IN response to the Government’s request, the international community yesterday pledged their fullest assistance to the civilians fleeing from the LTTE clutches.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at a meeting with Colombo based diplomatic community yesterday requested their assistance to enhance water, health, sanitary and accommodation facilities to these civilians. India, the United States and Australia are among the first countries which pledged urgent assistance to these civilians.
According to the Foreign Minister an Indian ship carrying over 40,000 emergency family kits and food packs will arrive in Sri Lanka today while a fully fledged mobile hospital will be set up in the region by the United States soon.
The Foreign Ministry yesterday set up a Special Task Force headed by its additional secretary Chitranganie Wagiswara to coordinate the assistance provided by the international community.
This Task Force comprises the Essential Services Commissioner and the representatives of Nation Building and Justice and Law Reform Ministries.
The Foreign Ministry was about to release full details of what the international community has pledged in terms of humanitarian assistance later in the day.
The Foreign Minister said the Government has already provided its fullest assistance to the civilians who fled from the No Fire Zone. “We want to see that civilians who fled from the LTTE are given maximum care and the international community’s assistance is sought to further boost the facilities already provided by the Government. .
“Food is not a issue there. The facilities in terms of shelter, water and sanitation have been provided and these facilities would be further enhanced with the support of the international community, he said.
The UN agencies have already provided assistance to these civilians and more UN assistance would flow into this region soon, the Minister said.
“The exodus of over 100,000 civilians from the No Fire Zone within 48 hours demonstrates that the civilians have placed enormous faith in the Government and the Security Forces have exercised utmost restraint in the face of a number of provocative acts by the LTTE. The Security Forces had more concern for the civilians and as a result they took over the casualties.The Security Forces have set an example to their counterparts in the world in respect of evacuation of hostages.
No country in the world has been able to evacuate such a large number of hostages within a very limited time frame, he said. ( Courtesy: Daily News)
