.
"The preparation of the convoy encountered many difficulties" stated Toon Vandenhove, head of ICRC delegation in Colombo, "but thanks an intensive preparation and the security guarantees provided by both parties to the conflict and the active involvement from many persons, it was finally possible to reach the thousands of displaced people who primarily are in urgent need of food".
This relief operation was supported by the volunteers of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and a team of the Italian Red Cross Society, as well as the other humanitarian organisations currently operating on the ground, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR and World Vision.
The ICRC also provided medical supplies and diesel for the generator of the Vakarai hospital, while the Italian Red Cross assisted the displaced people spread in several sites with a mobile clinic.
The ICRC has been active in Sri Lanka since 1989, in particular in the north-east of the country, acting as a neutral intermediary, protecting and assisting the civilian population, visiting detainees, restoring contact between members of separated families and promoting international humanitarian law.
For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel : +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel : +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
See also ICRC media contacts
This article on www.icrc.org
The convoy brought 250 MT of food, water and other items such as tents, hygienic kits and medicines for distribution to more than 30,000 displaced people fleeing the fighting in the north of the district.
"The preparation of the convoy encountered many difficulties" stated Toon Vandenhove, head of ICRC delegation in Colombo, "but thanks an intensive preparation and the security guarantees provided by both parties to the conflict and the active involvement from many persons, it was finally possible to reach the thousands of displaced people who primarily are in urgent need of food".
This relief operation was supported by the volunteers of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and a team of the Italian Red Cross Society, as well as the other humanitarian organisations currently operating on the ground, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR and World Vision.
The ICRC also provided medical supplies and diesel for the generator of the Vakarai hospital, while the Italian Red Cross assisted the displaced people spread in several sites with a mobile clinic.
The ICRC has been active in Sri Lanka since 1989, in particular in the north-east of the country, acting as a neutral intermediary, protecting and assisting the civilian population, visiting detainees, restoring contact between members of separated families and promoting international humanitarian law.
For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel : +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel : +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
See also ICRC media contacts
This article on www.icrc.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
