Earlier today, I raised Sri Lanka again during Business Questions in the House of Commons, calling for a Parliamentary debate about the lack of independent monitors in the refugee camps. This is what I said:
“Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): Today’s edition of The Times reports that despite the desperate conditions in Sri Lanka, the last remaining independent organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross, is leaving the country because it cannot get access to the refugee camps. About 300,000 civilians are injured, maimed and starving, and their Government are not allowing in international aid to help them. It is reported today that 25% of young mothers and those expecting children are seriously malnourished. Does she agree that we desperately need a debate in the House on that matter?”
On Tuesday, I also asked the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, a topical question about independent monitors. Here is the exchange: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.
Following the debate we had in Parliament last week, another Government Minister, Mike Foster MP, has published a full statement about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. It reasserts that funding will only go to “impartial international agencies”.
I’ve printed the full statement at the foot of this email.**
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils met for an emergency meeting on Tuesday, and agreed to keep up the pressure on the Sri Lankan government to allow impartial organisations to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches everyone who needs it.
I have continued to contact embassies around London about the situation, and continue to be in regular contact with British Ministers and their advisors about Sri Lanka. Obviously the focus has moved since the fighting officially ended, and our main concern is to ensure no atrocities take place in the camps, and that everyone who needs help gets it.
It is very disturbing that the International Red Cross have been forced out by the Sri Lankan government, and Sri Lanka must understand that if it does not allow neutral observers in to the refugee camps, the world will assume the worst.
I hope that this explains some of the work going on at the moment.
** DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID)
The humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Mike Foster):
Thousands of people remain in desperate need. The priority is to get assistance to those that need it now. How quickly the international agencies are able to do this depends in significant part on the level of access granted by the Government of Sri Lanka for humanitarian agencies. I would like to assure the House that the humanitarian situation on the ground remains our priority and that we are fully focused on averting a humanitarian crisis. We remain particularly concerned about two groups of displaced people (IDPs).
There are more than 80,000 civilians and war wounded between Kilinochchi and Omanthai and onwards to the camps in Vavuniya. At present, there is no access to this area for any humanitarian agency. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised its particular concern for the safety of the war wounded needing urgent medical care who have been left behind in the former conflict area.
Our second concern is for the 200,000 plus IDPs who are currently in camps. Priority needs are shelter, food, water, medicine and immediate access to surgical treatment. Conditions in the camps are basic but they are improving, albeit slowly. It is vital that these IDPs are allowed to return home as soon as conditions allow.
There are, however, specific concerns which need to be addressed before humanitarian agencies can provide the support needed. Visa restrictions are still being imposed on agencies, including those with surgical teams on stand by to assist the thousands of war wounded who await life saving treatment. Practical restrictions are also still being imposed on entry to the camps and on the supply of basic relief items like water and sanitation equipment. We encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything possible to allow humanitarian agencies to operate effectively on the ground.
We continue to engage fully with international and multilateral partners. I spoke to Sir John Holmes, the UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, yesterday about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the issues that lie ahead. Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General, is visiting Sri Lanka soon to focus on the immediate humanitarian relief effort and reintegration and reconstruction as well as the need for a sustainable and equitable political solution.
DFID’s continues to make financial contributions to the relief effort in Sri Lanka as the situation on the ground allows. Last week I approved £0.5 million for the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) to establish, equip and staff 10 emergency mobile health clinics in the camps in Vavunyia, Mannar and Jaffna. The Secretary of State recently announced a further £5 million of humanitarian funding to Sri Lanka which will be used for activities such as demining and livelihood recovery and we will provide further assistance as people are allowed to return to their homes. The total now stands at £12.5 million. All DFID funding is provided directly to impartial international agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. None of the UK’s assistance is provided directly to the Government of Sri Lanka. DFID will continue to support the international agencies in their work.
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